skip to main content

Home Decorating

Basement Flooring SOS

14 years ago

Tomorrow morning, I begin the process of an accidental basement remodel. We are getting a new furnace and having our foundation cracks repaired, both on the same day, what great good fortune, we are so looking forward to that!

I spent this afternoon looking at paint and flooring samples, and the evening trying to come up with a plan. The drywall had to be removed and will be repaired, in order to fix the cracks. Perfect time to repaint, refresh the color scheme. The carpet has been ripped out, and we need to decide on flooring soon. DD has to have a place to return to in two weeks. Vinyl tiles are about half as much as vinyl plank flooring, but of course I love the look of the wood floors. I want to do this only once. Will I regret not biting the bullet and holding out for the wood vinyl floors, in a rush to cross this project off the list? I hate that when it rains it pours. Come to think of it, that's how this all started. LOL

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

doonie
14 years ago
If it were me, I'd go with what I really wanted, especially if you are going to be there a while. If you go with the vinyl flooring, since it will be new, it will probably be quite some time before you revisit that basement decor, if ever.

So, yes, I think you might regret doing the vinyl in a rush to get it over with (and I quite understand that urge.)

Good luck with your project. Hope your accidental list doesn't get too overwhelming!
User
14 years ago
I would wait also. There are plenty of other things that are much worse than walking on a slab floor in the basement, and I agree with Doonie, once done, you'll probably never look back. I guess the way you could look at it is you should "Do it right the first time, or just don't do it at all"
Related Discussions
habies in the basement - so far so good
Q
Comments (3)
WOW...zone 5 and it "will soon be mid-to-low 50s as January approaches". I'm in 6b and we've been in the mid - low 30's for approx. one a month. We won't see 50's here for several more months. As for peppers indoors in a cold climate region; it really depends how consistant you can keep the temps. If you want to continue to let them grow and set fruit, keep the temps. mid 60's - mid 70's. Prolonged lower temps. will becon the plants to go dormant. Lighting is a factor as well but it appears that you have that covered. Always expect the unexpected. Your plants can look fine for weeks then all of a sudden start dropping leaves. You may find yourself struggling to keep them alive 'til Spring. GOOD LUCK!
...See More
So glad we didn't use laminate in the basement!
Q
Comments (6)
I have a basement that has vinel time glued on many years ago. Several tile have loosened and so I had to take up half of the floor, reglue and relay the original tile. This is in the unfinished basement by the laundry room. What I found out is that the lime content in the cement, as well as the moisture can cause tile to become loose. I almost had to go with a all solvent type glue, but use a Henry product with patial solvent and it did the trick. I'm still have a mixed review on laminate in the basement or on the main floor even. I have installed one in a kitchen as my first, and can see some draw backs to it.
...See More
Curbless shower/wet room in basement bathroom with ejector pump?
Q
Comments (18)
How often does your power go out? Adults and teens in the house should be cognizant that when the power does go out, the half hour shower will have to be postponed but it's not like it has to be an overriding fear that prevents the bathroom from being used. Commercial and institutional buildings with basement restrooms often have the same setup, albeit larger systems. My laundry tub, washer and basement bath all go into the same ejector pump pit. My power typically will only go out due to a severe thunderstorm and be out for 4 to 6 hours tops. It's pretty obvious that the power is out and the basement bath, washer and laundry tub are just not used at those times. The toilet is older and has a 3.5 gallon flush. If the pump has just cycled, It takes 2 flushes for it to kick in again. My guess is it would take at least 5 or 6 flushes to start coming out of the shower drain. Maybe more - I've never tested it. The pit doesn't fill to the top before the pump kicks in; there is some buffer there as well.
...See More
Ugh! Picking flooring is so hard! Finishing a large basement...
Q
Comments (6)
We did a nice vinyl plank in a neutral wood color for almost the same type basement I like it it is easy to care for and we have blinds on our windows since the media room is open to our whole layout so the heat and light is controlled by them. Ours are 13 yrs old with 3 huge dogs in and out of a dog run all the time and the floors still look great.
...See More
diginthedirt17
14 years ago
Our basement flooded four months ago - on the same day that we brought our newborn home from the hospital. Bad timing! But he had two weeks off work so I quickly went to work researching basement flooring and we picked carpet tiles.

We had beautiful wide plank laminate flooring down when it flooded, and it was all 100% ruined. It looked really nice, but was cold even with area rugs.

This is the kids main play area, so I really wanted carpet but was afraid of another flood so we picked the carpet tiles.

They are WONDERFUL! Super easy to install, affordable, warm and not cheap at all like I was afraid they might look.

Best part, if one of them becomes stained or if you should have a flood they can easily be picked up, washed and dried and put back down. We have 3 extra boxes just in case we should ever need them. Almost immediately after installing them, our dog peed downstairs - must be a territorial thing?! Anyway I picked up the square, washed it out with Tide, dried and put it back, good as new.

We went with carpet tiles from Menards called Legato but there are plenty of choices, I think Flor is another brand? I think we paid $1000 for 700 sq. ft. roughly. I'll take a pic if you'd like this afternoon.

Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Legato carpet tiles

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Room of the Day: Basement Bathroom With Nautical Flair

By Annie Thornton

Coastal-inspired details and a one-of-a-kind tile floor tie together this Pennsylvania powder room and changing room

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors

Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Basement Now a Light-Filled Family Living Space

By Cathy Rebecca

Merging a house and a basement flat into one townhouse creates a spacious family home in London

DECORATING PROJECTS DIY: How to Paint Stripes on Your Floor

By No. 29 Design

Paint brings a dreary porch floor to life in New England — watch the process unfold and get tips and ideas for your own floors

STAIRWAYS The Upstairs-Downstairs Connection: Picking the Right Stair Treatment

By Laura Gaskill

Carpeting, runner or bare wood? Check out these ideas for matching your staircase floor treatment to upstairs and downstairs flooring

DECORATING GUIDES Get Clever With Area Rugs for Warmth and Beauty

By Tiffany Carboni

Give feet a soft landing, protect your floor, hide a stain ... with area rugs in your arsenal, you can win any flooring battle

REMODELING GUIDES Laminate Floors: Get the Look of Wood (and More) for Less

See what goes into laminate flooring and why you just might want to choose it

FLOORS Know Your Flooring: Concrete

By Rebecca Gross

Concrete floors have a raw and elegant beauty that can be surprisingly warm

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Warm Modernism in a Notable 1930s Home

By Becky Harris

Wood, leather and warm browns give the basement in this Keck and Keck home in Chicago an inviting air

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Guests Get a Cottage-Like Stay

By Becky Harris

Converted to a comfy space with a full bath, a bedroom and extra amenities, this Maryland basement is great for visitors and the owner alike

Sponsored

More Discussions

Fireplace mirror size?

40

Thoughts on a white Roof?

13

Updating Foyer in 1980’s Ranch

8

What armless side chairs match natural wood / live edge dining table?

5

Styling Dark Brown Couch

0