need help with flooring. do not want to use carpet

jojo26ryan

8 years ago

Want to replace carpeting in my below grade basement. It is dry. Like the look of wood.

Featured Answer

worthy

8 years ago

Engineered hardwood is the only wood that can be used as basement flooring. And even then, there are always risks from even slight flooding. Reduce that risk by putting the engineered product on top of a moisture-resistant subfloor, such as extruded polystyrene (XPS), Dricore or equivalent, or plastic membrane such as Delta FL.

Consider products with "green" finishes and glues for reduced off-gassing in what is usually a not well-ventilated part of a home.

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Comments (9)

arokitka
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I very highly recommend Luxury Vinyl Tile/Planks. Home depot carries the Traffic Master Allure Ultra variety that click together, so there's no adhesive and it can be installed on any surface. I just did a 3-season room and my breezeway with the stuff and it is holding together perfectly - even after my three boys come inside from playing in the snow. It looks like wood, but is perfect for areas that get wet occasionally.

Worthy is right, though... there should be a moisture resistant subfloor under anything you put down.
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drav2012
8 years ago
Worthy..... Engineered Hardwood is the last thing any of the flooring guys said to put in a basement because if it get's wet, it will be completely ruined.

JoJo26ryan... Check out US Floors COREtec PLUS Vinyl. We have a below grade basement and laying this vinyl down there which has great reviews. Waterproof incase you have kids and they spill... not super shiny like Pergo flooring. Check it out! There is a whole thread about it under flooring. ;)
jj0747
8 years ago
Avoid engineered hard wood if there are moisture issues! I agree on the Cortec brand - have seen it in a friends house and it is beautiful. I'm considering putting that in as well once we start our project. I also recommend making sure your floor is level before putting anything down.
drav2012
8 years ago
jj0747 ... We grinder concrete last night and it was a disastrous mess. Hoping the COREtec will be a good option for us.
jj0747
8 years ago
Good to hear. If anything you can buy a few pieces and live with it to see how you goes.
Debbi Branka
8 years ago
We used wood-look porcelain tile in our kitchen area, and porcelain tile in our bathroom area.
theresse
8 years ago
There will always be more of a mousture risk in basements even when you think there never will be. If you can afford it, the wood-looking porcelain tile is the best thing for what you want. Not cheap but really attractive and safe from mildew, mold, rot etc.
Gina Winter
8 years ago
A 100% vinyl click together product is submersible in water, has a vinyl/plastic coreboard, and will give you a nice cushion over cement. This floor floats over your concrete. if there is a leak or spill and it gets under the boards, you lift them up, dry it out, and put the floor back down. This is a much better solution than glueing, ceramic tiling of any kind, or an engineered floor.

Engineered hardwood has an MDF or HDF scoreboard that will pull moisture in and buckle/warp and pop with prolonged water exposure or gross water exposure. It's a terrible choice for basements.

Beware of vinyl flooring with MDF or HDF scoreboard. These coreboards are made of water soluble particles that will pull water in and expand if exposed to constant water.

need help with flooring. do not want to use carpet

worthy

Comments (9)

arokitka

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