No carpet at all.

I like Flor carpet squares. I don't know whether they gas off any chemicals, but the product is made from recycled materials and is recyclable. You could probably email them and get a response about air quality. They are easy to lay and when they get soiled, just pull up the square, wash it and replace it. 20% off sales are common.

I checked the website - there is information about air quality.

Thank you...True in some situations, but even a finished room? LVT ...luxurious vynal tile? That would be very cold for kids playing on in New England.

If the basement is built correctly, with the proper insulation under the slab, there is no reason for vinyl to be cold.

Cork floating floor. Click it together and you have LOW VOC + warmth + solid surface that reduces allergies/dust/etc.

Oh I like that idea. Don’t know about the price, but if it’s diy?! (This is for my daughter’s family)

Cork floating flooring = same price as high-end LVT ($4.50/sf). It is click-together and is EASIER to install than click-together LVT (it can be persnickety to get to stay clicked together...broken edges and frayed nerves abound).

www.icorkfloor.com

Have a look.

Hmm , ok thank you! So, once together it’s wears well? My daughter will check it out, but have someone do it. Better bet!

Cork wears just fine especially the natural colours (looks like "honey oak"). And the finish can be REPLENISHED as they age. Yep. You get a few dings and scratches and all it needs is a couple layers of polyurethane and you are off and running for another 10 years. And then for another 10 years. And if you are really lucky - another 10 years.

Wow! So do you have this? Sell it? Sounds like a great product! Thank you

Low VOC is good for every one --- dings even in my floor tile -- it happens. ;-)

Used to sell cork for 6.5 years. I know it very well. The finish on the iCork Floor products can be refreshed. It is designed to be refreshed periodically. That means it can get beaten up and then it can be brought back to life for a few hundred dollars. This can be done over and over again for as long as the floor is structurally sound.

Do NOT use glue down in a basement. It is NOT allowed. Use the click together stuff, add a little cork underlay to add more warmth and more sound insulation) and you are off to the races.

As everdebz points out, dings and scratches happen. Even tiles start to show the abuse.

You'd be much better served with cork or bamboo tiles or plank flooring (over the plastic foam padding designed for the purpose) and then add one or more large rugs that could be cleaned and/or changed rather than set yourself up for yet another major renovation in a few years.

This is great information. I’ve been passing it along and they will look for informed installer!

Mohawk Airo

Ok sounds like another good choice. 2nd recommendation of this. Thank you. Will compare!!

Vinyl tile some washable rug ... kids and carpet are a horrible combination.

They are going to be smart enough to know that when the floor is cold the need to sit on the rug.