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Flooring Design Dilemma Basements

Epoxy or Polished Concrete Basement

4 years ago

I'm looking for the right flooring to use in a new construction basement. It will mostly be storage and to house AV equipment. Looking for something that will last a long time, be easy to maintain and hold up to water, should we get any. And open to other ideas if you have them. Anything we do will be done by a professional, not DIY. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
Polished concrete is a premium floor; epoxy is not.
deb s
4 years ago
there is a moisture seal available with epoxy if you have a damp slab-- no matter what make sure the installer does installation correctly - needs to have a grind (even though slab is new) a primer coat, base and top coat for long lasting durability- DO NOT LET HIM PAINT IT
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My basement has old vinyl tiles, many of which are missing. I don't know if the tiles contain asbestos or not. They're old enough, but I have a partial package of tiles left behind by the previous owners, and there's nothing on the packaging or the tiles to indicate what's in them. In any case, from what I've been reading, the best course is to leave them undisturbed. I would like to cover them up with something that will give me a nice reasonably flat floor and is durable. I know a floating floor of some type is an option, but I'd like to explore coating the floor with -- something. Is that a possibility, and if so, what sort of coating am I looking for? Concrete? Epoxy? Something else? The basement is unfinished, so looks are not my primary concern. I do plan to hire a professional to do the floor. Thanks! (Forgive me if this posts twice. It looks like my first effort to post wasn't successful.)
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Who poured the concrete? Crumbling at the saw cuts could mean plenty or it could mean nothing? Have you asked the company that poured the concrete to come out and look at what is happening? Is there a contract for the concrete? That it was supposed to be a quality that could handle polishing? Are there ANY existing expansion cuts in the slab????? Have you tested the in-floor radiant heat? Can we assume it is hydronic?? I bet dollars to doughnuts if you figure out the issue with the slab, you will be able to get your polished concrete.
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SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Go ahead and plan for a finished concrete slab BEFORE the concrete guys show up to pour the slab/basement. It is CHEAPER to have the concrete mix ready for a FINISHED concrete floor rather than trying to create a concrete floor AFTER the slab has been poured.

You will pay a snick more at the time of the pour because the slab guys will pay a bit more attention while the rake out/level out the liquid cement. They can also arrange to have a second topping to apply once the slab is cured 'enough' so that the RIGHT mix of concrete is ready for a finish. You need a HIGH grade concrete (not the stuff that pours out of a cement truck) to get a finished concrete floor. Doing this BEFORE the house is built is SOOO much easier/cheaper than a retrofit.

So long as your situation is JUST storage...go for an epoxy. It is what you want. If you have ANY plans (like 10 years from now) to create a living space out of the basement I HIGHLY recommend you take the time to get a polished concrete down there.

But then again, many people HATE living on concrete and will eventually cover it up anyway (life span of a finished concrete floor = 7 years).
K Laurence
4 years ago
Agree with the above , just do epoxy. Mine has held up for way more than 10 years, can’t remember exactly when it was installed. Looks great in the garage.
Ellen D
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks for the advice guys - appreciate it!

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