For a basement I would choose the lightest one with the least amount of variation in the pattern...keep it bright and simple.

Make sure you get specs of at least 5mm and waterproof. For durability.

Going the lightest is definitely a good idea.

@tracefloyd Thank you for mentioning the specs for the flooring. I'll have to ask our contractor what they use.

It will say on the box.

Awesome thank you!

You obviously don't have the boxes yet. You have a contractor, that's a little different than going to a floor store.

It's something we learned doing research for flooring so I always mention it. 5mm is the thickness of the pattern so it is harder to scratch. 7mm and up even better.

Waterproof...of course, right? If it doesn't say waterproof it aint worth it.

Our LVP has a texture to it that looks like actual wood grain.. the ones that are smooth with no indented grain do not look like wood .. they look more like linoleum …we did buy the top of the line .. price wise…and it does not have a wide variation color wise ..we preferred that over the dominant color variations which felt distracting in our open floor plan

Not sure about the comment about waterproof??… it is vinyl…🤷🏻‍♀️…

@tracefloyd I'll confirm with the contractor about the waterproof part.

It is also possible that your contractor is marking up the cost.. if you are not personally involved in acquiring the material

All I was told was that vinyl plank was one of the better options for basement floors. They said they're doing an underlayment too I believe.

Thanks btydrvn for sharing that. I think they're going to present us with options on the planking. I think they get it from another place.

I would never buy this type of materials from pictures… you should be able to see actual examples…

The underlayment is usually cork for a slightly softer surface… we elected to not use that.. as water intrusion on our hillside location was a possibility….it was also a nice savings….never regretted that decision…the floors are very nice to walk on without the added cost of the cork

Our Cortec floors still look perfect after 20 years!

This is the color we chose

With LVP, many different layers of materials by different manufacturers-- water from an unseen spill will separate and warp those layers. Unless it specifically says "Waterproof".

Vinyl tiles are different. That Cortec sounds interesting.

Hi all! Just an update. I'm trying to finalize the flooring colours with the contractor. Thoughts on any of these?

The first one seems most versatile to me… less dominant pattern.. more neutral in color.. will go with any color direction in your decor… the second one is nice and sunny if you don’t have a lot of natural light…the third one …a little”blah”..the last one .. the color variations are too distracting IMO

Thank you for your detailed response! We have one small window and one large sliding door.

I forgot to add this one.

I like this last one best..mainly because it blends together well… the plank ends are less obvious..and the color variations look more real…since the flooring is literally the foundation of the room..this one has a more natural warmth..and a slight variation in tone that looks real as well as versatile…it will most likely be a positive effect in a space with not much natural light…i will also say that layout needs to be planned so that similar pieces not be laid right next to each other ..which draws the eye and attention to the fact that is not real wood…as I have mentioned in other posts on this subject..I have had people actually ask what kind of “wood” it was🤷🏻‍♀️

I do like the last one I posted too. The description on the Lowes site says it has creams and whites in it which would go with a variety of colours. I also was looking for planks without alot of grey and not much yellowish/pinkish/reddish toned. I like the neutral look.

Honestly I think gray is over..and will look dated in the room…and I never like pinkish as it always seems fake to me…altho reddish can look good ….it also has a bigger influence on what other colors will work in the room

Yeah. I was never really into making sommant things grey in our place. I feel like it's overdone.

Have you decided on wall and ceiling materials?…with the fairly low ceilings…and low lighting..some sort of vertical element on the walls could add a little height visually..using the thinnest material available for the ceilings as well…do you have a plan for the style of your room?

We're sheet rocking the ceiling and putting in recessed lighting as well as installing a couple of access panels. Some of the walls are concrete and will be left as is for now but the parts where there's wood paneling and shelving will be removed and sheetrocked. Most likely we'll have something further done with the concrete walls. Haven't really decided on anything else right now to be honest. We wanted the area to put more of a rec room or additional living room. Most likely the hubby will be down there gaming lol! I may make my home office in a nook we have in there because the bedroom I have my office in currently is turning into a nursery for our first baby due soon!

Congratulations!..this brings a few more considerations to mind..as for baby space..office space..hubby’s gaming…you will need to be sure the space will be warm enough..insulation..especially the concrete wall..will be essential..

Thank you! I think for now until we get the walls properly done and the HVAC etc are properly enclosed, we'll keep our baby upstairs in the main lounge. We'll see! It's all a work in progress right now to be honest.

If the concrete wall is an outside wall..humidity..even seeping..can effect the comfort of the room as well as encourage mould..which you want to be sure doesn’t happen..waterproofing before covering it is a good idea even absorbent hangings temporarily..consult a contractor locally to be sure this is done as effectively as possible for whichever stage you choose for now…

Also plan carefully in the use of space …around the natural light..if I had a baby I would want a space near the natural light open for playing ..crawling..viewing the outdoors..plus …a well tended grass area of any size outdoors…close to the doors is always enjoyed by all

Frankly …I applaud you for trying to get anything done with a newborn in the house…best wishes to you both..👍

Thank you for all that advice! He's due November 30 so we're trying to get some things done before then lol. We're actually working with a contractor on our basement finish so I'll definitely ask him about temporary options for the concrete walls.

Congratulations and best wishes on all the above!

I ordered an actual sample of the crema oak which is what I'm leaning towards right now. Thoughts?

I ordered the crema oak sample and I love it but unfortunately I can't find something similar to it that's in lvp. My contractor said I can use other stores but it has to stay under $3.29 per sq ft. So I'll keep researching!

Thoughts on any of these?

The one on the lower right would be a good choice since the color is more versatile…not too pink…not too splotchy…your floor should be the foundation for any decor not competition for attention..

I see Cortec has DOUBLED! in price…have you had a sample of the above?..is there a little grain..or is the surface smooth?…it looks good in the pic..

I've ordered some samples. I'll post back when I receive them!

Just got the vinyl samples. The bottom two small ones are the same. So far I'm liking those are the top left. Thoughts? I ordered another but they stuffed up my order and gave me a completely different one.

My final 3 selections. I put them next to the sample as shown online. Interesting that the Austen oak doesn't look alike.

I like the bottom left as it has more darker variations , which I find in our home needs only occasional and spot cleaning..the brighter color above it would work too as it may be better in less basement light…can’t remember if you considered the possibility of adding heating pads beneath the LVP…?..

No plans to have heating pads underneath. I posted two photos of samples. Just to confirm are you referring to the bottom sample in the photo with the 3 side by side online pictures?

In the center strip(3 yellow tiles vertically).. the bottom one is my fave…as to adding heat to beneath the LVP….I would encourage you to ask questions about the possibility in your space…there is no easier or better way to heat a room than under the flooring..especially a basement.. and with a small child who may be on the floor a lot… it is called radiant heat…

The bottom one is definitely in the running. I'm just waiting for one more sample because Lowes decided to send me the wrong one lol.