Trying to find an affordable, yet “appropriate,” floors for basement is very difficult; especially when the most logical materials for the basement is SO expensive.

We have concrete subfloor or concrete basement (pardon my technical terms if I misuse it) so there were very limited flooring options for us.

We do currently have carpet in the basement (it’s only year and a half years old), but between the kids and the animals (dragging in dirt and God knows what), and the nature of basement (dampness) it made our living space almost unbearable for me – dirt and smell.

Unfortunately, I have been cursed with acute sense of smell.  Since I can smell everything and anything, for good or bad, the smells are amplified by ten folds for me.

According to Home Construction & Improvement website, “Whether … basement is fairly new or old … Concrete basements by nature are a very damp environment … has a moisture content of between 2% and 8% … (Todd).”

In Todd’s opinion he does prefer ceramic or porcelain tiles, but you can still use engineered wood floors and carpet (only if basement has history of being dry).

However, when I did talked with local contractors and flooring “experts,” tiles are not great solutions for the basement because if concrete floor cracks (guess, eventually most concrete subfloors will have crack lines due to moisture) it will transfer the problems to the grout and tiles on top.

If I understood it correctly, having tiles in small areas are fine (e.g. around the bar areas or entrance/exit areas by the door and etc), but trying to lay tiles on over 1500 sq. ft areas is not a great option for basement floor.

Laminate wood floors are not viable option for us because of the price and durability.  Even though laminate floor are known to be durable if possible scratches were to happen by animals (we have very destructive dogs – I don’t even want to go into this topic because if I do I will give those dogs up!) or kids you cannot sand it down and fix it  – basically, you will have to live with damages.

Also, even though laminate floors will be glued down for us, if dogs were to urinate or kids were to drop liquid onto the floor there are possibilities of liquid going through the joint lines.  Actually, my cousin has installed laminate floor in his basement and I have noticed joint lines showing up more and more – don’t know it’s due to moisture in the basement or his puppies leaving accidents or what?  Didn’t really ask.

So, with that said.  I did receive numerous estimates for my basement floor (including materials, removal of carpet, fixing up holes and things, and installation) for tile and laminate wood flooring.

Remind you that I only chose these options to share with you guys because of the price.  There were many other flooring options, but they wanted over $9,000 for the basement (no glue or installation or  taxes included) !!!  Forget that!

Lowes wanted $4485 (not the best line I remind you) for the materials plus $2385 for installation; total of $6870 without price of the glue, taxes, and etc.

My local store said they would do it for $6500 (including glue, installation, and glue).

For tiles I found a company who would lay the tiles for me for $5000 or so; but these tiles are ugly!!!

I came home very disappointed, and my husband asked me “why don’t we put vinyl?  Honestly, I was shocked and applaud by his comment.  Come on vinyl floors?  They are so ugly!

Even with such reservation I went along with him to the store to look for vinyl floors.

Wow, vinyl floors have come along away.  When you probably think about vinyl floors you are probably thinking about floor your parents had in their kitchen or entry way and etc.

However, vinyl floor come in many styles and pattern – it’s endless.

Anyhow, we were educated with FiberFfloors made by Tarkett Company.  You might be asking what the heck is FiberFloor?

Well, FiberFloor is a resilient flooring with “… convenience combining the comfort of carpet with the easy maintenance of resilient flooring (Flooring Trends).”

These floors are easy to install and clean, comes in endless patterns and color (look of wood to slate), it’s cushiony and warm to underfoot, flexible and bendable, indentation resistant, reduces impact noise and sound, will not expand, contract, crack or curl, engineered to lay flat and stay slat, glueless installation, and consumers only need to measure the room, cut and lay.

If you do hire a professional to lay such flooring they “heat glue” the seams so the vinyl floor looks like a one huge piece – you will not see any seam lines.

After learning about this product I just fell in love with the bamboo look FiberFloor.  The product usually cost $3.50 sq ft, but we got such great deal from the local flooring store — $1.85.

So … even with installation fee, removal of carpet and other materials to finish up the floor we are actually going to pay couple of thousand dollars less than laminate and ceramic tiles.

I just can’t wait to get the flooring next week!

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Reference:

Flooring Trends.  Flooring-trends.com  Retrieved on 4/4/2009 from http://www.flooring-trends.com/fiberfloor.html
Todd.  Basement Flooring Options.  Homeconstructionimprovement.com  Retrieved on 4/4/2009 from http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/2008/07/basement-flooring-options.html

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