Waterproof flooring in the basement? It does sound like the perfect idea. When refinishing a basement, think twice about putting carpet in a new basement family room, it tends to get dirty so quickly from the basement humidity and traffic. Carpets in high humidity trap in dirt and musty odors, and can produce mold or mildew. Everything seems to stick to a slightly damp carpet, especially in the summer months. Ceramic tile floors in basements have been popular, but can be very slippery when damp or wet from humidity, and grout lines can stay wet looking for many months out of the year. Stained grout lines are very hard to clean.
Putting in a new, commercial grade 100% vinyl floor from a reputable basement finishing company is the best solution and now that the wood look is so popular, you can have it in your basement, and never have to worry about it buckling, rising up, staining or peeling from your cement foundation like real wood and laminates can. New wood-styled vinyl floors can come in individual planks, not sheets of vinyl like in the past, planks that are about 5” or 6” wide and a few feet long each. The individual pieces of vinyl make the finished product resemble a real wood floor to the point where you can’t tell that you’re not looking at wood, but at a durable, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant vinyl. They come in many colors, some noticeable favorites are Walnut brown, Birch blonde and Nantucket gray. Plank style flooring in vinyl clicks together, does not require adhesive to hold it down and is applied directly onto a smooth foundation. No sub-floor required with this application, and this will also save you money.
High quality vinyl flooring for the basement can handle water, it can pass around it, or be beneath it and as the water dissipates, the floor is unaffected. Basements with potential future water leaks would really benefit from this feature. To clean it up, all you would have to do is quickly remove any excess water directly on the floor with towels or a wet vac, place a fan at floor level to help circulate the air, and run a dehumidifier to help dry all of the floor and the air.
Remember, moisture in the foundation cement will always be present no matter what you do. The nature of your foundation is to breathe, and concrete can be like a sponge at certain times of the year, especially when humidity is very high. If you are trying to decide on what type of floor to put down for your basement refinishing project family room, think high quality vinyl floor planks in rich wood textures to give your new space a warm and inviting look, without all the trouble of real hard wood. A product that can handle the humidity and traffic should be priority. Not to mention how easy this new waterproof floor will be to take care of, and keep clean. After a family party, for example, a quick vacuum and light mop up is all it takes. When refinishing your basement, ask for vinyl wood-styled flooring planks.
