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shapirolh

Flooring options in concrete basement

4 years ago

We're not having our builder finish two basement rooms, mainly because we're not sure if they'll just be storage, or if one might be an exercise, craft, bike-wrenching work room, or even a home theater room. The main floor is oak hardwoods and the mudroom and powder room on this level is a light griege tile. I don't care for wood-look LVP, but wonder what other options for a concrete floor.

Comments (17)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    You could do tile look vinyl flooring instaed of wood look .

    LH On the Move thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 4 years ago

    I would stay away from products that attempt to be a fake/replica of another product.

    Such as "tile look" and "wood look" vinyl.


    What about staining & sealing the concrete floors?

    Or a polyurea/epoxy coating?

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    I am waiting for the ceramic tile that looks like LVP.

  • 4 years ago

    LOL, Mark. So true. That's even how I feel about the porcelain tile that looks like wood. I like my tile to look like tile! Our house has had a rule about avoiding anything "faux". Our exposed metal work is structural, as are the exposed beams. Slate and hardwood upstairs, granite, etc. So, want to keep to our design ethos even in the work areas.

    We are considering staining and sealing the floors, especially as a temporary finish while we figure out how those rooms will be used.

  • 4 years ago

    This is just in time as I have to pick out flooring/counters for our house as well.. I agree I dont like fake anything including kicthen quartz countertops that seem to be the rage..no thanks... you could do hardwood over those specialty subfloors squares.

  • 4 years ago

    You could do engineered hardwood on concrete floors. That's the standard here in SW FL. And they make engineered now without the bevels and/or some that can be site finished.

  • 4 years ago

    Why not just leave them concrete until you're ready to finish them?

  • 4 years ago

    We're debating leaving them or finishing now, before we set up storage shelves, etc., so looking for options that we might decide to jump on now. Thanks -- engineered hardwood might be just the right thing.

  • 4 years ago

    Paint the concrete? You can add some sand or something to reduce slickness.

  • 4 years ago

    If you want a warmer, softer floor, cork can be wonderful in a basement.

  • 4 years ago

    Carpet is what is typically done in my area. Helps minimize the 'hardness' of the slab and also warms it up a bit. Certainly, theater rooms should be carpeted.

    Obviously, everyone has there opinions about carpet but a basement might be the best place for it.

  • 4 years ago

    I was looking at cork -- I need to see if there's a more modern looking option there.

  • 3 years ago

    Assuming your floors will have adequate re- bar embedded to avoid cracking…we had stained floors and loved them…if your climate gets cold …in floor heating is wonderful…warms the whole area with no sound..blowing air ….and the heat stays at people level rather than floating up to the ceiling or upstairs

    LH On the Move thanked btydrvn
  • 3 years ago

    Come on. Heat doesn't magically not move any different based on how it is delivered to a room. And since when is people level on the floor?

    I get that people don't like forced air from many many poor installations but lets not oversell heating floors. Also, you do need to spend some serious money insulating below the slab or the energy use can be significant to warm the earth. You should do this anyway but the penalty is worse with in floor heating if you don't do it.

    Nearly every basement needs dehumdification so the cost of in floor heating becomes pretty significant - especially since it is a basement (meaning that it isn't your primary space).

    LH On the Move thanked David Cary
  • 3 years ago

    Carpet squares that can be moved or removed? Rubber Cushioned carpet tiles if the room is used as a workout space?

    LH On the Move thanked ptreckel
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Heat does magically move differently based on how it is delivered to a room David. @btydrvn is 100% correct so read this on how radiant floor systems work, and if there is still some confusion there are thousands of other sites that explain how they work.

    Your basement floors should be left alone as @anj_p mentioned. Why spend a nickel or even think about it until you decide what you want to use the rooms for. Messing around putting something down now just to have it may make it a little harder, and a little more costly to put down the right floor when you do decide.

    LH On the Move thanked outpaientzero