What is the best flooring choice for my basement renovation?

When considering a basement renovation, most homeowners want to start from the ground and work their way up – and that generally means flooring. Since most basements in the Toronto area are unfinished that means taking a good hard look at the concrete foundation and figuring out what works best for your project. Many homeowners who don’t have a clear plan for their basement may wish to consult a professional interior designer to make suggestions and provide a portfolio of finished options to help with the process. One such company is The Reno Pros. They can help you create a blueprint for your project while providing a clear and understandable estimate of what the work might cost. The following list outlines which floor coverings will work best for your desired basement renovation.
  • Workshops – A good option for a woodworking or metal shop in the basement is stained or painted concrete floors. These floors are ideal for an industrial basement setting because they can handle spills and messes with little or no cleanup. Obviously paint represents an inexpensive option, but you can use a high quality variation that seals the foundation and provides a nice finish. Acid staining requires more effort and also the use of a protective mask and proper ventilation to apply it to the foundation, but the result will be a polished and beautiful finish that can handle any amount of punishment.
  • Rec rooms – This is a basement renovation that will have lots of people, typically children, milling about on a regular basis. The best choice is carpet and is also a relatively inexpensive option that will hold up for years, provided that the basement remains free of moisture and dampness.
  • Man caves – Man caves are designed to be comfortable spaces for adults to enjoy a beverage or watch a game in their very own dedicated spot. Popular types flooring might include stained concrete with some sports memorabilia in the form of rugs and wall art, or possibly some tile in and around a bar area. Tile works well because it is not as susceptible to water damage as wood and does not hold stains the way carpet might.
  • Living quarters – For living quarters you probably want some nice carpet and possibly some floating wood floors that snap together and provide a nice, rich-looking surface for a guest or renter to enjoy. These options are ideal for a mature adult that doesn’t have heavy traffic and roughhousing. Living quarters would be designed for nicer floors that add finishing touches to your basement renovation.

As you can see, some flooring choices work better in specific places but you can always choose whatever you like the best. These are just guidelines based on which floor materials will hold up to the homeowner’s specific needs the longest. Durable floors can last you a long time and will stand up to foot traffic for years to come. Living in the Toronto area, the air temperature in most basements tends to stay cooler than that of the floors above it. This can cause condensation that brings moisture to the space, which is a killer for organic materials like wood and also for laminates. For this reason, it might be a good idea to consider adding a dehumidifier to the basement renovation for a few hours each day in order to keep the space free of moisture to preserve your beautifully remodeled floors.