3 Options to Finish a Basement Floor

You can finish a basement floor in a variety of ways. A basement floor that has finishing is better protected against water and moisture damage. There are three major options to finish your basement floor: sheet vinyl, concrete and engineered wood. Although there are other options as well, such as wood finish, these three are widely used for their cost-effectiveness, fire resistance, moisture resistance, and most of all, aesthetic value. You can easily install any of these three options to finish a basement floor without hiring a professional carpenter. Like in all home improvement projects, always wear protective gears if ever you decide to install your own basement floor finish.

1. Sheet Vinyl

Sheet vinyl is a famous finishing option used in basement floors all over the world. It comes in various patterns and colors, making it an ideal material for those who want to have a broad design option for their basement floors. Vinyl sheet is perfect for basement floorings that are a bit uneven or sloped. Sheet vinyl is the easiest to maintain and clean among the various basement floor finishes. It can withstand the effects of flooding very well, especially if during its installation, seam tapes are used along the joints of the floor. Seam tapes, when applied with heat, seals your basement flooring and keeps at bay water and moisture damage to your basement floor.

2. Concrete

Concrete finish is ideal for basements that are used as storage area or a workshop. It is the simplest and most affordable finish that you can have on your basement floor. In installing a concrete finish to your basement floor, all you have to do is purchase concrete seal at your local hardware shop or home improvement depot. You then apply the concrete seal on your basement floor using a paint roller. The concrete seal prevents moisture from seeping through your basement floor. There are also many design options that you can do with your concrete finish. You can choose to stencil your concrete basement floor or use dyed concrete seal.

3. Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is an excellent basement floor finish since it is more resistant to temperature changes as well as moisture compared to other types of floor finish. It is made of thin layers of bonded wood on resin backing, which looks like a real hardwood when installed as flooring. Engineered wood is an ideal basement floor finish in areas with extreme varying temperatures and low moisture.

When it comes to the cost of having engineered wood as your basement floor finish, it is much cheaper than real hardwood. Engineered wood is not directly attached to your basement floor. Instead, it floats inches away from the basement floor, making it an ideal floor finish for basement floors that are uneven, warped or sloped. It is the preferred basement floor finish for most do-it-yourselfers since engineered wood is relatively easy to install. Unlike laminate basement floor finish, you can refinish and sand engineered wood.