Want more room in your home for the kids to play in or your own private area for movies? Your basement doesn’t have to be a creepy place filled with spider webs over cold hard concrete. Contrary to popular belief, there are many great wood floors which are suitable for below-grade installation. These products are fully warrantied and backed up by the manufacture. Lets begin turning that old dreary basement into a cozy family room, media room, bedroom, or den.
The Facts
Realizing that your basement can be anything you desire. A good place to start is from the ground up beginning with the new flooring. At this point you might be asking, well what type of flooring should I choose for my basement? Most engineered hardwood floors are suitable for installation in the basement. This is because engineered floors are designed to withstand higher moisture areas and can be installed directly over concrete without the need to build a new plywood sub-floor. The most common installation method used over concrete is floating install. This type of installation simply uses a padded underlayment and the engineered hardwood is free-floating above the pad.
The Design
Now that we understand a little bit about the technical aspects, lets look at the best styles for the basement. Although much of this depends on how your new rooms are going to be used, it is often a good idea to select a lighter color engineered wood to brighten up an area without much natural lighting. After your new floors are installed, take a look at some light fixtures and paint to improve the look and feel of your new living area. Adding nice floor covering to a basement can be one of the most cost effective ways to creating a nice living space without the expense of building an addition to your home.