If you’re thinking about getting a basement remodel next year, it’s only natural you want to get what’s best for your new space.
Just like a bathroom or a kitchen floor, a basement floor needs to meet some requirements. These requirements will depend on what you are remodeling your basement into, but in general, you’ll need a beautiful material that’s water resistant, easy to maintain, and can be refinished.
While there are a lot of options out there, some will work better than others depending on the basement finish you’ll be going for.
Without further ado, let’s find out what’s the best flooring for basements in 2023!
Best Basement Floor For A Bedroom
When it comes to the best flooring for a bedroom in a basement, there are a few things to keep in mind. Let’s look at some flooring options.
Carpet Floor
A carpet floor goes right on top of your subfloor, which is probably concrete. It’s not a bad choice, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Carpet floor is great because you’ll want something that’s comfortable to walk on and doesn’t create a lot of noise when you’re walking around. Carpets are soft and can help reduce noise levels. They’re also very warm, so you can walk barefoot on it if you want to.
You’ll also want to choose a type of carpet that’s water resistant, as basements can often be prone to moisture problems. Nylon or wool carpets are both good options in this regard. However, it’s difficult to maintain a carpet and you’ll sooner or later have to replace it.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is another great option for bedroom flooring in a basement. It’s water resistant, so it won’t be damaged by moisture, and it’s easy to clean. LVP is also very durable and can last for a long time.
One thing to keep in mind is that LVP can be a bit cold, so if you’re looking for something warm, this might not be the best choice. However, if you’re looking for something that’s stylish and easy to maintain, LVP is a great option.
You can get LVP flooring and also add a small carpet to it, making it feel more welcoming.
Hardwood Floors
If you’re looking for the best flooring for a bedroom in a basement, hardwood floors are a great option. They’re stylish and easy to maintain, and they can last for a long time.
Hardwood floors are great not only because they can be refinished over and over again, but they offer a beautiful look and comforting vibe to a bedroom, especially if you have other wood features in the room.
Natural hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring are both great options, but what’s more important is their finish and pattern. A herringbone pattern will look amazing, and coupled with a great sealant, your wood floors will be nothing short of impressive.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a great option for bedrooms in basements because it’s affordable, water resistant, and fairly easy to maintain. It also comes in a wide variety of colors so finding the best option for your space shouldn’t be so hard.
However, laminate is usually considered a cheap flooring material that won’t really do much to improve the aesthetics of your space. If you’re on a budget, it’s a great choice, but if you’re looking to give your living room a more upscale look, consider options like vinyl flooring or a hardwood floor.
Best Basement Floor For A Gym
Without any doubt, the best floor for a gym is a rubber floor.
This is what large gyms have installed, and it makes perfect sense. The rubber floor for a gym is great for several reasons.
- It absorbs sweat drops and offers great adherence so you won't slip like you do on a LVP floor
- It's comfortable yet efficient for all exercises
- Rubber floors are great for yoga or other exercises where you need to lay down
- The heavy gym equipment wont do any harm to a rubber floor, compared to a LVP floor
Other than for a gym, a rubber floor is also great for a workshop for the same reasons.
Best Basement Floor For A Workshop
A workshop means oil spills, heavy tools dropping on the floor, and a lot of dirt and debris. You can already tell how a hardwood floor is far from ideal in a workshop. And if you were thinking LVP is a better option, it’s not.
Tile Flooring
Tile flooring is a great option for a workshop because it’s durable and easy to clean. It’s also resistant to oil and other chemicals, which makes it a good choice for a workshop.
You can get tile flooring in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can choose the one that best suits your workshop. Choosing a simple pattern and a neutral color scheme is the better option, as you’re looking to keep the space functional rather than beautiful.
Tile flooring is also a good choice for a basement because it’s water resistant and durable. If you have any moisture problems in your basement, tile flooring will be able to handle it without any problems.
For a bathroom, we’d recommend large porcelain tiles, but for a workshop, ceramic tile will do just fine. Note that vinyl tiles look like tiles, but they’re properties are similar to that of luxury vinyl planks.
Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring is one of the best basement flooring materials. It’s water resistant, so it won’t be damaged by moisture, and it’s easy to clean. Epoxy flooring is also very durable and can last for a long time.
One thing to keep in mind is that epoxy flooring can be a bit cold, so if you’re looking for something warm, this might not be the best choice. However, if you’re looking for something that’s stylish and easy to maintain, epoxy flooring is a great option.
While the basement floors being cold is not a real issue in a workshop, it can be in an office or a bedroom. Epoxy for gyms is not ideal because this smooth surface combined with sweat drops will make the floor feel like an ice skate rink.
Concrete Floor
Concrete floor is a decent option because your subfloor is already concrete. It’ll definitely save you money, but a concrete floor has quite some downsides.
When not treated, concrete can suffer from water damage and develop mold and mildew, it can be easily stained, it can crack, and because of its porous surface it’ll be impossible to properly clean it.
If you’re on a very tight budget, you can leave the concrete subfloor and use it as a basement floor for your workshop. Treating the concrete can make things better, but it still won’t compare with epoxy or a tile flooring.
So, Which Basement Flooring Options Are The Best?
As a rule of thumb, luxury vinyl plank flooring is one of the best flooring options there is. Indeed, it’s not the best suited for a gym or a workshop, but considering most people transform their basement into a bedroom or an office, it’s fair to say LVP wins this one.
If you’re building a gym, consider a rubber floor, and if you’re transforming your basement into a workshop, epoxy, tile, or even concrete floors are great options.
At Randy Stewart Hardwood Flooring we’re experts in all types of floors, certified by the NWFA. We’re installing, refinishing, resurfacing, and replacing hardwood floors and LVP floors for a lifetime.
Check out our flooring installation or floor refinishing offers and get the best deal in Charleston, Summerville, and Mount Pleasant SC today! Call us at (843) 900-4880 or request a free quote right now!