When you’re planning to finish your basement floor or remodel it, begin by examining your lifestyle.
If your kids use the basement as a playroom, you’ll want to think first about durable products that also will soften any falls. If the lower level is a space for entertaining, then appearance may be more important.
One key aspect to consider is, of course, moisture. Because basements are below ground, they are more likely to receive water and humidity. You should assess how much moisture your basement receives before choosing the type of flooring.
Flooding is not the only problem to consider.
“Just by the nature that (basements) are below grade there is a chance the sump pump could fail or a window could leak,” said Jack Sorenson, president of U.S. Shelter Group Inc., an Itasca-based home builder.
Wood, for example, typically is not recommended for basements because it can warp with excess moisture.
“We really don’t like to put woods down on lower levels because of the moisture problem,” said Jerry Clark, president of The Lakelands, a Plainfield development that includes single-family homes, townhouses and duplexes.
Carpeting and tile top the list of the most common products used in basements. Both are available in a wide range of styles and prices, so the choice becomes a matter of taste, budget and function.
The standard carpet offered at The Lakelands is $17 per yard. Ceramic tile averages $6.50 per square foot, which equates to $60.50 per square yard.
Clark recommends tile for bathrooms and high-traffic areas. “The ceramic tile is much more expensive, but it has a much longer life,” he said. “The ceramic is just not going to wear out unless it’s abused. It’ll last for 20 years.”
Carpeting often is used when the basement is a playroom for children or the owner is more concerned with a soft floor covering, said Penny Mesenbrink, sales consultant with Floors by Vinci in Schaumburg. “They don’t want to walk on a hard surface. If (kids) fall down and hit their heads, at least you have padding and carpeting.”
Carpeting is sold in various levels of thickness and averages $20 per square yard at that Schaumburg store. Most carpets last for 10 years, depending upon the wear, Mesenbrink said. “If they use it a lot for a kids’ playroom, maybe five to seven years.”
Tiles can be purchased in 12-inch by 12-inch vinyl squares or larger sheets that cover the floor surface. Prices range from $2.50 to $3 per square foot for the squares, which can be installed by most home owners, she said. The company charges $2.50 to $3 per square foot to install them.
Larger tile sheets are priced from $15 to $30 per square yard, plus $12 per square yard for installation, Mesenbrink said. The sheet tiles typically will last for 10 years, while the square tiles have an average life span of five years.
“People who more or less go with ceramic are empty-nesters and those who don’t have kids,” Mesenbrink said.
The type of flooring you choose also should be guided by the length of time you plan to stay in the house.
If you think you’ll soon tire of the new look you’re creating, you may want to choose carpeting. You can always rip out the carpeting, whereas tile is more complicated to remove.
One home builder, though, cautioned buyers against finishing a basement during the first year, when some settling could occur. Even minor changes in the foundation could damage the flooring product, said Louis Stephens, a partner in Stephens & Hayes, based in Tinley Park.
“The finished wall may develop a hairline crack,” he said. “It possibly could develop some water seepage.”
