BASEMENT FLOORING

THE BEST MATERIALS AND PRACTICES FOR A MOISTURE-PRONE AREA

- STEVE MAXWELL

When you're choosing basement flooring, style and comfort matter, but your top consideration should be how well it can handle moisture.

As a starting point, you need to determine if there are any moisture issues in your basement. Obvious sources would be leaking pipes, water heaters, laundry tubs and floor drains, but there are also less obvious ones, such as moisture coming in through the foundation.

If you notice moisture entering through the foundation, you'll likely need to address the drainage around your home's exterior. Moisture coming in through the slab is less obvious; you'll need to run a test. Your flooring installer can do this for you, or you can perform the test on p. 53. If there's a moisture problem, the concrete must be sealed before you install any type of flooring.

The flooring you choose for a basement must be rated for below-grade installation. If you're not sure, check the product information and the manufacturer's website.

CARPET

Many people install carpet in basements because it makes the concrete floor warmer and more comfortable. That's a fine goal, but never make the mistake of installing carpet and underlayment directly on basement concrete. One reason is summertime mustiness. When humid summer air enters the carpet pile and comes close to the concrete underneath, that air can cool to the dew point, releasing fine droplets of water within the carpet or underlayment. That's why finished basements smell musty.