Best Flooring For A Basement

Most basement flooring is built using poured concrete because it’s durable, flat, and solid. In most situations, this is sufficient to make your basement suitable for storage. However, if you want to turn your basement into a liveable area, you probably want to upgrade the floor to make it more comfortable, attractive, and easier to clean.

If that’s the case, you’ll be happy to learn you have a lot of basement flooring options to choose from. Just remember, the conditions in the basement aren’t the same as what you experience upstairs. These differences will dictate which flooring is suitable and how it’s installed.

Keep reading to learn about the best flooring for a basement, including vinyl, tiles, paint, rubber, epoxy, laminate, engineered wood, and cork.

Vinyl flooring, commonly called resilient flooring, is considered quality flooring for basements — and for good reason. Not only is it as durable as ceramic tiles and concrete, but it’s also an excellent waterproof basement flooring. Vinyl creates an almost seamless and water-impervious surface (though if you opt for vinyl tiles over vinyl sheets, some seams will allow moisture infiltration if water is left standing too long).

Installing vinyl baseboards also helps protect the walls against minor cases of water intrusion that may occur from furnaces or water heaters. You can install vinyl baseboards that protect up to six inches on the wall. This type of flooring is also extremely affordable and warmer to the touch than concrete or ceramic tile. 

If you live in a warm climate and want your renovated basement to be a cool room that offers some escape from the heat, then tiling your basement floor is the way to go. It will feel cool underfoot all year round (but if you want to make it cozy, why not add a warming rug?).

Basement floor tiles are also great because they’re waterproof, moisture-resistant, and practical, blending durability with style. They come in a variety of shapes, prints, and designs, meaning you can achieve your desired look easily. Plus, they’re easy to clean and maintain, making them a low-maintenance and long-lasting basement flooring option.

You have likely seen rubber flooring in garages, gyms, martial arts studios, pools, and dance studios. And it may work in your basement, too. If you plan to use the basement as a play area rather than a formal living space, rubber flooring is a great option.

You can find roll rubber, which is used at commercial gyms and has minimal seams or rubber tiles. These cost about the same and are another easy project for a homeowner to install on their own. 

Don’t just dismiss this basement floor option! Modern laminate is more attractive than the older versions you may be familiar with. Thanks to improved image layer graphics combined with thicker surfaces, the color, look, and vibe have improved significantly.

While this is true, the material is still susceptible to moisture issues under the appealing top layer. If the base layer of laminate flooring sits in water for a prolonged time, it can cause the flooring to swell, which will ruin it. The only way to fix this is by replacing it.

However, you can use laminate flooring to install the right subfloor first. The foam underlayment on the laminate and the right subfloor will keep water vapor from coming up through the concrete slab. You can also choose waterproof laminate, which doesn’t contain wood, which means it won’t swell or distend. 

We love this basement flooring idea! Epoxy is as easy to apply as paint but creates a much thicker layer that is usually more durable, smoother, and easier to keep clean. Simply apply the two-party coating to the floor, then add fine sand or plastic flakes over the surface after the application to create a custom look.

The flakes add color and texture, while the sand adds texture. Since epoxy is like paint, it is a smart option for home gyms and workrooms. Just make sure you read the instructions and warnings on the label before getting started. Some epoxy products create toxic fumes during the application and drying process. 

If you want a high-end feel in your finished basement, which offers the look and feel of traditional wood, you should consider engineered wood flooring.

This composition is like plywood, with a layer of genuine wood bonded to composite board or wood piles. The planks have interlocking edges and a durable finish, making them one of the best floorings for a basement.

Most have a thickness of ½” or less, and you can even find some that can be installed directly on concrete flooring. However, it’s still best to install it over a subfloor.