Just Say No to Hardwood Flooring For Basements

Professionals in Chicago wood flooring will tell you that hardwood flooring for basements will not be a feasible choice. Think of how wooden doors react to fluctuations in humidity; it expands and retracts. Wooden flooring does exactly the same thing. In a basement, you not only must contend with the constant humidity, often times dampness seeps into even the most properly sealed basement flooring. These moisture droplets are going to be absorbed by the hardwood in basements causing it to warp, expand or worse, buckle.

As an option to putting in hardwood flooring in basements, vinyl, ceramic tile, porcelain tile, decorative cement, or rubber tiles are your absolute best alternatives. Each have their problems for basement flooring as well, however they are comparatively minor ones.

Vinyl
o 100% water-proof
o Inexpensive
o Amazing hardwood flooring looks
o Vinyl plank flooring can be click-together installation
o Repair or plank replacement similarly straightforward
o Available in rolls and tiles
o Vinyl flooring is really a printed floor therefore the appear could be anything from hardwood to stone to checkerboard

Ceramic and Porcelain tile flooring
o Almost as water resistant as vinyl
o Tiles can be replaced individually, easing repair
o Larger tiles can make a smaller sized area appear bigger

Decorative Cement
o Typically the least expensive selection
o You might have any colour you desire
o Elaborate design possibilities


Rubber tiles
o Interlocking design for super straightforward installation
o Not much risk of mildew
o Tremendous amount of comfort underfoot

With any basement flooring it's smart to use a moisture barrier. Although every single of these flooring alternatives are in and of on their own both water resistant or water-proof, where dampness collects, mold and mildew will develop, even beneath rubber tiles. This barrier may only consist of an epoxy flooring sealant rolled on. Ask your flooring specialist which form of barrier operates very best with whatever basement flooring you decide on.

If your heart is set on hardwood flooring in the basement, you may be able to locate an engineered hardwood flooring specifically made to be much more moisture resistant than others.

If someone tells you hardwood flooring for basements is a good idea, you have just proven that they're not flooring specialists. But there are alternatives to have the appearance of hardwood in basements.

For more information about all of your Chicago wood flooring options you can visit our website at www.greatwesternflooring.com or one of our 3 design centers in the greater Chicago area, Naperville, Oswego or St. Charles. You can also call one to speak with one of staff members: Naperville 630.357.3331, Oswego 630.236.2201, St. Charles 630.488.3000.