Basements aren’t just dark and musty spaces for storage! Many homeowners choose to finish the lower level and utilize it for additional living space. If you are considering a basement makeover, you’ll have to start by addressing the flooring.
Many people assume wood flooring is a bad choice for the basement because they are worried about warping. Luckily you don’t have to sacrifice form for style when it comes to outfitting your basement with new flooring.
Engineered Wood Flooring is Best for Basements
Engineered hardwood flooring is the best hardwood flooring for a basement. It can be installed in a sub-grade environment like a basement as long as proper techniques are taken during installation.
Most homes have concrete subflooring in the basement. So before you install a new flooring system, you’ll want to make sure your subfloor is as even as possible. If you work with a contractor, they may also recommend adding a special underlayment to inhibit moisture absorption from the concrete slab.
Unlike solid wood, engineered wood flooring is designed to help protect the floor from moving too much in response to moisture fluctuations. It is made with a top layer of hardwood that’s adhered to numerous layers of backing materials. This ensures that the flooring is less susceptible to warping and damage due to changes in humidity levels or temperature.
Will My Basement Flooring Hold Up to the Moisture?
If engineered flooring is maintained, it will last for a long time. But, with any flooring choice, it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on humidity levels in your basement, especially when the seasons change. We recommend installing a hygrometer to track moisture levels.
If you do choose engineered hardwood, we also recommend going with a prefinished floor, as the finish on these floors is UV-cured and less susceptible to damage.
Once your flooring is in place, you can move forward with creating your dream basement. Get more tips on how to transform your basement.
Be sure to browse our selection of wide plank floors and let us know about the needs of your project. We can create custom-milled prefinished engineered wide plank floors for your basement redesign project.