Basement Laminate Flooring Will Outperform Textiles
Basement Laminate Flooring Will Outperform Textiles
When remodeling the basement there is a good chance the floor is a concrete slab and while padded carpeting may look nice and serve the purpose, it will be a lot easier to install basement laminate flooring, and it will probably last longer as well. Certain steps can be taken to reduce the amount of humidity typically found in basements, which will be needed in some instances, regardless of the choice of floor covering.
However, with basement laminate flooring there is no need for nail strips along the edge, to need for additional padding and if installed with an appropriate vapor barrier, little chance of experiencing a moldy smell after a few years below ground level. Basement laminate flooring is available in a variety of style and colors and can be used directly over the floor, without the need to glue it or nail it in place.
Once the floor has been cleaned and is free of any debris, any slight depressions in the concrete should be filled to make the floor as smooth and even as possible. Before laying basement laminate flooring the concrete will need to covered with plastic sheeting, about 6-mil thick, to form a vapor barrier the concrete and the basement laminate flooring.
Plastic Repels Moisture From Floor And Walls
When covering the concrete with the plastic sheeting, it should overlap between six and eight inches and can be held in place with masking tape to prevent it from slipping apart where it is overlapped. The plastic should also travel up the wall around the basement laminate flooring, but not so high to be visible once the trim is put in place.
How the basement area will be used will help decide the quality of the basement laminate flooring being put down. Direct pressure manufacturing usually comprises three layers of materials under the graphic that makes up the flooring. Using the area as a sitting room or an area with limited activity will probably be a good area for the less expensive materials. If the room will be used for a lot of activity, basement laminate flooring made through the high pressure process will offer more durability and a longer life.
Two styles of basement laminate flooring can be used, one of which is made with tongue and groove connections, which are tapped together with a hammer and a block of wood to protect the wood. The other rocks into places and has a built in locking system to keep the two pieces together.