Advantages of a Concrete Basement Floor

What are the advantages of a concrete basement floor? With so many other choices like carpet, tile, and wood, what makes concrete the best choice.?

The biggest advantage, which is obvious to most who own basements, is the resistance to flooding and water damage. One good rainfall event and most of the other types of flooring are ruined. Hardwood can buckle, tile can delaminate, and of course carpet is like a huge sponge that may be impossible to restore after flooding. With concrete, all you need is a mop to restore it. This is true of concrete overlays as well. A properly installed overlay will last as long as the floor underneath it. And for basement floors, that's a pretty long time.

Another advantage of concrete that is often overlooked is height issues, or I should say a lack thereof. Most basements are set up for concrete floors especially at doorways and steps. Some types of flooring raise the height of the floor which can cause problems in doorways and create code violations at the bottom of steps. Raising the floor changes the step rise. Most building codes require step rises to be the same for safety reasons. Sticking with concrete, including overlays, avoids these potential problems. Most overlays, also called skim coats or microtoppings, are only 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick.

Concrete and concrete overlays are seamless floors. This makes them easy to keep clean and maintain. Anything with seams will trap dirt or may allow water to seep underneath and trap it which can lead to other problems.

An ever increasing concern with basements these days is poor air quality with dust, allergens, and mold spores being the main culprits. Any flooring that traps dirt and moisture only exacerbates the problem. This makes concrete the best option for health reasons.

My favorite advantage of concrete is it's versatility. You can create just about any look imaginable. With different types of stains and dyes along with scoring and taping patterns, "the design opportunities are endless". With overlays, you can even incorporate light texturing to further enhance the appearance. And the best part! A concrete floor can be completey unique meaning no other floor in the world will be exactly the same.

For most of us, cost is the biggest factor in choosing the type of flooring. Staining and sealing is one of the least expensive finishes. It can also be a diy project for the serious do-it-yourselfer which saves money. For professionally installed finishes, cost is directly related to decorativeness. Price can range anywhere from $1.50 sq ft up to $10.00 sq ft. Obviously doing an overlay will cost more than just basic staining. Keep in mind, however, that the durability of a concrete basement floor could save lots of money down the road.

When it comes time to finish the basement or restore it after a flood, consider a concrete basement floor because the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages it may have.

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Advantages of a Concrete Basement Floor