Advice on covering basement floor?

[Mike Johnson]

artificial turf

[deckeda]

We painted ours because we couldn't afford anything else. I think it's paint for cement floors? Wasn't a big deal to dry. Filled in a few minor cracks with that quick-sealer stuff (and it's held).

But I want to actually use the basement. It's got finished walls and ceiling now. Maybe cork? Berber? No leaks in 13+ years if you don't count the time the A/C coil fell apart.

[DinerDave]

Paul F. wrote:
If it was me, and I was trying to build a liveable space down there...
I'd build up a false floor with 2x4's and floor decking, with insulation below, and then put whatever flooring you want on top.
This assumes the concrete floor is well sealed.

This is basically what I did, I wanted to insulate better, too. My cellar is dry, but I still put down the plastic sheeting for a vapor barrier, then with a power hammer, drove 2X3's laying flat, to save that inch or two height wise as I'm tall, laid insulation in between the studs and put down 3/4 inch plywood for the floor. Painted with floor/deck paint, just cuz, then carpet on that. That was 25 yrs ago, still holding up fine.

Dave

[Harbourmaster]

One word: Marmoleum

[Acer]

Good old 12" tiles are pretty cheap and easy to put down. Kinda fun, too, once you get started. The glue will work over old, dried adhesive from previous flooring--no need to remove.

My BIL put down those 2' x 2' plywood top, plastic-bottomed tiles, then carpeting over that and really liked the results. Pricey, though.

[Don C]

We put really good padding then carpet on our concrete floors which has worked well. Floors still get pretty cold when the outside temperature is in the teens (or below), even in the center of the house. If I had it to do over, I might try the insulation as described in this discussion.

[wowzer]

Does anyone use engineered wood products?

[OWC Jamie]

my sister ripped up carpet and the nailing strips nailed into the concrete, then just put laminated floor down on her basement family room
vapor barrier/cushion then the flooring
not exactly "make it look better without spending that much money" though

[Bill in NC]

if you have any water, vinyl/tile/wood won't survive.

w/ carpet you can pull it up and dry it out before re-installing.

[Speedy]

That stuff should be banned for being butt ugly.

Harbourmaster wrote:
One word: Marmoleum