Floors for below ground level

As any area below the level of the ground is prone to water seepage, you'll need materials that specify below-grade.

 Whether it's paint, tile, board, carpet, paneling, or any other general surface covering, if you're not sure about its use in a below-grade area, ask the supplier for some help. For our purposes below grade is thought of as basement flooring.

Before you paint, install tile, laminate planks, or roll out carpet in a room, decide what type of treatment or traffic the floor will receive.

Note the condition of the floor, especially if you want a finished floor. In older homes you'll often find cracked floors or evidence of water seepage. If so, first repair the concrete flooring. Otherwise, you might have to redo all your work just when you are getting used to it.

If you are building a workshop, don't use carpeting. Keeping it clean would be an enormous chore. And wood or tiles would stain the first time you spill on it. So, in a work area, select a material like sheet vinyl or painted concrete.

No matter what type of flooring you choose, to complete the look you need to add an area rug. If you need to you can get more information about buying area rugs from this page.

Carpet:

Although one of the most common aboveground coverings, carpet is best left out of the basement—unless it is approved by the manufacturer for below-grade use, or if you install a sub floor, then lay the carpet on top. One exception to this general rule is indoor-outdoor carpet, which works well in most areas of the basement. It is comfortable underfoot and does not take too much maintenance. Make sure the basement will remain dry, and use a waterproof glue. For best results, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Vinyl Tiles or sheet lino:

A natural for basements, tile is available in easy-to-work-with 9x9-inch or 12x12-inch squares, or in roll or sheet form. Available in a variety of patterns and colors, tiles are suitable for use in all basement areas. Before you lay the tile, make sure the concrete floor is clean—free from general dirt, grease, and old paint. Scrub it first with muriatic acid and warm water. Let it dry completely. Then lay your tile. To install, coat the concrete with a waterproof adhesive and lay the tile over it. If you are using peel and stick tiles the procedure is the same.

Wood:

Another popular floor covering, hardwood planks work well only on top of a subfloor. Available in parquet blocks, tiles, or strips with tongue-and-groove edges for easy locking, it is fairly simple to install. Lay sleepers on the concrete, and use shims to level the floor. Then, lay the discount flooring on a sub-floor of hardboard or plywood, as wood flooring will warp if proper installation recommendations are not followed, or if the basement is not dry.

Paint:

The least expensive type of floor covering, paint is decorative and easy to apply. But, it is not comfortable underfoot. So, don't use it unless you prefer decoration to comfort. Be sure to use a good grade of paint—one designed for use on concrete. But first, fill in any cracks, then remove all old paint and clean the floor of grease. Again, use muriatic acid and warm water.