Ideas for basment floor

[PBMAX]

Howdy folks, I'm looking for ideas other than wood or carpet or Vinal(spelling?) for the basement floor. I just finished sealing and painting the exterior cinderblock walls 2of 3 sealed and 1 and 1/2 of the those 2 walls are now studed. Hoping to have the insolation in and sheetrock up by spring. If Xmas doesn't hold me up... the drop ceiling by summer hopefully... all really depends on how the price's of all the meterials behave...

I think I would like to try either acid staining for concrete or some kind of stone finish and was wondering if any of you folks have tried either. House is only 3 yrs old so floor has a few blimishis but is in good shape. Just needs a good scraping and washing.

The space is about 1200 sq-ft and we plan on using rugs on the top of it for the entertainment areas.... May end up sticking with carpet if other options are no more cost effective. Just thought I'd consider something different for a change. What ever route I go the floor is deffinatly the last part of the project so I've got time to mull it over....

Just thought I'd ask the O'l brain trust and see what you folks can come up with....
preciate it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobS]

What are you going to use the space for and is it dry? If it's not perfectly dry, I'd use vinyl or paint or something. If it's dry and you want it to be useable living space I'd go with carpet or a Pergo-type wood floor. There is a subfloor product available that raises the wood subfloor off the concrete with a layer of rubber bubbles. It comes in two foot squares and seems that it would help insulate quite a bit.

Our last two houses have had carpet in the finished space of the basement. Can't beat it for looks, ease of maintenance and comfort. In phase II of our current basement (this winter project), I plan on the Pergo-like stuff (laminate wood floor). I just don't like concrete under my feet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SPIKER]

one thing to make sure of is that the floor does not sweat or bring up water through it. concrete is not water proof /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif and any cracks must be sealed really well...


staining is nice and attractive and no worry about mosture as it becomes part of the concrete. carpet can get damp and musty if there is some moisture in there, and vynal can trap moisture UNDER it, and then mold happens /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

anyhow sealing helps a lot but any cracks can cause you lots of head achs, and you're insurance can go up a lot too IF they find out!

tape a section of plastic sheeting over the floor, sealing ths sides for about a week, and if any moisture happens UNDER the plastic then some of you're options just changed!

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> I'm looking for ideas other than wood or carpet or Vinal(spelling?) for the basement floor. </font>

That doesn't leave alot of options left other than paint, stain or tile.

 

[gsganzer]

My wife and I are planning to do the acid staining on our addition (20' x 30'). It runs about $2.25 a square foot. You can put area rugs where you need them and you can always put carpeting and/or wood floors over it later. I'd be concerned that any carpeting in a basement has the potential to get moldy.

 

[Onthelake]

My wife and I stained the floor at our lake house, about 750 sq. ft. We used a product called Decosup. It is probably the most user-friendly of the products (IMHO). Not hard, just messy. Floor must be clean, clean, clean!!!! There is a wealth of information on Web and lots of help and instructions. We have received rave reviews on how our's looks. I would be happy to share my insight if you have questions. BTW, it is sealed with an epoxy sealer which gives a very durable floor.

 

[TheKid]

Take a look at <font color="blue"> this </font> stuff. I don't know what it costs, but it sure makes concrete look real pretty.

 

[PBMAX]

My Dungon as the wife calls it will be all purpose, Play area for the little one, Entertainment area for me with big screen(someday),PC , Play station, so forth. Thus the Drywall, drop ceiling and such. Have designated one area for Bath at some point but no walls for it until then. Hopefully a Wet Bar/ kitchenet. I do not really want to go with carpet even though the basment is very dry. I would preffer for now to dosomething different and a good seal to keep dust down.

The house is 58'x28' (1625sqft) and the "dungon will be about 2/3 or less of that so the 1200' is a guess.
The front wall, which is covered porch end to end of 58' of the house, is the longest unbroken wall. Which I was sealing more yesterday. It has dirt up to 6' max and is concrete filled to 10'. I have already used a good flexable caulk for cinder block and concrete on the walls and the corner betwen the walls and the slab, twice in the last yr allowing time for setteling between use. very few cracks so far.

I'll try to export a drawing this evening and see what ya'll think...

 

[PBMAX]

gsganzer, Let me know how it goes does,dont's,likes,dislikes....

Onthelake, Welcome to TBN and thanks.. I had seen them do it on some HGTV show and thought it looked cool.... what methode did you use to clean the floor. I was thinking as little water as possible so mabye mineral spirits or some such if I do tha acid bit...

Over a presure washer and wet dry vac so I don't have to wait day's in our humid area for the floor to dry out well.

 

[PBMAX]

Howdy Gator, yep I know It limits thats why I'm crusin I ran out of ideas... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

as you pointed out without the basic options I hit a wall.....
I ruled them out for the following basic reasons and cost($$$$)for some...at the moment.

Carpet-($$$) as mentioned even ithe dryest of basement gets damp easy. (been there done that)

Wood ( $$$$)is also vunerable to access mosture if it leaks.. Have seen a purgo/laminant floor that bowed up because it got wet... during a heavy rain with leakage.

Tile- ($$$$)why bother-looks nice, but can be pricy and is just as cold as the concrete without a heated floor which would mean pouring and floating over tubing...$$$ though very nice results...can be had.

Vinyl- well I really just don't like it even though some of it looks really nice today. Hadn't thought about the mold underneith it that was mentioned YUK.....

Acid sounds cool and looked cool on TV, but have not seen it so not sure how it would turn out even on a perfect floor..... Which I 'm positive mine ain't... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Was thinking about this or similar ideas with rugs, as mentioned, since a new rug is far cheaper than a whole room full of carpet and pading.... Though carpet would dampen the noise facter to almost nill....

One of the things I like about this bunch is we can always find different angles on some of the common ways of doing things.... Thanks for the feedback folks

 

[PBMAX]

thanks,
Kid
will check it oooot.....

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I'd say, don't underestimate the pleasing aspects of a simple paint job. A good quality paint that's labeled for concrete will last for a very long time (I painted my basement floor 10 years ago with $20/gal latex and it'd holding up very well even though it's my woodworking shop and it gets abused). It's inexpensive, do it yourself, and you can have a new floor just by washing it and painting it a new color. It cleans easily and you know if you have any leaks or new cracks (doesn't hide that kind of stuff).

You can also paint designs if you into that sort of thing. You put down one layer everywhere, then tape some areas (boundaries, checks, whatever) then roll on another layer. Pull up the tape and you get a cool looking floor (use the blue painting tape).

For seating areas, you can use throw rugs that you can actually get clean (as differing from carpet which is a dirt and bug repository -- no a steam cleaner is not effective -- ever pulled up old carpet and looked underneath?)

Cliff

 

[Onthelake]

Paul,
Go to Acid Stain.com and start there. They have instructions for cleaning floors and a lot of Q & A. Also just search acid stain on yahoo. Also lots of info. Best thing to clean floor with is water and maybe a mild orange cleaner. DO NOT use any kind of acid etch. Also avoid other chemicals. They could affect the overall look. One thing you have to understand, no two jobs will look alike. It depends on your individual concrete. Cracks and defects of concrete add character IMHO. And there are other ways of finishing the floor to add character and the look. One of the things with Decosup is that the floor does not have to be perfectly dry to begin the stain process. Do the research and ask questions.

 

[boustany]

Ceramic tile: 12x12" can be got fer cheap (often $1 or $2 per sq foot), they go down quick and last forever - even if the house gets flooded.

 

[PBMAX]

Onthelake, yeah been surfin when I can . Commercial rederic just doesn't compare to the experience of Our fellow TBN'rs..... thanks for theh link I see if it's one I've been to...

 

[kokopelli2]

alright lets look at some other options.....what about cork? its is soft, can get wet, and holds heat better then wood. or bamboo wich can also get wet, and is harder then wood.

as for radiant heat, you do not have to dig up the floor. there is low votlage stuff that gets rolled out on the floor when you are mudding it for tile or what ever. its really nice, cheap to heat with and easy to use. go to www.warmfloor.com.

all in all i would tile....you can get 12x12s or even bigger sometimes for 80 cents or less. watch for sales at depot. or if you have an expo buy you see if they have any special order returns. i picked up some stone that is $12 a sqaure for 3 a square just so that could get rid of it! looks good too.

hope this helps

 

[PBMAX]

kokopelli2, can't say as Ive ever seen cork on the floor but it would be kinda soft.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I had forgotten they make lots of bambo stuff now for floors.... had also forgotten about the electric floor heat. Thanks for the link...

as for tile I don't know if I like tile enough to do the whole floor, but I am considering it for the door entry and bar area.... if I don't do the Acid staining or the other option someone posted as link to whitch looked cool.... which is a concrete mix done in thin layers....

Some 12"x12" might look real nice by the door.

thanks