Turn That Basement Around! Fashionable, Cozy Choices For Basement Flooring

By Author: Madeleine Duke
Total Articles: 47
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So the basement is going to be refinished and will become a beautiful, functional space. The layout is all set, the wall color and light fixtures have been chosen and stacks of home decorating magazines are piled on already groaning top of the kitchen table. What is a finished basement without a floor? Two types of flooring can be extremely economical and fashionable choices for the basement-cork flooring and nylon carpet.

Nylon carpeting is a popular option for busy families with children or who entertain a lot. What draws most people to use carpet as their basement flooring in Cranberry, PA (or anywhere) is its ease of use. Because nylon carpeting comes in many different colors and types of pile (the thick fibers that make up the carpet itself), vacuuming the carpet is a breeze, unless the pile chosen is a long, thick fiber.

Plenty of people who use nylon carpet in Cranberry, PA choose to use carpet padding to extend the life of the carpet. Padding is not necessary but makes any carpet last longer. A good, flat rubber carpet padding (the most expensive type anyone can buy) can make even the cheapest carpet far ...
... outlast the homeowner's expectations. If it is too expensive, then a polyurethane padding is the next best choice. Whatever padding is chosen, it must not be too thick or too thin for the carpet. Too thick, and the carpet will tear away from the tack strips that hold it in place. Too soft and the carpet's life is cut in half as it struggles to absorb the shock of people walking on it. And finally, do not underestimate the quality of the carpet! "You get what you pay for" is a really good piece of advice to live by, especially for flooring.

Cork flooring is becoming a popular choice for basements. Using cork flooring in Cranberry, PA, with its cold winters would lower the homeowners heating bills, as cork is both a noise absorber (good for "man caves" with large stereos or children with loud toys) and a natural insulator. Cork is eco-friendly, harvested from trees that are at least twenty-five years old with a rest period of three to four years between harvesting. Cork is also fire-resistant (good for people who keep washers and dryers in the basement) and pest-resistant. Termites, mold and mildew, 3 common basement pitfalls, are not attracted to cork. Cork comes in many different grain patterns and can be dyed many different colors, so it can match any décor, just like carpet.

One of the pitfalls of cork is that it is extremely soft. Cork may "heal" itself over time if it is slightly scratched, but large gouges and cuts will not. With hardwood floors, a polyurethane coat will protect the floor and last for decades. Not so with cork! A good polyurethane coat will last for half a decade before it must be replaced. Cork also requires a thin, extremely gently sanding between refinishing jobs, which adds cost to the job. This makes cork not practical for busy families. Of course, to cut costs, a homeowner can install his or her own cork flooring or recoat the floor. It is recommended that once the cork flooring is installed, to let it sit for several days, without walking on it, to let it adjust to the humidity of the basement.

Whatever option is chosen, cork or carpet, homeowners across America can agree that a beautifully installed and maintained floor in a finished basement will add instant value to his or her home. And added value is what lots of homeowners desire.

Find out more about basement flooring Cranberry PA. Get more information on cork flooring Cranberry PA and nylon carpet Cranberry PA.