Hardwood flooring can provide a beautiful, refined look to any home which is what makes it such a popular choice for homeowners. Although it can add elegance to any room, it isn’t always the ideal choice, specifically when considering the building or renovation of your basement.

Because basements are built directly over the ground and have a concrete slab as their foundation layer, they necessarily have specific maintenance issues that aren’t common to the rest of the house.  Specifically, most basements are much more vulnerable to water damage and so your choice of flooring needs to be able to stand up to this kind of damage.

If you are building a new home you have the advantage of ensuring that your basement floor is properly designed to avoid moisture build-up and accept your choice of flooring. This involves installing a proper foundation and a vapor barrier in order to improve energy efficiency and either an interior or exterior drainage system to minimize water seepage. It’s also important to make sure that your foundation has proper grading and an adequate sump pump to mitigate water damage.

Basement Preparation

There are certain steps you can take when building your home to ensure that your basement will be able to accommodate your choice of flooring material. The concrete slab should be in good condition and in most cases should include a layer of porous fill in the aggregate bed to allow for better drainage of groundwater. The groundwater should be directed underground away from your home or toward a sump pump basin.

In many cases, when finishing a basement for regular use you’ll want to install a radiant heating system beneath the concrete slab to counter the natural cooling of the concrete. In this case it will be necessary to install a system of flexible tubing before the concrete slab is poured.

Once poured, the concrete slab should be allowed to cure for a minimum of 30 days before installing any of the subflooring. In order to avoid water damage to any flooring option, a vapor barrier should be included as part of the subflooring. This extra protective barrier effectively seals off the ground, preventing moisture seepage into the concrete slab.

This is particularly important when the concrete is freshly laid and still wet, but it remains vital even after the concrete has fully dried as moisture can still seep up from the ground and cause damage to the concrete slab and the flooring laid over it.

Vapor barriers can consist of a number of different materials, including PVC, polyethylene sheets or 15-pound roofing felt. A layer of insulation should be laid on top of the vapor barrier to prevent the leeching of heat through the exterior walls. The insulation layer should be anywhere from 1 to 2 inches thick, depending on the environment where you live, with colder climates requiring a thicker layer of insulation.

Polyethylene is the newest type of vapor barrier, preferred because of its ability to withstand heavy loads and resist mold, mildew, and fungus. It is compatible with any kind of flooring including tile, laminate, linoleum, carpeting, and hardwood but you may need to check with the manufacturer to determine the type of adhesive to use.

Choosing Your Basement Flooring

Whether you are building a new home or finishing an existing basement, choosing the right flooring is critical. As moisture can cause cupping, swelling, warping, and splitting, it is generally not recommended to use hardwood in a basement as most basements are more prone to excess moisture. While ground seepage can cause gradual damage, a burst pipe or broken hot water heater can cause extensive damage to any flooring but particularly hardwood. 

If you are determined to get the look of natural wood in your finished basement area, there are several options you might want to consider in order to mitigate potential water damage issues.

Laminate

Laminate is the recommended choice for most basements as it has distinct advantages over solid hardwood. Since laminate is constructed from a core of High-Density Fiber it is more resistant to water damage and other potential hazards. A top layer is added over the HDF with a photographic representation of natural wood.

The top layer of laminate can be made to replicate a number of different wood grains, vinyl or tile patterns giving homeowners a wide range of design options. Laminate can be installed using a floating, tongue in groove, interlocking or locking method allowing for more stability and accommodating in-floor radiant heating.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is a newer option that may make it easier to incorporate the look and feel of hardwood in moisture-heavy environments such as basements. Unlike laminate, which fuses a photographic layer over a core of High-Density Fiber or HDF, engineered hardwood consists of a combined core of plywood, hardwood, or HDF with a hardwood veneer glued on top of it.

Since it uses a veneer of actual hardwood, engineered hardwood more accurately replicates the look of solid hardwood. It comes in a variety of wood types to fit any room design making it a flexible choice. It is generally constructed of three or more core layers laminated together using a high-pressure bonding process for greater stability.

Using the multiple-ply planking and bonding technique helps to counteract any warping, splitting or cupping caused by water and provides a better protective layer over radiant heating systems. The hardwood veneer comes in a variety of thicknesses and most flooring contractors suggest using a veneer that is it at least 2 mm thick.

The thickness of the veneer can vary depending on the type of wood, the use pattern of the room and your budget. You can determine the best choice of wood for your environment and budget by using the Janka Hardness Scale. Generally, the harder the wood the more durable it will be so if your basement is going to get a lot of traffic you’ll want to choose a harder wood.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is usually constructed from whole planks and consists of natural wood throughout the entire core. It is most often installed using the tongue and groove method and requires sanding and finishing to remove any imperfections in the wood. It is more expensive to install than laminate or engineered hardwood and more prone to damage from water or other elements.

Since water damage or other damage would require the replacement of the entire floor, installing solid hardwood in a basement can be even more costly. It can also sustain damage from radiant heating systems, which are often necessary to install in basements. 

Basement Floor Installation

Because basements include a concrete slab, traditional installation methods for hardwood that include nailing are not possible. Installation can be completed using a floating method or by gluing the flooring in place. If a radiant heating system is used, then gluing is not recommended as the heat from the tubing system can damage adhesives.

 When installing any type of wood flooring in a basement where moisture damage can be an issue, it is important to have the heating and air conditioning systems working during the installation process. The furnace can aid in drying out the cement slab and the air conditioner can help to reduce moisture in the air.

Bottom Line

While hardwood is generally not recommended for use in moisture-prone areas such as basements, new alternatives including laminate and engineered hardwood are providing other options for homeowners intent on getting the look and feel of hardwood in their finished basements.

Before choosing flooring for your existing basement, check carefully to ensure that the concrete slab is in good condition with no cracks or breaks. If any damage does exist it is essential that you repair it before installing any kind of flooring. 

Research your options thoroughly and make sure you follow all instructions for proper installation to minimize potential damage from water and other elements.

Whether you are finishing an existing basement or constructing a new home, you should consult with a flooring contractor to get professional advice on which flooring option is right for your home. With the proper choice, you can enjoy the beauty of hardwood without the risk of serious damage and the added cost of repairs.