USING ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING IN BASEMENTS
Traditionally in basements, the typical flooring choices for homeowners have been carpet, tile, or laminate flooring. Basements are usually susceptible to moisture and leaks, making water damage a common problem for basement flooring that is not waterproof. One option to consider is engineered wood flooring.
WHAT IS ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING?
Engineered wood flooring has the timeless look of hardwood floors, with the added stability and versatility of a plywood sub-layer. With engineered wood flooring, a layer of real hardwood is positioned on top of a plywood base. This can range from a thin veneer to a thick (6mm) sawn wear layer. This plywood is considered dimensionally stable as it holds shape better than solid hardwood in the presence of dreaded basement moisture.
ITEMS TO CHECK BEFORE FINISHING YOUR BASEMENT
No matter what flooring you choose, there are steps you should take to be sure your basement remains dry. Here are some things that should be checked and in-place before finishing your basement:
- Pipes and water-related services that might leak are intact
- Groundwater does not pose a problem, grade-level water moves away from the house
- Moisture barrier is installed on the floor
- Humidity kept in check with a dehumidifier
- Sump Pump is operational (having a back-up is preferable)
Once all of these items have been checked, it then becomes an issue of how confident you feel that these conditions will remain intact. What if you’re away on vacation and your power goes out, disabling the dehumidifier? What if the sump pump stops working? Maybe you’ve done a great job of grading your yard to move water away from the house—but then the storm of the century happens and overloads your best defenses?
NEED HELP?
If you need help deciding whether engineered wood flooring makes sense for your basement, contact Mansion Hill Custom Floors to schedule an appointment. Our experts can help you decide whether or not engineered wood flooring is right for your home and can show you the many different options we have to choose from.