Finishing Basement Floors

Do this in a few places around the basement floor. The next day, lift the plastic sections up and observe if there are wet spots on the basement floor underneath the plastic, or on the underside of the plastic. If there is, the basement has a moisture problem and it should be resolved before painting and finishing the basement floor.

Assuming the basement does not have a moisture problem there are a number of latex and epoxy based paint products on the market that are ideal for painting basement floors.

Preparing the Basement Floors for Paint Before applying paint to the basement floor first clean the floor extremely well and seal any cracks with hydraulic cement. For grease spots use sand or kitty litter to absorb the grease. Next vacuum the entire basement floor, and then follow by washing it with a wet mop and broom. Let the floor dry out for a few days, and again hit it once more with a vacuum.

Applying Paint to Finished Basement Floors

When applying the paint to the basement floor first start with a stain sealer, followed by a primer and then the paint itself. It is important to allow thorough drying between coats of stain sealer, primer, and paint. It is best to use a roller for applying paint products to the basement floor.

Depending upon how creative you want to be, you can apply multiple colors and/or patterns/textures to create a unique finished basement floor.

Ceramic Tiles for Finishing Basement Floors The use of ceramic tiles on a basement floor is another great alternative for finishing basement floors. However, again it is important that there is no moisture problem associated with the concrete floor. The use of ceramic tiles can provide for a very custom finished basement floor look. Carpeting Basement Flooring If considering carpeting in the basement, it is extremely important to have a dry basement.

I would also recommend the use of a dehumidifier during much of the year to keep moisture levels as low as possible in the basement. Carpeting can be a mold and mildew haven if there are even moderate moisture levels in the basement.

Wood Basement Flooring

Though some manufacturers suggest that wood, or engineered wood veneer products can be installed in the basement I would avoid them. All of these products are highly susceptible to moisture damage, which can lead to warping, cupping, and delamination.