Basement Floor (subfloor, Home Depot, pool, room)

[barbjf]

We are in the process of finishing off our walk-out basement, but my DH and I can't decide if we want hardwood or carpet.. I say carpet, I have hardwood throughout the rest of my house and am tired of the high maintence of the wood floor and I think basements are already cold and dusty
enough. I would like a good berber carpet, we had it in our last basement , but my husband wants hardwood. What is everyones opinion on this .

[RoaminRed]

Hmmm...depends on what you're going to use the room for I suppose. Personally, in a colder basement I'd say the carpet.

[BobKovacs]

Have you checked the slab for moisture? Even if you're not "seeing" water, there may be enough moisture in the slab to prevent a proper hardwood install, or to grow mold on the carpet pad. You may want to consider using a subfloor system below the flooring material.

[Srib]

Carpet - if anything goes wrong in the future water wise - you'll be less devestated to have to replace carpet than hardwood.

[dens]

really depends on how you plan on using it though.

[pepe1]

Unless you live in a desert, Carpet. You are guaranteed problems with wood flooring in a basement due to water vapor working its way through the basement floor slab.

[surfingatwork]

I put slate down in my basement and then added an area rug.

[ParkerP]

That's a very interesting idea surfingatwork. Would slate hold up well if the basement became flooded? And I don't mean any major flooding. Just something like a one-time deal during an unusually heavy rainstorm.

[barbjf]

we will be using the basement as a finished rec room, TV area, entertaining area(bar) and a pool table.

[Coldjensens]

Hardwood is easier to keep clean. Carpet will eventually get all full of dirt and grime.

whatever you use, consider putting dry core or dry lock or whatever it is called underneath. (plastic and wood squares of sub flooring that you can buy at Home depot). It really works well keeps the floor warmer, allows ventilation and gives you a little bit of room in the event of a minor water intrusion.