Finishing a Basement Floor

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

June 21, 2001

Q. I have an unfinished basement with a concrete floor that is level, clean and in pretty good shape. Until last week, I never knew that people could paint their basement floors. We are getting the basement finished soon and will be putting in a commercial carpet with padding. The basement does not leak. Would you recommend painting the basement floor before we install the carpeting? If so, could you recommend a particular product?

-Glen Amato, Valley Stream

A. Some excellent interior masonry paints are made especially for floors and walls, and they are almost exclusively used in basements. But why would you want to paint a concrete floor if no one is going to see it? There's really no need, especially if you are going to cover it with carpet. From my experience, a dry basement on Long Island is to be treasured. But because basements in our area tend to be moldy and musty, I don't think carpeting is such a good idea.

Because I've been thinking about finishing my basement in the next year or so, I've been doing a bit of research. I like using laminate floors in basements. Made by manufacturers such as Pergo, Formica and Wilsonart, these floors are designed to simulate the look of wood, stone and ceramic tile. Pieces fit together in tongue-and-groove fashion, and then float on a thin layer of foam. My plan was to use one of the many wood- floor styles-white-washed oak or natural oak, and use area rugs that can be cleaned and stored.

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If you want more information, including installation instructions, try these Web sites: www.pergo.com; www.formica.com; or www. wilsonart.com.

One more bit of advice: If you plan to use your basement as living space, look to install a ventilation system. A system of fans and vents that recirculates the air can fight the mold and mildew that often build up in basements. Seek the assistance of a professional for your ventilation needs because if a system is not installed properly, problems can develop with toxic gases from furnaces or water heaters that are situated in the basement.