The loss of electricity during the recent heavy rainfall in New York and New Jersey have damaged the existing flooring in many basements. Polished concrete floors or resinous coating systems are a great option for basements in the tri-state area.
We have received many calls from homeowners and property managers looking for flooring solutions. Choosing appropriate flooring is difficult enough without the problems that come with finding floors for a basement complicating things even further. The biggest issue in almost any basement is, of course, unwanted moisture.
Problem with traditional flooring options
- Tiles – Moisture seeps in from below through the concrete and has the power to weaken the bond of the adhesive used for tiles
- Hardwood or Laminate – warp and buckle due to moisture. Possibility of damaging in case the basement gets flooded
- Carpet – Acquire that elusive smell caused by mold growing below the soft veneer
- Painting – May delaminate or come off due to the presence of moisture
The easiest alternative to more traditional flooring options is stained concrete flooring. You have a lot of flexibility with color schemes and designs.
Benefits of Concrete floors in basements –
- Unlimited color and design options: Stained concrete flooring has a unique beauty that’s bought to life by different finishing and coloring techniques. There is no predetermined color palette to limit designs.
- Longevity – Few floor covering products have the longevity of concrete. Carpet, tile and wood floors eventually need replacement, which uses up resources and creates disposal problems.
- Stained concrete flooring is a great alternative to carpeting for people who are allergic to animal dander and dust mites. Concrete does not support the growth of toxic mold.
Stained concrete flooring consists of application of a reactive stain (acid stain) over the existing concrete surface. The stain reacts with the lime in the concrete thereby developing a natural, organic and variegated earth tone colors. If the existing substrate is covered with glue, paint or cure & seal, a thin layer of concrete called ‘micro-topping’ is applied and subsequently it is stained. After the staining process is completed, the floor is sealed with a epoxy and polyurethane sealer.
You can watch the entire process HERE.
Please review the various flooring systems that can be installed in your basement using Duraamen products – https://www.duraamen.com/photo-gallery
Please Contact Us to discuss your next basement flooring project.
