Flooring Options: Epoxy, Carpet, Laminate... What is best?

[dualthreat]

I'm finishing my basement (concrete floor). I rarely get moisture of any kind, and haven't had water in the 10 months I've lived here. *knock on wood*

Looking for recommendations for flooring options.

I'm open to ideas for any of the options listed in the thread title or others.
Have you had positive experiences with any of these? Negative?
Which were most cost effective medium to long-term?
Which has the best resale value?

Other notes: I would like to install myself (and will consider ease of installation and cost for tools into the price/desirability). I'm pretty handy for a DIYer. I have no pets or kids. I will most likely be selling the home within the next 5 years.

I'm seeing huge ranges in prices (especially for epoxy). So any specifics would be appreciated!

 

[Gonzo]

I'd avoid carpet. Even if you haven't had water in there, you never know. I'd also avoid laminate for the same reason.

I'd suggest looking into engineered/luxury vinyl plank (EVP/LVP). I finished our basement a few years ago and used LVP with a PVC core from LL. Very durable, looks great, and water proof. Installation is pretty easy as well, I'm not that handy but me and a buddy knocked it out without any problems. All you need is a miter saw for cuts. Planks lock in pretty easy.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

I'm finishing my basement (concrete floor). I rarely get moisture of any kind, and haven't had water in the 10 months I've lived here. *knock on wood*

Looking for recommendations for flooring options.

I'm open to ideas for any of the options listed in the thread title or others.
Have you had positive experiences with any of these? Negative?
Which were most cost effective medium to long-term?
Which has the best resale value?

Other notes: I would like to install myself (and will consider ease of installation and cost for tools into the price/desirability). I'm pretty handy for a DIYer. I have no pets or kids. I will most likely be selling the home within the next 5 years.

I'm seeing huge ranges in prices (especially for epoxy). So any specifics would be appreciated!

Would probably not go the epoxy route unless you are just sold on having a concrete floor. I have never done carpet in a basement and don't recommend it unless once again....you just love carpet. The laminate idea is fine unless you have "hydraulic" moisture i.e. come up from the concrete(which would ruin carpet)especially during humid times. If you don't have that problem, and/or are running a de-humidifier then a good quality laminate would probably be best. Even better would be one made of vinyl. They make some really nice styles. It's something I don't normally recommend for anywhere else in the house because it is a "plastic" product. But for basements I think it is a very good product. Below grade situations can get funny.....even in new homes.

 

[AgronAlum]

Go with the LVP. Use decent underlayment. I’m not sure if these are available to rent but it saves a lot of trips up and down the stairs or dust in the basement compared to using a miter box.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGJSXJ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_sYCeGbAZBWBRK

 

[CYdTracked]

What are your plans for the use of the space? That's probably a big factor into what you consider. I've been on both ends of the wet and dry basement issues. First house I owned was built in the mid 50's and during a wet year would seep some and have some small trails of water coming from the footings and find it's way to the floor drain so I never tacked carpet down, just bought something cheap from Menards and laid it out like a rug basically that way if I did get water was easy to pull it back to shop vac and dry. Have done laminate in some other areas of that house like the kitchen and was cheap and easy install, looked just like a tiled floor when finished and held up well. I'm drawing a blank what the product was called but Home Depot has this peel and stick type of product that was pretty heavy duty that I used in a small bathroom that turned out pretty well too. It interlocked some as 2 of the 2 sides had these overlaps that would stick onto the surrounding tiles you put down. Need a nice clean surface and a sharp knife to cut it.

Our current house was built in the early 2000's and whoever did the basement sure waterproofed it well because the sump hardly ever gets water in it and never had dampness in the installed carpet. If you are confident your basement is water tight then by all means consider carpet if that is what you like otherwise I would not break the bank on flooring and go with something cheap but looks good and can withstand a little dampness.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

Since you're looking to sell in 5 years and don't have to factor in kids, go for your best ROI. I'd look at LVP or the epoxy option. It really depends on how much of a selling point the basement will be and how you envision the space being used by the next homeowner (game room, movie room, storage space, etc). I've seen sharp looking epoxy floors and I've seen some that look like hell, but it's generally not as inviting as flooring.

We finished our basement about 10 years ago with some berber carpet and I'm extremely happy with the choice. We spend a lot of time down there and wanted a warm surface. I should add that our sump pump is in an unfinished part of the basement and even then I'm not concerned with water in the basement due to the layout of our property.

*edit - Since it'll be used for a bedroom, living room, and entertaining, I'd also go with LVP versus epoxy.

 

[Gonzo]

Go with the LVP. Use decent underlayment. I’m not sure if these are available to rent but it saves a lot of trips up and down the stairs or dust in the basement compared to using a miter box.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGJSXJ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_sYCeGbAZBWBRK

Agree on the underlayment. Also I'd suggest getting the thickest you can find. LVP isn't as thick as laminate, good underlayment and thickest option plank will give it a more substantial feel than the less expensive options. We have a slider in our basement and were able to do the cutting outside on the patio. Otherwise, yes constant trips up/down stairs would've been a pain.

 

[throwittoblythe]

If you go LVP, don't go cheap. I went cheap when I was trying to put the finishing touches on a house I sold recently. I didn't go bottom dollar, but definitely in the lower half price range of what Menards offered. Planks were not all straight, would not all snap together properly and I fought that flooring for a few days and many cuss words. Even if you're prepping to sell, get something higher quality.

 

[Gonzo]

What are your plans for the use of the space? That's probably a big factor into what you consider. I've been on both ends of the wet and dry basement issues. First house I owned was built in the mid 50's and during a wet year would seep some and have some small trails of water coming from the footings and find it's way to the floor drain so I never tacked carpet down, just bought something cheap from Menards and laid it out like a rug basically that way if I did get water was easy to pull it back to shop vac and dry. Have done laminate in some other areas of that house like the kitchen and was cheap and easy install, looked just like a tiled floor when finished and held up well. I'm drawing a blank what the product was called but Home Depot has this peel and stick type of product that was pretty heavy duty that I used in a small bathroom that turned out pretty well too. It interlocked some as 2 of the 2 sides had these overlaps that would stick onto the surrounding tiles you put down. Need a nice clean surface and a sharp knife to cut it.

Our current house was built in the early 2000's and whoever did the basement sure waterproofed it well because the sump hardly ever gets water in it and never had dampness in the installed carpet. If you are confident your basement is water tight then by all means consider carpet if that is what you like otherwise I would not break the bank on flooring and go with something cheap but looks good and can withstand a little dampness.

Key point. We knew our teen daughters would be using the basement to hang with friends, another reason LVP worked well for us. If we'd had carpet down there it'd already be completely trashed by now with all the spilling and messes they create.

 

[dualthreat]

Thank you for the responses. The space will include a bedroom, a living room, and room for a pool table. Entertaining occasionally.

 

[wxman1]

Another vote for LVP. Just installed it on 90% of our upstairs. Overall insanely easy to install especially if you don't have a bunch of weird angles and/or door ways. I wish we would have rented or found a cutter like @AgronAlum posted instead of using miterbox to save on the dust, trips up and down and the fact that it turned out the one I borrowed from a neighbor was not true from front to back...that made things interesting.

 

[BryceC]

I'd avoid carpet. Even if you haven't had water in there, you never know. I'd also avoid laminate for the same reason.

I'd suggest looking into engineered/luxury vinyl plank (EVP/LVP). I finished our basement a few years ago and used LVP with a PVC core from LL. Very durable, looks great, and water proof. Installation is pretty easy as well, I'm not that handy but me and a buddy knocked it out without any problems. All you need is a miter saw for cuts. Planks lock in pretty easy.

Agree 100%.

We did epoxy paint on the floor when I was in high school at my old family home. It is incredibly tough and very little work. That said, it keeps the basement very cold and we avoided being in it due to that.

 

[AgronAlum]

Another vote for LVP. Just installed it on 90% of our upstairs. Overall insanely easy to install especially if you don't have a bunch of weird angles and/or door ways. I wish we would have rented or found a cutter like @AgronAlum posted instead of using miterbox to save on the dust, trips up and down and the fact that it turned out the one I borrowed from a neighbor was not true from front to back...that made things interesting.

I’ll add a little more to this. You can score and snap with a speed square and a utility knife but buy a pack of blades and keep them sharp.

You’ll also burn through blades on a miter saw because of the top coating. In the end it’s not that much more to buy a cutter than the miter blades, especially if you have a 12” saw.

 

[Tri4Cy]

I’ll add a little more to this. You can score and snap with a speed square and a utility knife but buy a pack of blades and keep them sharp.

You’ll also burn through blades on a miter saw because of the top coating. In the end it’s not that much more to buy a cutter than the miter blades, especially if you have a 12” saw.

Buddy of mine borrowed my miter saw for a project. I didn't realize he was cutting LVP. What a mess. Blade was a hot mess and the pivot points were all gummed up with melted plastic.

 

[cycloneML]

Epoxy is glorious. Don’t finish the floors with carpet or laminate. Midwest rains are heartbreaking for finished basement floors

 

[MisterO]

I’m a big fan of vinyl planking. Durable (and easy to repair if a piece or two is gouged or scratched), price is reasonable, looks great, and fairly easy to install.

If you opt for a pressure sensitive adhesive, consider rolling it on with a roller brush. I’ve used this method several times and you can cover large areas quickly and it’s much easier on your back and knees. Attach an extension to your roller and go to town! Give it about 30-45 minutes to let the adhesive get really tacky, and you’re ready to install.

Good luck!

 

[dualthreat]

Epoxy is glorious. Don’t finish the floors with carpet or laminate. Midwest rains are heartbreaking for finished basement floors

Do you have an epoxy product recommendation?

 

[cycloneML]

Home Depot sells a garage floor kit that we used In our basement A box that shows a car on it.