Using Laminate Flooring in the Basement

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The chameleon of floors, laminate flooring imitates other flooring options in appearance. Made with a wood chip composite or fiberboard base, laminate floors have a durable transparent top layer, which is essentially a photograph of hardwood, tile, stone, or other flooring material. It is super durable and easy to clean, but beware of water eating away at the soft center.

Pros: Laminate flooring is fairly easy to install. Most laminate comes in a “click-lock” design and is often combined with dry glue that’s already on the product. Just a swipe of water from a sponge or cloth will activate the glue. It’s durable; resists denting, fading, scratching, and it resists stains. You can find wood grains, stone, and other natural materials. Unlike real hardwood, which comes with many flaws that need to be thrown out or re-cut, there are no defects in laminate flooring. This type of flooring is ideal for basements or anywhere where “topical moisture” is encountered. Clean-up is very easy; just use a vacuum or broom and slightly damp mop.

Cons: Laminate flooring is hard under the foot; a foam under-padding helps.  It’s slippery, though some manufacturers have been developing slip resistant wear layers. The biggest disadvantage to laminate flooring is you can’t sand or refinish it; if worn, scratched or grooved it cannot be fixed – it must be replaced.

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