Table of Contents
Cheap Basement Flooring Ideas Epoxy and Concrete Paint. Paint is generally your cheapest basement floor option. Concrete Stain and Sealer. Concrete stain is another inexpensive option. Linoleum or Vinyl. Ceramic Tile Flooring. Rubber and Foam Mats. Traditional Carpet Flooring. Laminate or Engineered Hardwood.
What can I use to cover a concrete floor?
One low-cost option to covering concrete floors is laminate flooring. Laminate comes in a variety of designs and colors. The laminate material can mimic the look of wood, tile or natural stone flooring.
How do you cover old concrete floors?
Resurface It If you’re dealing with more significant damage, a concrete overlay is usually the most effective option because it can make your floor look like new. With a concrete overlay, a new, thin layer of concrete is laid over the existing floor to create a smooth, flawless surface.
What is the best floor covering for a concrete floor?
For the money, The best flooring types for concrete slabs are luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or planks (LVP) and ceramic or stone tile. These products are durable and work well in any room.
How can I make my concrete floor look nice?
Another way to make your concrete floor look even better is to add some color by painting it! You can use one color or, if you want, you can paint patterns with numerous different shades of paint. Just have fun and make it look great!Jul 12, 2013.
What do you put on concrete floor before laminate?
For concrete or wood subfloor use of rubber or foam underlayment is recommended. When laminate flooring is installed on concrete there are many factors that should be taken in account. First and probably most important factor is humidity of concrete surface.
Do I need a subfloor over concrete?
While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: A subfloor will help insulate against a concrete floor that becomes overly cold in winter.
Can you leave concrete floors bare?
If nothing else, bare concrete isn’t the best look. Concrete is porous and can be penetrated by moisture and contaminants. This can lead to bacteria build up and make it very difficult to achieve a high level of hygiene. Floors coated with a seamless, impervious surface are much easier to clean and maintain.
How do you rejuvenate a concrete floor?
Refinishing Options for Older Concrete Floors Filling joints and cracks. Before you do any other work, the first step is to repair any damage to the floor. Staining. If you’d like to change the color of your floor, consider applying an acid-based or acrylic stain. Polishing. Urethane. Epoxy and other specialty coatings.
How do you smooth out an old concrete floor?
Preparing the Floor Put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Open the garage door and any windows available. Strip off paint, sealers or any other coatings on the floor. Clean the floor thoroughly. Scuff the floor with a coarse wire brush. Fill in thin cracks, those less than 1/4-inch, with concrete crack filler.
What is the cheapest flooring to put over concrete?
The best options for both appearance and ease of installation are vinyl planks and sheet vinyl. Both can be “floated” over concrete—meaning they are not glued down but are instead laid on a thin underlayment sheet with bonded seams (sheet vinyl) or interlocking seams (planks).
Do you need to seal a concrete floor before laying laminate?
You don’t need to seal a concrete floor before installing laminate; however, to prevent moisture from the concrete floor from affecting your laminate, install a vapor barrier of polyethylene film. Install this barrier even if the concrete subfloor is covered by vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo or ceramic tile.
How much does it cost to polish an existing concrete floor?
On average, the cost per square foot to polish existing concrete floors is anywhere between $2 and $15, based on data from ImproveNet. If you don’t have an existing concrete subfloor or it’s not in workable condition, you’ll have to pour a new slab.
Can you glue down laminate flooring to concrete?
Yes, You Can! You are in luck! You can glue laminate flooring to a concrete wall, but you will need a special adhesive to make sure that your planks do not come falling down off of your walls due to the concrete wall having more moisture in it than regular drywall.
How flat does concrete floor need to be for laminate?
Most manufacturers recommend that the floor be flat to within 3/16” in a 10 ft. radius. These measurements are consistent with most other types of floor coverings. On floating floors, vertical movement needs to be kept to a minimum.
Can you put a vapor barrier over concrete?
You’ll typically need a vapor barrier if you’re installing flooring over concrete. Therefore, because concrete is porous, it’s a good idea to install a vapor barrier over your concrete subfloor before installing your flooring.
Can I put plywood over concrete floor?
If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. However, a new concrete floor contains a lot of moisture. The moisture level of the concrete should be down to 5.5% before attaching the plywood subflooring.
How do you secure a subfloor to concrete?
To nail down the subfloor, always use a mechanical system such as a powder load or pneumatic pressure nail gun. Beginning at the center to prevent bowing, fasten the subfloor using a 12” x 12” grid on the interior and every 6-8” along the perimeter (2” from the panel edge).
How do you insulate a raised floor over concrete?
There are two ways to handle insulating concrete floors. You can attach wood sleepers to the floor, fill the gaps with rigid-foam insulation, and then apply a subfloor and finish flooring.
Can you DIY concrete floors?
DIY CONCRETE FLOOR – MATERIALS NEEDED This stuff is simply a delight to work with! You can apply it in thin, thin, layers and then build it up to a beautiful finish. It used to be hard to find, but now it’s available online!Feb 19, 2014.
