So you are looking to finish off a family room, play room or spare room in the basement but don’t really know what kind of flooring to use. You’ve thought about tile but don’t really want a hard floor that’s also going to be cold on your bare feet especially during the winter months. You like the thought of having wall-to-wall carpet for all its benefits like having a soft and inviting room that’s also warm to your feet, but don’t want to deal with the problems associated with carpeting in the basement. Well, with technology today, some possibilities have just opened up where you could use some rubber backed carpet squares to cover your basement floor.

When you start talking about putting carpet below-grade, you are going to run into some obstacles as well as varying opinions and personal tastes from people that both do and do not like this type of flooring in a basement. Some of the arguments you’ll hear is that there is too much risk for damage and that carpets will sometimes harbor a musty smell after a period of time. But, using quality rubber backed carpet square for basement floors is a good step in the right direction when you are looking for better options for better carpet at a better price.

What Are Tile Carpet Squares?

Carpet squares can give you all the comfort that you are seeking from a traditional carpet but in a new and effective way. Simply put, they are flexible pieces of carpet that come in a more practical tile format versus a huge roll. Some manufacturers are also implementing a touch of green-ness to them as well as they are building them with both renewable and recyclable materials. Plus, they come in a very wide range of designs, textures and colors making them a perfect combination of responsibility and style for your basement floor.

Carpet tiles are constructed uniformly in various sizes but the most common are 24×24 and 36×36 inches square. They really come in two different types, those that have a self adhesive backing and those with no adhesive backing. The ones with adhesive backing work basically just like vinyl tile in that you just peel and stick it to the concrete basement floor. For the other ones, they are typically stuck in place using a double sided carpet tape that is sometimes furnished with the product.

Basement Carpet Tile Squares Versus Rolled Carpeting

So what’s the difference between carpet tiles for the basement versus standard carpeting? Carpet squares come in multiple different types from fibers to piles, manufacturers to adhesion. So basically what this means to you is that if you are looking for a certain type of carpet, you are likely to find it (or something eerily similar) in a tile version.

The big difference, other than the obvious, is the backing material used on tiles versus standard carpet rolls. There’s another item that you need to look out for as well and that’s the warranty as they will and should be different. You will have different issues with tiles versus rolled carpet like buckling and curling.

Advantages of Carpet Tile Squares on Basement Floors:

If you are looking at putting carpet tiles on your concrete basement floor, you’ll be surprised to know that there are quite a few advantages to doing so:

• Installation – Carpet squares are so much easier to install than standard carpeting. You don’t have to mess with the tack boards and all the securing and carpet stretching involved. They make for the perfect weekend warrior as a simple DIY project. And if you get the kits, most come with very precise and clear instructions so it’s really hard to mess up.
• No Carpet Padding – Carpet tiles come with a backing already installed so there’s no need to mess with rolled carpet padding here. Plus you don’t have to with any messy glue to get them to stick.
• Easier Care and Cleaning – This is probably one of the biggest pluses of using carpet tiles in your basement. With tiles, you can actually remove it from the floor, do the deep cleaning you need to do to it versus the entire carpet, and then simply reinstall it. Plus, if it’s un-cleanable or without repair, you can simply just replace it with a new tile.
• Design Freedom – You can easily mix and match or layout a design to your liking with carpet tiles to get the proper combination and color for your basement floor.

Disadvantages of Using Carpet Tile Squares:

It’s not all peaches and cream with carpet tiles though; there are some things that you should be aware of:

• Cost – Dependant on the style and brand, carpet squares can be a little more expensive than rolled carpet. Where you save is the self-installation.
• Subfloor – Just like carpet, you will still need a fairly clean and stable concrete basement floor that’s relatively flat without any moisture issues. You don’t want to run the risk of entering into a mold or mildew problem.
• Wear and Tear – Now I really don’t have a lot to back this one up because everything I’ve both read and seen look to be fine, but you will find some out there that say in higher traffic areas they won’t hold up as well as rolled carpet. I’m not really sure where that’s coming from because depending on the type of carpet, some just hold up better than others.
• Installation Issues – You do have to be careful while installing them as you can’t simply just throw them down. If you do you are likely to have places and patches where the seams may show a little too much or just seem uneven. You can combat this by taking your time and setting the seams to where you are satisfied with the job by removing any trapped yarns with a credit card by simply running it through the seams. Just ensure that the panels still remain snug after doing so.

Different Types Of Carpet Squares?

Most all major manufacturers make carpet squares including some of the top industry giants like Milliken, Mannington, Shaw, and Mohawk. Here’s a sampling of some of the more interesting ones that I’ve seen.

Legato Milliken Carpet Squares

Cadence Shaw Carpet Squares

Commercial Carpet Squares

If your basement is going to be a more interactive high-traffic area, you may opt for commercial carpet squares instead. They offer all the same benefits of regular squares like the ease of installation, flexibility and modularity to create fun and interesting floor designs in your basement, but they are made to withstand years of high-traffic wear and tear. These may be just what you are looking for in an entertainment room, kids play room or home office. If you don’t really know what commercial grade carpet squares are, take a look the next time you happen to be out and about. You’ll run into these most likely when you are at an office building, daycare or school, hotels and some restaurants, and maybe even your local church.

Special Note:
If you are planning on installing carpet squares in your basement you might want to pick up a few extra as well, just like you would do with laminate basement flooring. It’s always nice to not have to go back later and try to match it up in case you run into a problem with one or two of them later in their life cycle as with most any product the actual colors and designs can change from time to time. Having them on hand will allow you to make quick and easy replacements and repairs to your floor if it does get damaged later unintentionally.

Carpet squares are becoming more and more predominant as basement flooring applications due in part to their simplicity in installation as well as the variety of designs and styles that can be purchased. It’s a simple, effective and easy way to change the look of your basement today.

Tiling a basement floor is something that most any homeowner can handle provided you got a couple tools to do the job and enough time to get it done right. If you don’t then you can certainly contact a professional to get it done for you. Having tile floors in the basements is actually a superb flooring option as you won’t have to deal with all the water issues that you would with other types of flooring materials like carpet or laminate basement flooring because tile is waterproof. Now the tile I’m speaking of in this case pertains to ceramic, porcelain or stone tile

What To Look At First For Tiled Basement Flooring:

One of the first things you need to look at when tiling a basement floor is the actual condition of the floor itself. Is it clean and basically level? Does it have cracks or holes that will need to be taken care of first? Do you have any moisture issues that you’ll need to deal with first through some waterproofing measures? Tile can be a fickle fiend when trying to install and maintain it on an unlevel, unsightly floor. You absolutely need a clean, mostly level floor to install tile on in the basement or it will eventually to cracking and grout problems.

To seal or not to seal, that’s the next question. Depending on which “expert” you talk to, there are definitely two differing opinions with whether you should seal the basement floor before tiling it. Some will tell you that it’s needed to protect the tiles and grout from moisture related problems while others argue that’s what the latex added thinset is for and that tile is already waterproof. Personally, I’d stay away from sealing it if you are going to install tile on it. But you should always check with the manufacturer first for a final ruling depending on the type of tile you select and the warranty you are expecting.

Basement Floor Tile Selection:

When it comes to finding the right tiles for basement floors, there’s really no wrong selection to make, just depends on what look you are going for and how much time you have to do the job. The first thing to do would be to go to a tile store so you can actually get a good visual of the selection they have and actual touch and feel it. Remember that you’ll likely walk barefoot across it at one time or another. You can mix and match them to come up with basically any pattern that you feel “fits” the situation. One suggestion that I can give on your tile selection is this, larger floor tiles work better. If this is your first tiling job, try to stick to at minimum the 8”x8” squares, preferably the 12”x12” or 14”x14”. They do come larger than that, all the way to 24” squares, but those are a little bulky to work with starting out.

Why You Need A Grid Layout:

There’s no better solution to laying your ceramic tile basement floor than to start by popping chalk lines into a grid styled layout. Why? For starters, a grid styled layout allows you to see precisely where each tile is going to be and where you’ll have to make your cuts. This is especially true on large basement floors. In addition, it ensures that the installation of a ceramic tile basement floor is consistently square. I can’t stress enough the importance of maintaining accurate measurements throughout the layout process.

Measuring Basement Tiles for Chalk Lines:

One thing to note, this works for basically any floors, not just basements. To gain an accurate measurement, you actually need to have the tiles in hand at this point. Do a quick sort and make sure that they are all roughly the same size. Then pick 3 of them and lay them out linearly like the picture shown. Be sure to put your spacers in place between the tiles now so that you’ll have the gout lines represented. Now what you do is measure from the outer edge of the first tile to the inner edge of the third tile, making sure to include the grout joints in your measurement. This is denoted in the “red” space on the image. Take note of this measurement as that is what you are going to be using to pop the chalk lines on the basement floor.

Marking Basement Floor Chalk Lines:

After you’ve got the floor all cleaned and dust free (you might need to sweep and vacuum it a few times) you are ready to start setting the chalk lines. These are nothing more than guidelines to keep your tile installation all “square”. There’s two ways you can go about this and both look good.

The first way is to work from the center of the room out to the exterior walls. First, you simply find the center of the room by snapping chalk lines from the middle of opposing walls. What you end up with at the intersection of the two lines is the “center” of the room. From there you work both left and right snapping chalk lines that will keep your tiles square throughout the installation. You may even want to make the entire grid using both horizontal and vertical chalk lines to ensure even spacing throughout. Just remember to add in the extra space for the spacers that you’ll remove and grout later. This will create a nice evenly spaced pattern throughout the room starting from the center of it. The only downfall to this method is that if you are new to tiling, you tend to end up with a lot of cuts around the edges to fill in.

The second method is a little different as you start from a corner instead of the center. Find the longest and straightest wall in your basement and start in that corner. Typically, these are an exterior wall, but if you have an interior load bearing wall it could be that as well. Next, you simply measure and mark off the floor from one end of the wall. When done, repeat the same process on the other end of the wall with the same measurement. Pop a chalk line between the two marks. Then repeat these same steps for the walls on the opposite sides. Use a square and make sure everything is “in square” by testing a few of the intersecting chalk lines. If they aren’t, you’ll need to adjust and re-pop the lines. This is an easier installation for the first timer’s. The only downfall with this method is that you’ll likely end up with one or two walls having cut tiles along the edges. Still, it’s all square and will look good.

Special Note Before Installing Ceramic Basement Tile:

For this installation, we are going to assume using the second method listed above. You are going to want to start your ceramic basement tile installation in the corner you first started popping the two original chalk lines. To make this smooth and easy, you are going to want to start your first grout joint to the wall, don’t butt the tile directly on the wall. If you don’t have a 4-foot level, you are going to need one. This will help you keep your tiles straight throughout the installation. You will insert spacers on each corner of the tile joints. Spacers come in different sizes but typical spacer size is between 1/4” to 5/16” wide. If you are using the larger tiles I find it best to keep about a 1/4” spacer between the tiles. It’s much more important to keep the ceramic tiles properly aligned to your chalk lines within the grid versus keeping the grout lines at a consistent width.

How To Tile A Basement Floor:

The first thing you are going to need is a large 5 gallon bucket. If you don’t have one you can usually pick them up from a hardware store for a couple bucks. You’re going to use this bucket to mix up the thinset with a latex additive. Not all thinsets are the same so make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You’ll know when you are done mixing when the thinset has the consistency of mom’s morning oatmeal. Never had it? You should, great way to start the day.

Next, start in the corner we noted above and using a 1/4 inch notched trowel apply the thinset to the first grid squares on the basement floor. You only want to work one grid square at a time to maintain consistency so be sure to only cover that much. Then you’ll want to apply a small amount of thinset to the back of the ceramic tile and place it in the desired location. To really set it, just wiggle it back and forth a couple of times pressing firmly to ensure that it bonds with the thinset you already laid on the floor. Set your spacers and move on to the next tile.

Continue installing the tiles checking to make sure that you are still “square” and “in-grid” as you go working your way down or across to the opposite wall. As you get closer to the edge of the surrounding walls, you will need to cut the basement tiles to the appropriate size using either a tile cutter or wet saw.

Grouting a Tiled Basement Floor:

After the tile basement flooring has set up over a 24 hour period you can then grout the tile. The first thing you are going to need to do is to remove all the spacers. Have a pair of pliers handy as some of them maybe a little tough to break loose. Once you’ve got all the spacers up, it’s time to move on to a little more cleanup and preparing the grout. You are going to need a couple 5 gallon buckets here, a couple of sponges and a grout float to do it right.

Before you start grouting a tiled basement floor, you need to clean the joints and the surface of basement tile thoroughly. You’re trying to remove all the dirt and dust that may have settled as well as any remaining dried thinset mortar. Now you need that clean 5 gallon bucket again to mix your grout. Just follow the instructions for the grout mix you got. This time you want to make it a little smoother, something along the consistency lines of peanut butter versus oatmeal. This will allow the grout to be worked and spread much easier. Just go back to your starting point and drop a fairly big glob of grout down. Take your grout float and angling it slightly, push and pull the grout to you working it in between the tiles. Yes you will get grout on the tiles as well but you’ll clean that up in a bit. Take your time and only grout a small area of the basement floor at a time. After a while you’ll get more comfortable with the process and be able to do larger sections. If you have grout left over on the floor, use a clean grout float to pick up the excess. Just be sure to not dig into the grouted areas when you’re doing it. It’ll take about 15 minutes or so for the grout to set up, then you can move to the next portion of the project where you’ve got to clean up your mess.

With a clean bucket of water, go back to your starting point. Take one of your sponges and get it damp. On this part you are going to want to work your sponge on the tile at an angle to the grout lines. You will cross the grout lines, but don’t work directly on them. Pull the sponge back towards you to wipe up the filmy grout off the tiles. Just don’t dig into the grout lines. Flip the sponge over and repeat. It’s important at this step to rinse the sponge clean, you are trying to get the excess grout up and not spread it around. You are going to repeat this process over the entire basement floor. During this, your water may become quite dirty. In an effort to keep it clean, take the time and refresh the water.

Now you’ve just finished tiling a basement floor. Before you get all giddy and start rushing to put everything in your new basement, just allow 24 hours for the grout to really set and dry.

If after the 24 hours there still seems to be a little “film” on your beautiful ceramic tiles, use a quick mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar per gallon of mop water and mop the floor thoroughly. Be sure to do a secondary mopping with clean water after that.

Tile for basement flooring is an exceptional choice. Big. Small. Rectangular. Square. Way too many colors, shapes and designs to even think of them all. One things for sure, tile floors in basements is never out of style. What we plan on covering this time around here at Basement Flooring Guide is the differences, the designs, the rules and you for ceramic tile on basement floors.

Differences in Tile Basement Flooring: First off, you have a huge choice in different types of tiles available for you to choose from for your tile basement flooring needs. There are virtually no limits to the possibilities afforded to you with using tile in a basement. From size and shape to color and finish, you can virtually make the room of your dreams. Not only that, you can almost gaurantee yourself that using tile in a non-uniform pattern you will end up with a unique basement flooring design that will differentiate itself from any other room in your house. Quite possibly, this design could be different than any other house on your block, town, city or state.

Tile Basement Flooring Design: Have an inner artist or designer in you? Here’s your chance to explore your creative side. Tile is such a fluid medium in that you can shape and design not only in size but also in color and contrast, it allows you to put your own personal stamp on your basement. Go ahead and get creative. Explore different ideas. Explore differnt fashions. Mix and match colors, textures and finishes if you so desire for your own innovative basement world.

Rules of Tile Basement Flooring Design: So just what are the rules of design for basement tile floors? I love this one, it’s an oldie but a goodie. Rule number 1, there are no rules. Rule number 2, when in doubt, see rule number 1. That’s it. Truly there are no rules. It comes back to basic personal choice and the home owners creativity (or lack thereof). If you like a straight uniform design, then so be it. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you’d like to use multiple color combinations to get that tropical feel and bring you back to a warm sunny day, go for it. Non-conformist? Use multiple shapes, colors and sizes to achieve that glorious mural right there on your basement floor.

Where do you fit in: Bottom-line is, everywhere when it comes to tile basement flooring. Every designer knows that design is personal. Let your inner artist come out. If you like it, isn’t that all that matters anyways as you are the one that lives there. By all means, express yourself and your personal tastes. It’s your home in your style for your way of life. One of the greatest things about tile is being able to design your own designs and then visibly seeing your creation come to life!