Looking for something a little different for your basement floor? Take a look at the Blacksburg Barn Board laminate flooring if you are thinking about redecorating or remodeling your basement. This floor can bring a unique look to just about any room and can be something special in the right below grade installation.

This particular laminate is by Dream Home in their St. James collection. It does have some special features to it in that it is a V-groove laminate that’s 12mm with an additional 3mm of pre-glued underlayment already attached to each plank. The planks sport some very deep medium colored hues that’s sure to warm up an area that’s mostly thought of as cold and dreary. Not only will this flooring be very durable but it also comes with a 30 year warranty.

The St. James Barn Board laminate will give you the ability to create a simply stunning floor in your basement. The V-groove makes installation a breeze as their is no glue or nails involved. And as an added feature, the planks also come in random lengths which adds to the impression that you have a solid, real wood floor in your basement. This is an HDF Laminate that’s made for a floating floor installation.

Installation Tips For Barn Board Laminate Flooring

There’s really not a lot you have to watch out for with this flooring, other than if you are planning for a weekend upgrade you are going to want to get the packages in the room a little early. It’s recommended to get the flooring and store it flat in the packaging for at least 48 hours in the room where you are going to install it. This lets the flooring acclimate properly and you won’t have any surprises after you lay the floor down. Just like any other flooring, the concrete slab or subfloor should be a stable, flat, dry surface that is clean. One thing that is recommended is that if you are going to install it directly over a concrete slab is that you lay down some kind of moisture barrier first.

Because this flooring material is really easy to install, you can do it yourself without the help of a professional installer. So if you do this project yourself, here’s a professional installation tip to help you along the way and get that good-looking, unique floor. You don’t want the floor to be all uniform, take your time and mix up the planks as you install them. This way you won’t end up with too many light and dark panels sitting next to each other. Rather they’ll be more spaced throughout and give the look of a professionally laid solid wood floor.

One Word Of Caution

This flooring does not need additional padding underneath. It already has 3mm underlayment padding attached to the planks. Adding additional padding under the planks could actually cause the floor to weaken and break in the joints over time. It’s good to go right out of the box.

Why Would You Put This In The Basement

There’s some definite advantages to using this as your basement floor. First, you get the look of a real wood floor as the packages come with three different plank lengths in each box. As I said earlier, it’s got easy click installation without the need for glue or nails. It’s also a moisture resistant board with a pre-glued underlayment that comes to a total thickness of 15mm with a 30 year warranty.

Blacksburg Barn Board laminate flooring is a quality laminate that can be used on your basement floor today. With it’s easy installation and durability, beautiful color and attractive finish, you could have a new living room, family room, or even bedroom in your basement this weekend.

Hardwood flooring is some of the most sought after for almost any homeowner. The sheer depth and natural beauty that wood floors bring to any home creates a warm and comfortable feeling. However, they also come with a lot of problems as well. Take cost for instance, wood floors can run you thousands of dollars to install even in small rooms. For quality results, it’s not likely a DIY project and you will need a professional installer. And finally, we are talking about a basement here, these floors don’t do well with the natural moisture and humidity contents of a basement. But vinyl plank flooring for basement floors will solve all of those issues.

Using vinyl plank floors is a great option when you want the look of hardwood floors without the issues. But they come in so much more than just wood replica’s. You can actually get these in stone and ceramic tile look a likes as well, but the wood versions are some of the most popular for this type of flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is not only cheaper than real wood floors, but they are easier to install, easier to maintain, and are more durable making them suitable basement floor material.

People install vinyl plank systems in their basements because it has all the natural appearance of a real hardwood floor or laminate, but it has a major advantage over both. Vinyl Planks are waterproof! This one factor alone makes them the perfect choice for basement flooring, especially to those who have basements that occasionally have a moisture problem that they have to deal with.

Unlike vinyl tiles, these planks actually look like wood floors. The tiles typically kept the look rather tile-ish as most of them come in only square form. But the planks, on the other hand, are long and rectangular like you would expect a wood floor to look like. But first, let’s take a look at a few of these.

Allure Vinyl Plank Flooring

Allure vinyl flooring can be picked up at most all Home Depot stores, the problem is they all don’t carry the same items at the same time. But you should be able to order it. You can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $70 per case based on the type and finish you select. The planks themselves come in a pretty standard 6×36 inch shape like other strip flooring. The best thing about them is that their vinyl construction helps to make them resilient to scuff marks and scratches. Plus they are ideal flooring for a possible high-moisture area like a basement because they are water-resistant.

The TrafficMaster Allure collection sold at Home Depot is a beautiful collection. You can read the reviews yourself found around the internet and various forums, but overall the reviews have been extremely positive. There are some negative reviews but I’m under the impression that not all the directions were followed during installation as it seems that they are falling apart at the seams. Which leads me to believe that the rollers weren’t used as directed.

For a basement though, these floors are perfect! Remember, if your basement is naturally dark though you are going to want a lighter floor to make the room seem lighter. The Allure Oak would be a good fit for a room like that. If you want something a little different, than they do carry a Lisbon Cork that looks phenomenal. If you do have sufficient light in your basement though, you may opt for a darker looking floor. The Ebony Rosewood is super dark and would look really nice in a more formal type of basement while the Vinyl Teak is a bit lighter and would be super cool in a more entertaining type setting.

Congoleum Vinyl Plank Flooring

Congoleum is the brand of another really high quality vinyl basement flooring. With a 25 year warranty, these planks bond securely to each other and can be installed over virtually any subfloor or underlayment or concrete. This is another brand that gets very high reviews and will work in your basement as well because it’s waterproof.

They really have two different lines in this model: Connections and Endurance Plank. Connections seems to have all the traditional woods covered with an outstanding verion of Weathered Pine while the Endurance have a more deeper and richer look to them. With Endurance planks, you can choose from cherry, oak, maple and a sweet looking rustic.

Cutting Vinyl Planks

One thing that you’ll have to do if you install this flooring yourself is cut it. Cutting vinyl planks really isn’t that hard and can be done likely with tools you already have. All you really need is a utility knife or metal shears to get the job done. Just make sure you mark it appropriately and take your time with the cuts and you’ll have straight edges in no time as vinyl planks are really a lot easier to cut than wood or laminates.

Armstrong basement flooring is some of the most durable, quality flooring material that you’ll find most anywhere. With a product line ranging from engineered hardwood to laminates to linoleum, you are sure to find one that will be a perfect fit for your basement. After all, having your style in your basement should be the ultimate goal in your remodeling project.

If you plan to buy a new floor for your basement, do yourself a favor and first research to find the exact floor you are looking for at a price that you can afford. There’s nothing worse than installing a new floor that you’ll have to look at for years to come only to feel like you’ve been cheated, doesn’t fit, or that you’ve overpaid for it. So let’s take a look at a few of the options that Armstrong can provide for your basement.

Armstrong Linoleum Basement Flooring

Although linoleum is not the perfect flooring material for a basement, it is one that certainly can be used given favorable conditions. Thankfully, linoleum is fairly easy to install and can be put on almost any subfloor or bare concrete. One thing to note if you are planning on going directly to the slab, make sure that you have no moisture issues at all and that you do a proper bonding test to ensure that the linoleum will bond to the floor. I would highly recommend that you do not go directly to the concrete in a basement scenario though as there’s simply too much that could go wrong. Even though something may be possible to do, it’s not always the wisest decision to do it.

Linoleum is actually a green alternative flooring for the basement as it is constructed out of all natural materials. Manufacturers like Armstrong use items like linseed oil, wood dust, limestone and other various recyclable materials to construct quality linoleum floors. One very cool trait that most people don’t know about linoleum is the entire thickness of the piece (except the backing) is a single wear layer. That means that the color and pattern that you see on the top goes all the way through to the backing.

That’s a good thing because linoleum flooring is available in a huge array of vivid colors and patterns that range from solid to flecked to marbled to various graphics. But if you like to keep the green-effect, you can also get it in earth tones to remind everyone you are environmentally conscious. This flooring can be used in both new and older basements in a variety of colors and creative patterns to produce a stunning basement floor.

If you are looking for something a little different that will stand out in your basement then there are two linoleum’s by Armstrong that I would suggest to take a look at. The first one is the Bamboo Tan. This low gloss flooring looks spectacular sporting all the different shades of bamboo with an excellent swirl mixture of white. For a darker finished floor I’d suggest the Oak Brown.

Cost: Linoleum’s not that expensive in that you are looking at two to three dollars a square foot, maybe a little more. The problem comes in the installation as it can sometimes be a pain to do and is one that’s really better left to the professionals if you’ve never done flooring before.

Armstrong Laminate Basement Flooring

If two qualities that you are absolutely looking at for the floor in your basement is durability and easy maintenance, then laminate basement flooring is something you should really check out. What you may not know is that you can get this flooring in a stone design as well if you don’t want a wood looking floor. Plus, due to their construction and makeup, laminates are almost indestructible. They also make a great project floor for a first time do it yourselfer because they are so easy to install in a basement.

Laminate planks are actually made up of four layers: a wear layer, a design layer, a core layer and a backing layer. The wear layer is the top portion that you see that protects the boards from fading and stains. Underneath that is the design layer. This is where the visual appeal comes in. This layer is literally a high quality photograph of an actual wood, stone or other natural flooring material. Then comes the core layer that actually gives the board its strength. The inner core is typically made up of a plastic resin that will keep it all stable and flat. Finally is the backing layer which creates a moisture barrier. This will help in protecting the floor from warping. Using this layered technology gives the floors their durability.

Armstrong laminates have something that most laminates don’t, they can be installed virtually anywhere. Whether it’s for a formal living area, a bedroom or even the basement, these laminates can be assured to perform confidently. Sporting an above average stain resistance and wear layer, you don’t have to worry about the foot traffic and they even manufacture commercial grade laminates as well. Armstrong stands behind their laminates with warranties that vary from 20 years to a lifetime based on which floor you choose.

If you like the stone look as a floor, you could check out the Weathered Way laminates from Armstrong. These will give a lighter, more natural looking stone floor in the basement that will keep the room fresh. For a more traditional looking wood basement floor, you might go with the Vintage Pine or even the Wild Cherry that’s kind of in between a dark and light wood. These give a more “at-home” appeal. They do have some spectacular looking distressed wood versions as well and I really like the White Wash Walnut!

Cost: This one you will see in a wide range of prices stemming from 99 cents for the cheaper versions all the way to around $7 per square foot. They do make ones with padding that are a little more expensive. You can save on installation though as these are easy to do yourself, but if you have someone do it, you can expect another $1 to $3 a square foot installed.

Most all basements tend to be below-grade. That is a portion of their structure is below ground level. You can get into all different kinds of specifics surrounding that, but if your concrete basement floor has a section that is under ground, whether it’s just one wall or all of them, your basement is below-grade. Because of this, most flooring installed below-grade has to be either able to tolerate some exposure to water or be protected from it. Durability is a key here. Just think back to those winter thaws and spring rains, all that water seeps into the ground and makes the ground water level rise. And if it rises enough or becomes saturated enough around your home, you can expect to have some kind of moisture issues hitting your basement slab or walls. But it’s not only during those times, it can happen year round.

Because of that moisture, you’ve got to be a little selective around what kind of basement flooring you install. Sure, hardwood floors look great but are they really conducive in a basement environment? I guess with the right amount of time (and money) you could have hardwood flooring in your basement but you could also be in for a world of hurt if something ever happens to make the wood warp to where you have to replace it. And believe me, nobody likes a soggy carpet. If your basement is prone to moisture, these would be definite options to steer clear of.

Beautiful Solid Hardwood Flooring

Engineered basement flooring is another terrific option as well. You can still get that all natural hardwood flooring look in a protected piece of flooring. Engineered floor planks actually have a slice of wood embedded in it and typically urethaned or melamine resin or similar protective coating applied to protect the actual wood piece, so it’s not really solid wood. It’s fairly straightforward and easy to install and you can do it yourself if you are apt to. It’s a little less expensive than hardwood but a little more expensive than another option like laminate flooring.

Using laminate flooring though below grade can make for a really beautiful basement floor. Just like engineered floor planks, laminate floor planks are manufactured in the same style. However, instead of having that actual slice of wood, you get a photographic replica. Yep, it’s a picture. But, because of that, laminate floors come in a much wider range from woods to stones to tiles that can be used. That same type of protective coating is used to protect laminates from different stains and scratching. Plus, laminated flooring can be used in areas where the humidity changes frequently (like a basement) because it is far less prone to contract and expand like solid wood flooring with differing moisture conditions. That’s not to say it won’t, because it likely can, just not like hardwood flooring.

Laminate floors are floating floors. This simply means that they are not nailed down or directly glued to the concrete or sub-floor. It’s still not really recommended to install laminate floors directly on a concrete basement slab and you should use some kind of moisture barrier or subfloor for added protection and to keep the laminate away from any water that may seep through the slab.

Shaw Laminated Flooring

Saying all this, it’s likely that I’ve opened up a can of worms here and you’ve got questions. I know that I’ve been getting quite a few of them through the contact form as well as in the comments with people wanting to know more so I’ll take this to answer a few of the most popular.

Question: What is the difference between hardwood flooring, engineered flooring and laminated flooring? (From Jean Carlson, Ontario, CA)

One thing’s for sure, I like wood and the look it can bring to any home. Whether that’s through solid, engineered, or laminate. However, the classy selection has always been to where you can say you’ve got hardwood floors, there’s some real advantages to laminate. One is that solid wood flooring should only be installed above grade, while engineered and laminates can be installed below-grade. Solid wood planks are much thicker than the other two as the average size is around ¾” thick. Engineered and laminate planks however are typically only up to 3/8” thick and made up from several different layers of material. The top surfaces of those layers are the wood representation. In engineered, it’s an actual veneer. In laminates, it’s a high quality photograph. Price is also a variable difference. The cost will go down as you travel from solid to engineered to laminate. Because of their durability and affordability, laminates are becoming some of the most popular flooring options available.

Question: Do all basement laminate planks secure the same? (From Lee Woodard, New York)

Most all laminates are “floating floors” so they don’t really secure to anything. They simply float on top of the subfloor. But, if you are talking about how the individual planks “secure” to each other, than that’s a totally different question all together. There’s actually several different edge locking systems dependent on what brand or style of flooring you purchase. Some snap together by hand while others will require a gentle nudge with a soft rubber mallet to get it locked in place. Just check to see which one you are comfortable with and can afford. To me, no real one is better than the other as they all do their job. The difference comes in the manufacturing and type of material used for this locking system. Some are just cheap, and with cheap products you get cheap results. On those lesser expensive models you’ll sometimes find that you end up wasting planks when you go to snap them together as the tongue and groove will simply break or collapse. The ones that work still hold strong. While, on the other hand, using a good quality system like the ones in Pergo laminate flooring, you’ll find there is much less “waste” involved due to the locking. But that’s just one example.

Pergo Laminated Floors

Question: Are there places where you should not install laminated flooring? (From Eugene, Seattle, Washington)

Well of course there are, but just remember that laminated flooring is extremely versatile. You can put it in nearly any room. You can install it both below and above ground. You can even install it directly over concrete or wood or linoleum, as long as the surface is flat. However, there are certain places where you probably should not install laminate flooring. You should not lay laminate in places like a bathroom. Although it is possible if you take some added precautions, the bathroom is regarded as a “wet location”. And, since laminate is considered a wood-type product, it won’t do well in there. If you have other rooms that you consider “wet” rooms, then you should not put it there. Also, laminates don’t do well in outside areas like an enclosed porch.

Any room or location where there is a possibility for extended exposure to water could cause the material used in manufacturing laminates to swell. When laminate flooring swells, it will start to bubble up and become displaced along the seams causing an uneven and ugly looking appearance. That doesn’t mean that it can’t get wet occasionally due to a little mishap or spill, just that it needs to cleaned up and dried properly so it maintains its form.

Question: What are the three best advantages to using laminated flooring? (From Darryl, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Well, the first one for laminated basement flooring is price, it’s the cheapest flooring that you can get and still have the look of solid hardwood flooring in your basement. Secondly, it is absolutely one of the easiest floors to install that you can do yourself. There’s no nailing involved and most all of them these days are floating without glue. The only level of expertise you’ll really need is being able to cut the right dimensions and corners. And finally, laminates are quite durable. They hold up really well to scratching and with the use of high-def photos, they are less likely to fade like other flooring materials.

And that’ll about wrap it up. Those are the four most common questions that I’ve got regarding the use of laminate flooring below grade in a basement. As always, if you have others, feel free to leave them below.

Recently, I received an email from a reader who’s having a little bit of problems with her basement flooring as they have installed bamboo flooring that is buckled and dark from the water that’s penetrating their basement. It seems like they’ve got a drainage issue that pretty much keeps the basement wet or damp most all of the time. Read her problem just below and then we’ll discuss if there is a solution for wet basement flooring.

“We have a basement level that is susceptible to water penetration from an exterior drainage problem. Unfortunately, we only found out about this after we installed bamboo flooring which is now buckled and dark from the moisture. (It’s really not possible to fix the exterior drainage problem.) We’re going to take out the flooring, but we’re not sure what to put in. The sub-floor seems to be a mix of concrete and plywood. We can’t put in a floating floor. I could really use some advice. Assume that the floor will be damp all the time .

Thanks!
Jocelyn”

Well, as you can tell Jocelyn is in a little bit of a pickle here without being able to fix the drainage issue. One thing that would help would be a bit more knowledge and information around what exactly that drain problem is that’s keeping the basement wet. Not knowing is causing me a bit of a problem here as we can’t decipher where it’s coming from. The window, walls or up through the concrete. Another puzzling piece as well is how much water is actually getting in. At any rate, you should do all that you can to at least minimize the water coming into the lower level as this could be a potentially dangerous and unhealthy situation. Whether that is having a company come in and waterproof the basement or take measures into your own hands to do so, then do the best you can. Nobody wants their basement to end up potentially flooded. Hopefully nothing of value is down there as you certainly wouldn’t want it ruined and be out of pocket on it or worse, something not replaceable like family heirlooms.

What I wouldn’t use for flooring in this basement

Let’s start here first as it’s easier to say no then yes, at least for me. Wooden subfloors or any type of subfloor that maintains solid contact with your concrete basement floor would be out. That’s not to say that you can’t have a subfloor, as there are other types that will leave a vapor barrier in between it and the concrete so it can dry appropriately and also not rot from the water. Carpet or basement carpet tiles would also be out. The carpet will mildew and mold and the adhesives used to stick the tiles in place typically don’t hold up to repeated soaks in water. Engineered or laminate basement flooring would also not be a wise choice as you can already see what it’s done to your bamboo flooring. These would also likely buckle into an unsightly mess as well. I know most folks have an affinity for hardwood floors, but this basements a no-no.

Possible Wet Basement Flooring Ideas

Idea 1: Paint the basement floor. This could be a viable solution for many reasons. One, it’s cheaper to paint it than to install some type of flooring on it. Two, you can pretty much get any color that you’d like to have down there. Three, it won’t buckle or rot with water exposure, provided you get the right kind of paint. Finally, painting is easy. If you can paint a wall then you can paint a floor. Just don’t paint yourself into a corner. The one drawback with painted basement floor is that in a few years or so, you’ll probably have to paint it again as it will likely chip and peel in places depending on the exposure and traffic.

Idea 2: Stained basement floor. This is actually a growing trend. Although a little tougher than simply painting the floor, the outcome are beautiful and you can get really creative design wise with etchings and such. Plus with all the different types and colors of stains you have a wide range of choices to pick from. Look for some more from me soon on this one.

Idea 3: Tiled basement floor. This is another very viable option for wet basements. This one will take a little bit more manual labor than others as you’ll have to haul it all downstairs, but it also opens up the realm of possibilities as you’ll be able to use single patterns, multiple patterns, sizes, borders, etc. You can get very creative with using tiles and when they do get wet you just have to mop them up.

These are suggestions and to be used at your own risk. I would definitely consult a local basement professional to take a better look at the issue and then make a decision as to what you want to do with your basement floor.

“Best” is one of those words I don’t like to use much as it’s more of an opinion word. Not being a very opinionated type person, especially surrounding one’s home as it’s in the eye of the beholder (or homeowner in this case), I like to leave that part to you to make as to which one of these solutions would be the best flooring for a wet basement.