Finishing Basement

[wannaheadsouth]

I'm beginning the framing on my basement this weekend. We have a finished room in the basement with a seperate 3rd bath/laundry room already. It's going to become a new master suite. I'm going to frame a large walk-in closet at one end of the room so the DW will be happy. Hopefully it will be sheetrocked and ready to paint this week. Next weekend will be the new laminate hardwoods. It's been a while since I've got do a construction project so I'm ready to get started.

 

[aaarcher86]

Fyi, Pinterest has some fabulous ideas regarding basement finishing.

I've lost so many hours on Pinterest with this project lmao

That looks nice, but I'm not sure why you are so against carpet? It is still going to feel like concrete. We lie on the floor to play games, and the kids have lots of sleepovers. (And I would always be terrified of someone falling on it. wont that be slippery?) I really wanted to have the hangout house. All of their friends love it down there. I guess it depends on what you're hoping to use it for, but I don't think it will be very inviting to sit on.

I'm not super against it. It's probably my favorite basement flooring option - but I'm more concerned with moisture and mold. We haven't had any big problems, but I mentioned before our water heater burst a few years ago soaking the floor. Just kind of put me off the whole idea.

The bedroom will be carpeted. The dance room will have a removable dance floor in there. The only other room is just a game room - more so for video games. We aren't big floor sitters. We'll have a few big comfy chairs that pull out into beds if people want to sleep down there.

But no, the floor isn't slippery - just shiny. Like the flooring in a car showroom. And at the end of it all I figure we can try this, if we hate it or it doesn't turn out we can always carpet over it.

 

[LJSquishy]

I've lost so many hours on Pinterest with this project lmao



I'm not super against it. It's probably my favorite basement flooring option - but I'm more concerned with moisture and mold. We haven't had any big problems, but I mentioned before our water heater burst a few years ago soaking the floor. Just kind of put me off the whole idea.

The bedroom will be carpeted. The dance room will have a removable dance floor in there. The only other room is just a game room - more so for video games. We aren't big floor sitters. We'll have a few big comfy chairs that pull out into beds if people want to sleep down there.

But no, the floor isn't slippery - just shiny. Like the flooring in a car showroom. And at the end of it all I figure we can try this, if we hate it or it doesn't turn out we can always carpet over it.

I agree with you in that you should give it a shot with the concrete floor (as long as it's inexpensive) and get a giant area rug. Typically I'd suggest carpet for the main basement area, but if you really like the look of the concrete floors and at least want to try it out, you won't be out much money with an area rug. I love Rugsusa.com -- their quality is actually really good (I've only bought wool rugs there) and they periodically have 60%+ off sales. The 10x12 wool rug I purchased from Rugsusa.com is incredibly thick and looks great! It's held up for 2 years so far and was under $200 (in a nice modern trellis pattern, too). I figured if something happens to it, I won't be out $800+ like we were with our old Pottery Barn wool rug.

I must say, though, that if you do have another leak or something, carpet isn't ruined if it gets wet -- if it's just somewhat wet, you can air it out (dehumidifier & fans), and if it's actually soaked from a huge leak, you can pull it up temporarily. I love hard surfaces + wool area rugs myself, but if I had a basement I'd put carpet down there for comfort.