Engineered hardwood is considered a cost-effective and durable flooring solution that can be installed in places of high foot traffic. It is very much like solid hardwood but engineered to make it more durable, long-lasting, and high quality.
In today’s article, we will discuss if you can use engineered hardwood for basement floors.
Engineered hardwood for basement floors
Engineered Hardwood is an ideal solution to install in the kitchen, bathroom, and even basements. As most of the basement floorings are done using concrete, you can install engineered hardwood on top of the basement floor by gluing it down. If maintained properly, it will last for a lifetime.
Engineered hardwood is a modern type of flooring solution that is made to be durable and long-lasting. It is almost like solid hardwood, but it has better durability, impact resistance, and quality.
In addition to that, engineered hardwood is installed in the kitchen, bathrooms, and even in basements where it faces high foot traffic. It has good moisture and humidity resistance, which makes it more reliable to use.
The engineered hardwood is cheap and cost-efficient. That is why, if you are tight on your budget for basement flooring, you can try using engineered hardwood.
Many people tend to choose engineered hardwood over solid hardwood for flooring solutions because it has styles and it is almost identical to solid hardwood.
It is also recommended to install engineered hardwood for basement flooring because it is made with a top layer of hardwood which is called a wear layer.
This particular layer here has multiple layers of backing material, which makes the hardwood less affected by the changes in temperature and humidity. Here are some benefits of using engineered hardwood for basement flooring:
It’s cheap and cost-effective:
One of the main reasons why people choose to use engineered hardwood over solid hardwood is because it is cheap and cost-effective. So, if you have to install flooring solutions for your project that is huge, such as the basement.
It is highly efficient and convenient to use on any type of flooring solution as it is cheaper than the other flooring solutions available in the market.
That is why it is commonly chosen by people over solid hardwood due to its cost-effectiveness.
In addition to that, the installation cost and materials needed to install the engineered hardwood are also less than the average labor costs required to install other flooring solutions.
Durable and long-lasting:
The difference between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood is that the engineered hardwood is durable and long-lasting.
It is engineered that way so that it can have a longer life span and does not require any replacement or changes. But it needs proper maintenance to maintain the quality of the flooring.
Once you install engineered hardwood for basement flooring, it will last for a long time if maintained properly.
Since the basement is a place that faces a moderate amount of foot traffic every day, it is important to choose the right type of flooring solution for the basement that will be able to resist the impact.
It has a range of styles:
The best part of using engineered hardwood in basement flooring instead of solid hardwood is that it is almost identical to solid hardwood and has a range of styles.
As a result, you get to have many options to choose from when installing the engineered hardwood.
The range of styles makes the engineered hardwood almost identical to the solid hardwood and other types of flooring solutions.
That’s why you can prefer to have engineered hardwood as your basement flooring solution instead of other flooring solutions available on the market.
Moisture and humidity resistance:
Engineered hardwood is made using modern technology that makes it moisture and humidity-resistant. In addition to that, it is recommended to use on such types of floors that face high foot traffic and heavy impacts.
That is why it is chosen by many people for basement flooring due to its versatility.
The hardwood is engineered in such a way that it will help to prevent moisture and humidity from accumulating inside the floor and causing damage to it. As a result, it will have a longer life span.
Engineered hardwood vs laminate floor in the basement:
There are different types of flooring solutions that you can install in your basement to maintain its quality and make it look better.
Generally engineered hardwood and laminate flooring are the almost same type of flooring options with the same characteristics. Both the flooring solutions are made to be durable.
However, the engineered hardwood requires more maintenance. In addition to that, the engineered hardwood and laminate flooring solutions are almost identical to solid hardwood and provide you with the same type of looks.
But you need to choose a type of flooring solution that will be durable and long-lasting. Since the basement is a place that faces moderate food traffic every day, it is recommended to install engineered hardwood.
However, the engineered hardwood requires more maintenance compared to the laminate flooring solution.
Otherwise, it may get damaged easily. As a result, if you are not able to maintain the engineered hardwood properly, you can opt for the laminate flooring solution.
You can simply maintain the laminate flooring solution by providing it with re-finishes after a certain time.
Considering that both the flooring solutions can be installed as both of them have the almost same type of specifications and performance.
However, it is recommended to install engineered hardwood because it who’s better protection against humidity and moisture.
Things to know before installing engineered hardwood floor:
It is very important to choose the right type of flooring solution for your basement so that it can last for a long time. If you are tight on budget for such types of flooring solutions, you can go for engineered hardwood.
In addition to that, the engineered hardwood is available in a range of styles that will help you to choose a perfect one from the huge variety of collections.
But there are a few things to know before installing the engineered hardwood flooring solution. There are discussed below:
Make sure the floor is prepared:
The first thing you need to make sure of before installing engineered hardwood in your basement is that the sublayer floor is cleaned and prepared.
It is important to vacuum and sweep all the dust and debris from the floor so that the engineered hardwood can stick to the subfloor properly.
Flooring stapler and finish nailer:
One of the main components and materials that are needed for installing the engineered hardwood is a flooring stepper and a finish nailer.
It will help you to secure your planks into place throughout the process. You need to make sure that you have them before you start installing the engineered hardwood.
Moisture barrier:
It is important to add a moisture barrier before you apply the engineered hardwood over a solid floor.
Types of flooring that are best for the basement:
Engineered hardwood is a cheap and cost-efficient flooring solution compared to the other flooring solutions available in the market. It is almost identical to solid hardwood and provides you with maximum durability and impact resistance.
It also has good moisture and humidity resistance, which will increase its lifespan significantly.
But there are some other materials in the market that you can use for the flooring solution of your basement.
Some of them are cheaper and more convenient, but they may not be able to provide you with the glaze and performance like the engineered hardwood.
If you want to get your job done, some flooring solutions are based for the basement mentioned below:
Paint:
Paint is a commonly used type of flooring solution that many people tend to choose. Because a basement is a large area and applying a flooring solution over the basement is expensive.
That is why you can try using paint for basement flooring because it will cost around $10 per square foot, which is pretty cheap and convenient.
Vinyl planks:
Vinyl planks can also be used as a flooring solution because they are pretty convenient and efficient to use. In addition to that, you can also replace them after a certain time which does not cost that much replacement.
Tiles:
Tiles are one of the best flooring solutions that you can install in the basement because they are very strong and durable. In addition to that, they have a good impact resistance, which enables them to sustain moderate foot traffic.
As a result, it is a reliable and convenient solution to install tiles as a basement flooring solution, keeping in mind the cost, comfort, durability, and appearance.
Final Thoughts
Engineered hardwood is considered one of the most convenient solutions that can be used as basement flooring solutions. It is cheap and cost-efficient. It has good impact resistance. It is also able to protect the surface from moisture and humidity, which will increase its longevity.