Basements are made by pouring concrete for the floor with the foundation walls in place. In Canada, basements were originally dug for practical reasons - so the plumbing and other service lines could be laid below the frost line and brought safely into the home. The fact that this also provided additional storage under the same roof was a bonus.
Homebuilders today are planning houses with more intentional living, working, and recreational space in the basement. More and more, customers are designing their basements to accommodate their needs for usable space and to reflect their personal style.
Decorative concrete is one of the best options for basement flooring in today's housing market. You can design a floor to reflect your style - patterned, coloured, acid washed - whatever you like. Some additional ideas for your basement floor design are:
You may also want to install a radiant heating system under your floor. Concrete is a good conductor of heat so your concrete floor is warm to the touch which may allow you to turn down the furnace just a touch.
When compared to other flooring options, such as hardwood or carpet, concrete offers many advantages in terms of hygiene and durability. Concrete can be swept, swiffered, wet or dry mopped, and is not easily damaged or scratched as is hardwood. Carpet must be vacuumed frequently, and even then harbors dust and allergens. Nowadays, custom concrete floors are a practical & cost effective basement floor option.
