Low Down On Basements

Lowdown on Your Basement

Happy Summer Everyone! Even though it isn't officially summer yet, it sure feels like summer already, with temperatures in the 90's! The kids are out of school, and we are all happy about that. Traffic will be better, and lifestyles will be more relaxed for the next couple of months.  Meals are easier, our days can start a little bit later, and we'll all spend more time at home in general.

Some items around the house that may need attention to start off the summer right are on the outside: Do you need a new patio umbrella? How about the chair cushions out there? And is your grill cleaned and ready to go? Do your outdoor lights need new bulbs? It is time to check your outdoor potted plants, too, and maybe buy a few new hanging baskets to perk up the deck.

This may the time of year that you all spend more time in the basement, if this is your "hang out" area. We install a lot of basement floors all year long, but in the summer when the kids are home, this is when you really want a basement. What kind of floor do you prefer in the basement? Does your current basement floor serve its' purpose successfully?

There are many great options for a basement floor. Your choice depends on how the basement is being used, and your budget, of course. For starters, do you want a hard surface, or carpet?

Carpet is softer and feels warmer. So, if you have toddlers who spend a lot of their time on the floor playing, carpet may be your better choice. It will cushion their inevitable falls as well as muffle some noise. But if they are carrying snacks and juices down there, the carpets are gong to need regular cleaning.  For older children, the noise factor may be an important consideration as well, but in general, hard surface floors are going to serve you longer and be more durable, albeit more expensive.

In hard surfaces, you have several choices. You can install everyone's newest darling, luxury vinyl. LVP or LVT is great and is very good looking. It comes in so many different styles, there is something for every taste. We even have a new luxury vinyl from Pergo that looks like Terrazzo! LVP has the added benefit of being practically waterproof, so if spills are going to be your issue, you should definitely consider vinyl.

Another great option for the basement floor is laminate. Laminate looks have improved by leaps and bounds recently, and we here at Enhance love laminate. If you have larger dogs and/or teenagers, laminate is very cost efficient and incredibly durable. It is incredibly scratch resistant, and looks so realistic, people will think you have installed wood! Most laminates will tolerate spills that are cleaned up in a reasonable amount of time, but we have recently brought in Restoration Laminate from Mannington that is Water Resistant for up to 72 hours, with SpillShield technology. Great new product, and we are impressed!

You can install porcelain floors in the basement, but this is probably your most expensive alternative. Most basement floors require extensive work to make them level, and other types of floors may be more forgiving of imperfections. That combined with the fact that tile will give you a floor that always feels cool make it less desirable in a basement. (Unless you have a dog with a heavy coat- he's going to love it!)

Your last option on the basement floor is engineered wood. Wood is beautiful! It looks warm and feels good underfoot. If you will be having more adult gatherings in the basement, then by all means, use wood. Engineered wood has the stability needed to be installed over a concrete slab, unlike solid wood, and it looks and feels great. Just ask the ladies to leave their stiletto heels at home, as wood can be damaged by those.

When you come in to shop at Enhance, whether it is for floors, a bathroom remodel, window treatments, or something else, we do ask you a lot of questions. We want to help guide you to the best choices for your specific needs. There is no universal best type of flooring for everybody.  Different types of floors will hold up differently depending on factors such as traffic, pets, kids, etc. Knowing your family's lifestyle and picking a flooring that fits into that lifestyle is something that a lot of people don't consider. All floors have their pros and cons. You need to take the time to determine which product will best meet your needs (lifestyle, budget, appearance, maintenance, etc.) while creating the fewest concerns.  Spend time talking with us. Be open to products you have not considered or did not know existed. We love showing off our products!

Design Tip

Feeling inspired?  Ready to turn your musty junk-filled basement into a warm livable space? Or maybe you are already using the basement but want to style it up a notch? Basement design ideas are limitless. Whether you want a cool chic look or a more dramatic themed basement, the choices are endless. But before you start decorating, you need to decide what you want to use your basement for.   This will greatly determine your design plan. A living area needs to feel warm and cozy, a bedroom needs to have a quiet and relaxing finish. A game room needs some exciting colors and an easy-to-clean floor. A theater room needs sound muffling fabrics and fibers and comfortable seating. Once you determine the function and use of each area, your plan comes together much more easily.

How Much Does It Cost?

We just installed top-pf-the-line Tarkett LVP in a large Marietta basement.  The price tag was $8000. This is a floor that will look great for years, and is as beautiful as it is practical.

And Now For The Bad News

You have been hearing about tariffs and trade wars on the news.  Many consumer products are being impacted with tariffs and higher costs.  While we don't know exactly what the ultimate resolution will be of this negotiation between our country and China, we do know that by the end of this week we will be paying an additional 15% tariff on all of our products that are imported from China, including luxury vinyl, hardwood flooring, and ceramic tile.  

Enhance Floors & More and our suppliers have no control over these tariffs.  We will be updating our pricing as soon as specific costs are made available to us.

We appreciate your understanding.

Did You Know

That we have given away two Roomba's to clients that wrote a review about Enhance Floors & More?  Someone wins every month. If you want to win a Roomba (and spend less time on housekeeping chores) all you need to do is write a great review about your experience with us and post it on Google, BBB, Houzz, Facebook, or Yelp.  Then email us where you wrote it and you will be entered in the monthly drawing. You could be a winner!