Want The Aesthetics Of Hardwood Flooring In Your Basement? Here Are 3 Reasons Why Vinyl Plank Flooring Is The Best Choice

Wood flooring adds elegance and appeal to a finished basement that's used as a game room, home theater, or family room. Unfortunately, solid hardwood flooring can't stand up to the humid conditions found in most basements. Hardwood flooring will collect moisture from the air and start to warp, ruining the floor. If you want wood flooring in your basement, you'll need to choose an alternative to solid hardwood like engineered hardwood, laminate, or vinyl. Of these choices, vinyl planks are almost always the best option. To learn three reasons why vinyl plank flooring is perfect for a basement, read on.

1. Unaffected by Basement Moisture

Vinyl plank flooring is completely waterproof, making it the best choice when you want a floor in your basement that looks like wood. Basements collect moisture through their walls from water in the soil next to them. Engineered hardwood flooring and laminate flooring both have cores made from high-density fiberboard, which can warp if it absorbs too much water vapor from the air and cause your floor to buckle. The core of vinyl plank flooring is made from vinyl, which is waterproof and won't warp when exposed to moisture.

2. Easy to Install

Vinyl planks don't need to be attached to the floor using nails or glue, which makes them easy to install over the concrete floor in your basement. The planks lock together in order to keep them in place. Some vinyl plank flooring manufacturers even put plywood backing on their planks, which means that there's no need to install a plywood subfloor.

All you need to do is place a vapor barrier over the concrete floor of your basement to keep moisture away from the plywood and put the vinyl planks on the vapor barrier while locking them together. It's easy to do yourself, and the ease of installation also reduces installation costs if you have your vinyl flooring installed by a professional.

3. Resists Stains and Discoloration

Vinyl plank flooring resists staining and is easy to clean, which is important if you're using your basement as an entertainment area. Spilled drinks can stain engineered hardwood flooring if it's not sealed properly, but they won't affect vinyl plank flooring at all. You can easily clean the vinyl planks by mopping them, making it simple to keep your basement floor looking great.

Overall, vinyl plank flooring is the superior choice if you want wood-look flooring in your basement because of its ability to withstand humid conditions. If you want to add elegance to your basement with wood flooring, installing vinyl planks that look like hardwood is your best option.