Considering carpeting your basement? The first thing you'll want to do is to ensure that your basement is waterproofed. Unless your basement is a finished basement it may not be fully waterproofed and finishing your basement will require you to get rid of any current water leak problems you have. However, even finished basements that don't have obvious problems can experience high moisture levels. Things like leaking gutters can cause water to build up around the foundation of your home and seep through even your solid concrete walls.
Even if you are able to get your basement's moisture levels under control you'll still want to take extra steps if you decide to carpet your basement. The reason is because mold and mildew are attracted to air that is moist and stagnant. Therefore, your goal should be to keep the environment in your basement dry and airy and you can do this by installing an autmatic dehumidifier as well as ceiling fans. This will not only help to keep the air circulating within your basement but it will also help to make your basement more comfortable as well. Also make sure to have carpet padding installed under your carpet that has an anti-microbial built into it as this will help to keep the carpet from harboring mold and mildew.
Selecting certain carpet styles like looped, twisted or plush should also follow your main floor carpeting rules as well. For example, if you expect heavy foot traffic or pet wear and tear on your carpet you may not want to purchase the most expensive carpet on the market if you're just going to have to replace it in a few years.
Along with carpet style, your choice of carpet fiber will influence the performance of your basement carpet. Consider carpet made from olefin face fiber. This product is very chemical-resistant in case you need to clean it with an aggressive cleaning solution (including bleach). Make sure the entire carpet is constructed of synthetic products only, not a jute-backed carpet.
Jute backing is very similar to a potato sack, so you can guess how that would hold up to moisture. For all the possible problems associated with basement carpeting, the good news is that most basements aren't exposed to direct sunlight. Many synthetic fibers fade under sunlight. If you're able to keep moisture out of your basement, your carpet fibers should stay in good condition for many years.
Even if you are able to get your basement's moisture levels under control you'll still want to take extra steps if you decide to carpet your basement. The reason is because mold and mildew are attracted to air that is moist and stagnant. Therefore, your goal should be to keep the environment in your basement dry and airy and you can do this by installing an autmatic dehumidifier as well as ceiling fans. This will not only help to keep the air circulating within your basement but it will also help to make your basement more comfortable as well. Also make sure to have carpet padding installed under your carpet that has an anti-microbial built into it as this will help to keep the carpet from harboring mold and mildew.
Selecting certain carpet styles like looped, twisted or plush should also follow your main floor carpeting rules as well. For example, if you expect heavy foot traffic or pet wear and tear on your carpet you may not want to purchase the most expensive carpet on the market if you're just going to have to replace it in a few years.
Along with carpet style, your choice of carpet fiber will influence the performance of your basement carpet. Consider carpet made from olefin face fiber. This product is very chemical-resistant in case you need to clean it with an aggressive cleaning solution (including bleach). Make sure the entire carpet is constructed of synthetic products only, not a jute-backed carpet.
Jute backing is very similar to a potato sack, so you can guess how that would hold up to moisture. For all the possible problems associated with basement carpeting, the good news is that most basements aren't exposed to direct sunlight. Many synthetic fibers fade under sunlight. If you're able to keep moisture out of your basement, your carpet fibers should stay in good condition for many years.
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