Laminate Flooring in a Basement

Q: Hi. I want to install laminate flooring in the basement of our house. Currently, there is carpet over concrete in the basement, but it looks old and I’m just ready for something new. We have never had any problems with moisture in the basement (our house is one a hill, so the back is above ground.) My question is about which laminate to choose, and how to go about installing it. We have 2 very active dogs, and they could potentially wreck a floor if it wasn’t scratch resistant. Also, the basement is very cold compared to the rest of the house. Would using a cork underlayment help reduce this problem? Reducing noise isn’t a concern for us, since it’s in the basement, so I’m just wondering if it’s worth it to use cork. (And if so, how thick?) MY choice for the floor would be something that comes in a very light color, since there is limited light down there.
Can you recommend something that would fit the bill?
Cortney
A: Of all wood floor types, laminate is by far the best suited to take abuse, but not all laminates are built equal. Before we dig too far into specific choices, let’s first examine a base of what you should look for and go over some basic preventative things you can do to keep the new laminate you get in tip-top shape.
For the floor itself, you will want to look into commercial grade laminate floors. These floors typically carry an AC4 or AC5 rating. These floors have finishes and cores which are best suited for higher levels of traffic, potential moisture spills and similar damage possibilities. A few examples of floors to look into would be Quick Step Perspective, Pergo Select, Westhollow South Pacific or True Flooring Commercial.
For a few preventative measures, make sure you keep your dogs’ nails clipped and trim back any longer fur which may cover the pads on their feet. This will help prevent your dogs from relying so much on their nails for traction and when they do use their nails, having them clipped will help keep them a bit duller – minimizing chances for damage.
As far as your underlayment is concerned, cork will provide an amount of insulation, helping to keep the floor’s surface warmer. Cork also will help minimize the amount of spring the floor will have as you walk over it. This being said, 6mm cork is optimal if you want to get the best level of insulation for your floor, but 3mm is a good minimum to shoot for. Keep in mind that you must still use a moisture barrier between the concrete and underlayment.
Pattern wise, look into lighter oaks or maples as these are more likely to give you the color you are shooting for in your basement. You can also look into Beech or American Cherry patterns, as these fit the lighter tones you are shooting for.