First things first: Make sure to choose a flooring that’s rated for installation over below-grade concrete. Engineered wood flooring can also usually be installed over a concrete subfloor. "That makes vinyl the best choice for basements that can be subject to persistent moisture, ranging from dampness wicking through the subfloor to pooling from storms or plumbing failures," Ciufo says. Be sure to look at the manufacturer’s installation specifications before buying an engineered wood for such a space, Ciufo says. There are specific measurements for the height of windows, covering window wells, flame resistant material, installation of smoke detectors, ceiling heights, electrical and more. And with an engineered product, you may be able to afford an exotic wood species, such as Brazilian walnut or home remodelers twin cities mn tigerwood, both of which tend to be more scratch- and dent-resistant than oak or maple. Though it resembles the look of solid wood, engineered wood flooring has just a thin veneer of finished wood, such as oak or maple, attached to a plywood-like substrate. In fact, engineered flooring is often low-profile enough to install over an existing floor, representing huge potential savings. Though it’s true that furniture, pet nails, stiletto heels, and toys with wheels can damage a wood floor, any other material can feel substandard in these cozy common areas.

In the family room or in their own rooms, children this age will happily play on the floor, so make sure it's still as clean and comfortable as when they were crawling and falling. Family or Play Room: If there will be children sitting and playing on the floor in a finished family room, you will want to consider comfort and warmth. The following criteria will help you determine if your old furniture is an American-made antique. 2) Symmetry: Exact symmetry likely means that the piece is machine-made and hence, not antique. If the piece is painted, test it with ammonia; very old pieces may be finished with milk paint, which can be removed only with ammonia. This way the entire surface can shift as moisture and temperature levels change without pieces of the flooring buckling or coming loose. End pieces are cut to length, using a power miter saw and carbide blade.

We are refinishing our basement, and are nearing competition. If you like the piece, if it's worth saving, and especially if it's an antique, refinishing is worth all the time and patience you'll put into it. You should plan ahead for emergencies when refinishing a basement. It doesn’t matter whether you’re refinish­ing this subterranean space as a rec room, a playroom, an in-law suite, a wine cellar, or a man cave: The biggest threat to a basement floor isn’t from above, it’s from below. We all know that kitchen remodels yield the biggest bang for the buck. Therefore, keep felt bumpers on the feet of kitchen stools to protect vinyl flooring, and buy an extra bundle of planks now to ensure that you have a perfect match down the road. Luxury vinyl tiles, which tend to imitate stone, and luxury vinyl planks, which mimic wood, will deliver the most realistic look.

"Customers constantly mistake the luxury vinyl planks on my showroom floor for real wood," says Joan Slaughterbeck, founder of Slaughterbeck Floors in Campbell, Calif., who has installed luxury vinyl planks throughout entire homes in Palo Alto and other upscale Bay Area communities. "There’s a reason real estate ads mention wood floors," Slaughterbeck says. They can even be laid in the pattern of your choice, just like the real thing. In addition to faux wood and stone, porcelain tiles can be designed to look like handmade ceramic tiles, a welcoming choice for these casual hangouts. Of the vinyl flooring we test, vinyl planks and tiles come in at around $3.42 per square foot, on average, cheaper per square foot than porcelain tile and second in affordability only to laminates, at $2.82 per square foot. First, vinyl flooring is an affordable way to cover an expan­sive space. Generally, the bathroom part of the set-up will cost you around $15,000 for a standard space of between 30 and 50 square feet. A properly installed slate roof will last over 100 years in some cases. Many of these projects are expected to last for many years and retain their value over time.