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AR15.COM
6/29/2007 2:12:09 PM EDT
We are going to finish out an additional 800sf in our basement and I am considering a stained concrete floor, or installing cork.  Neither are cheap.  A nice multi-colored stained floor will go for $5.00-$6.00/sq. foot installed (er, applied), and cork will go for up to $10.00/sq. foot installed.  I am not sure the stain will look good ten years from now and worry about the durability.  I basically have the same concerns with cork.  If anyone has any experience, please give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.  FWIW, I like the looks of the cork better.  I guess I could always fall back on a nice berber for $25.00/sq. yard.

Blake
6/29/2007 2:46:10 PM EDT
[#1]
If you stain and seal the concrete it should last years, you may need to re-seal it every now and then. Have you thought about laminate?
6/29/2007 2:51:51 PM EDT
[#2]

Quoted:
If you stain and seal the concrete it should last years, you may need to re-seal it every now and then. Have you thought about laminate?


Yes, I have considered laminate.  Most of what I've seen looks cheap.  Maybe that's because I've only seen it in small display areas in stores.  The thing I fear with both cork and laminate is that it is a concrete floor, and I'm not sure how tight the floor will be in the end.  Not an issue with carpet or stain.  Everything has pros and cons.

Blake
6/29/2007 3:02:09 PM EDT
[#3]



1/2 inch thick bamboo flooring at Home Depot was $2.54 square foot about a month ago.

The stuff looks just great. But youd have to inbstall sleepers over concrete probably.

Ceramic tile at $2.00 a square foo plus $4.00 labor probably would last 2o years.

The laminates would probably delaminate due to all the moisture absorbed from

the concrete. Id go with the tile if theres any moisture at all coming from the concrete.  



6/30/2007 8:46:09 AM EDT
[#4]
No opinions or experience on cork flooring?  I was surprised at how hard and dense it is compared to, say, a corkboard.  I was also surprised at how many colors are available.  Any additional info is appreciated.

Blake
6/30/2007 9:18:24 AM EDT
[#5]
the stained concrete will typically " darken" with moisture. I would expect the color to darken over time in your basement. As for cork, we used it in our office and did not care for the durability of the product.
6/30/2007 9:24:29 AM EDT
[#6]
Go with ceramic or stain. Stay away from laminate...