What is the best flooring for a basement?

http://www.basementideas.com/basement-articles/How-to-Select-the-Best-Flooring-for-Your-Basement.aspx

There is no best. There is what you want. I wouldn't use wood, simply because of the moisture, but I've used carpet, laminate, linoleum, and tile. Consider the use of the basement. If it's for multiple things: a laundry, kid's play room, work out place -- you will want to use easy clean. An office, a bedroom maybe both laminate and carpet. Good luck.

I personally believe that carpeting should be outlawed in basements due to flooding issues, but I understand the need to have something comfortable underfoot. I would opt for a different kind of flooring and use throw rugs to add some warmth.

Some laminate floors are made that can be used below grade or in the basement. They look great and install pretty quickly. Tile and epoxy coatings are both impervious to moisture once installed. Vinyl tiles and sheet goods stand up to moisture and will handle flooding fairly well. Rubber flooring feels nice underfoot and is like putting together a giant puzzle when installing.

The bottom line is that there is no real "best" flooring. But if you are concerned about moisture in the basement or flooding issues, then you need to be smart about your choices.

Figure out what you like and what you can afford. Since most of us have overhead pipes in our basements as well as the water heater, we have potential for water damage. I'm not trying to be an alarmist, just pragmatic. I like laminate because it adds a bit of finish that helps the basement not feel entirely like a basement. Same thing with tile. My workroom is painted concrete-- I want to epoxy coat it at some time or put down a vinyl floor-- but that's in the distant future.

if your basement is damp, I’d do tile....if one pops it’s easy to replace. Personally stay away from carpert, wood etc. if you need some Cush there are play mats that hook together like puzzle pieces. You can take the squares out side and hose them off.

weve had very good luck with floating floor (laminate) ....the trick is to have a VERY good underlay that is designed for use in basements as it protects against moisture

there are some nice Vinyls out there that look like wood, and I understand that they hold up well with no molding issues if the basement floods or gets wet...

Large area rugs will give the room(s) a cozy feel and if they get wet from flooding, they can be removed for professional cleaning.

My parents used the "inside/outside" carpeting. Carpeting that can be used outside with not damage to it. Cleans up nice. Have never had any problems with it.

I have carpet tiles on a small section of concrete at my door inside the garage to stop the dirt from the dogs. It works well and I can vacuum easily. Mine cost about $1 apiece. With allergies and asthma, I'd use laminate with rugs that can be easily cleaned. You can use peel and stick laminate. There are some amazing peel and stick now. When I used peel and stick, I went back over the seams with clear silicone caulk making sure to smooth before it hardened. That way no dirt collects and the silicone is flexible. Good luck.

Ceramic tiles that look like wood flooring, with an area rug on top. That way, if there is water damage (or even a smell develops) , the tiles will still be ok - and just roll u and dispose of the area rug.