Is VCT Good for Basement Floors With Water?

Vinyl Composition Tile

• VCT consists of approximately 85 percent calcium carbonate along with small amounts of plastic and vinyl. Install these tiles on a flat and smooth substrate. While most basement concrete floors fulfill this requirement, VCT tiles may shrink and gap if consistently exposed to water. VCT tiles are water resistant, so whether or not they suit your basement depends on how much water the flooring regularly encounters. Durable, low maintaince, stain resistant and easy to install, VCT might be the right choice, but investigate other flooring options.

Other Flooring Options

• Simply painting the basement's concrete floor is a practical decorative option for wet basements. Staining the concrete floor is another relatively easy procedure. You do not want to use carpeting or wood flooring in wet basement conditions. Simulated wood flooring made from laminates is subject to the same difficulties as VCT flooring, but tolerates higher levels of humidity than genuine wood flooring. You may want to seek advice from professionals dealing with basement issues before making a decision regarding flooring in wet areas.

Porcelain Tile Flooring

• Porcelain tile flooring, while more expensive than some other options, is extremely dense and water resistant. With a water absorption rate of less than 1 percent, porcelain tiles can handle a wet basement. While the tiles come in glazed, unglazed or matte finishes, only the latter two suit a wet basement. Glazed porcelain tiles are too slippery for most flooring uses, especially wet situations. By installing porcelain tile, you no longer deal with any seasonal water or humidity problems.

Correcting Basement Conditions

• Install a sump pump in the basement to remove water. A sump pit, located in the floor, draws water and the sump pump discharges the water outside through a pipe. You may also use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air. Correcting the conditions not only gives you additional flooring options and makes VCT installation a more reasonable choice, but helps prevent the health and damage risks from wet basements.