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Selecting basement flooring for your home can be an overwhelming part of your basement-finishing project. You can select from a wide range of materials, including engineered wood, carpet, laminate, and tile among others. If you would like to carpet your basement floor, here are very significant things you may need to know about the carpeting.

Moisture Is a Concern

You need to ensure that your basement floor is waterproofed before installing the carpet. Most basements will not be so conducive to having a long-lasting and quality carpet because of the water issues common in them. You will therefore want to start your basement-finishing project by taking care of any water issues in your basement. For instance, install a sump pump or ensure that if you already have one, it is functioning well.

Ceiling Fans and Dehumidifiers

Even if you do not experience water problems in your basement, high moisture levels are common in basements. For instance, leaky gutters can result in water build-up around the basement concrete, forcing moisture through it. If the moisture levels have been controlled or kept at reasonable levels, you will want to take more steps to protect your carpet flooring. Mildew and mould are notorious in stagnant and moist places. For this reason, create an airy and dry environment by installing ceiling fans and automatic dehumidifiers. This will enhance the comfort of your basement space as well. To prevent mildew and mould, you may want to go for carpet padding that contains built-in anti-microbial components that will not support the mould or mildew.

Choice of Your Basement Carpet Fibres

Besides the style, the carpet fibres you choose will have a great impact on the performance of the basement carpet. Different carpet fibres will have different characteristics and efficiency, so it is important to understand what it is made of first. For excellent results, go for carpets with olefin fibres. This choice of fibre is resistant to chemicals, which means that you won't have to worry about your carpet being affected by aggressive cleaning solutions, including bleach, when cleaning. Natural or synthetic fibres will do well, but avoid jute-backed carpets because they may not stand up well to moisture or humid places. For synthetic fibres, you don't have to worry about fading quickly like most organic fibres do when exposed to sunlight. If you effectively keep your basement moisture-free, your carpet fibres will serve you for a long time.

For more information and tips, contact local carpet retailers.