Best Flooring for Finished Basement

[Garrett Dilley]

I have a question for all of you out there who have had experience with a finished basement that has moisture or has taken in water on occasion:

What flooring solution has been the best?

I have a finished basement in one property which has occasional moisture.  It has taken in water in the past however the root of that issue has hopefully been addressed adequately at this point.  The flooring is ready to be replaced and I have considered having LVP installed but wonder should it be glued or free floating or should LVP be avoided altogether in this instance?  If there was moisture coming through the slab in future or if there was water ingress - Will it trap water between the slab and LVP?  Can it be dried out with a shop vac and dehumidifier?  Has anyone put this to practice and what have your results been?

Are there other options you have chosen in this scenario?  Tile?  Something else? And what have the benefits and drawbacks been to the solutions you have chosen?  

I have also considered having the concrete polished but there are a few spots that have patches and/or  leveler and I am not sure how well it would come out?

Greatly indebted to learn from the experience of others here!  Please share your thoughts/experience!

Best Regards,

Garrett

[Dennis McNeely]

Hi Garrett -
Be sure you've addressed the water or moisture problem in the basement first.
- If there's water below the slab that's wicking into the concrete, the area under your new flooring will become moist, without any water ever showing itself above the new flooring - a breeding ground for mold.
- If there's water below the slab with a bit of head on it (the water level wants to be above the slab), it will begin to push up on the slab, and may cause it to lift and crack. If the problem is severe enough, you'll see evidence of the problem with discoloration of your new flooring or even water ponding on the floor.
Keep in mind that water can also condense on the basement walls adjacent to your new floor. Even though this moisture didn't come up through the floor, it can also provide a place for mold to grow. Make sure to address the condensation problem by insulating the walls or installing a dehumidifier.
Good luck with it!