Installing basement carpeting is a bigger project than one might expect when one considers the dampness of a basement. Mold can grow quickly in carpet padding and carpet itself, causing health problems as well as discomfort and strong odors. Specially designed mildew and mold resistant basement carpeting is available, but it can get pricey. Whatever the homeowner chooses to install in his or her basement, he or she must be sure that the basement carpeting can resist mold and mildew, and can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement should mold and mildew become a problem.
Some basement carpeting is mold and mildew resistant by nature. Nylon, for example, is naturally resistant to molding, as is polypropylene and polyester. Depending on how wet the basement gets, a builder may want to consider combining naturally mold and mildew resistant materials with some sort of mold and mildew resistant treatment. Most basements experience moisture on some level all the time, but increased levels of rain or groundwater can cause a flood in a basement without warning, so it is important to consider materials that can resist mold and odor, and if possible, be removed quickly and easily.
For such removal, carpet tiles work very well as basement carpeting. These are pieces of carpeting cut into small squares that can be manipulated to fit any size or shape of room. Carpet tiles are perhaps the best choice for basement carpeting for several reasons. First, the tiles are small and manageable should a flood occur. They can be removed quickly and easily, and if flooding occurs only in one part of the room, the entire basement carpeting does not have to be torn up. Just the small area can be removed.
Second, installation is quite easy. The concrete beneath the tiles needs to be prepared properly, and any cracks or holes need to be filled before installing, but that is the most complicated step of the process. When purchasing carpet tiles, the builder can buy extra tiles in case tiles need to be replaced. This contributes to the ease of use of carpet tiles, and in a basement area where replacement is likely, carpet tiles can make life for the builder and homeowner significantly easier. Carpet tiles are modular, meaning they are easily moved and manipulated, which means the homeowner can choose more than one style or material of carpet tile to carpet the basement. This adds versatility and style to the space.
