Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

We are starting to consider our options for flooring in our basement.

It will be primarily used as a play area for our son. We'll have a couch, TV and computer desk down there, but it will also (and mostly) used as a play room.

I like hard wood because it's softer than tile. But it scratches and I hate cleaning hard wood floors.

Pergo is cheaper, but I don't like walking on pergo.

Tile is hard and cold, but easier to clean.

No carpet or carpet squares. My basement doesn't have water issues, but with kids and cats, I don't want to deal with stains and odors.

We'll use area rugs throughout, regardless of what type of flooring we do.

Any pros/cons? Advice?

I'm assuming tile is the cheapest (if we go with a moderate priced tile). Is this usually a correct assumption?

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

I'd go tile

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

In a basement, I would do tile. There's always a risk of flooding and tile is the most durable in that situation.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

I am in the middle of redoing my basement and I am doing Laminate/Pergo. My basement is very dry so I am not too concerned with flooding.

Of course now that I said this I am sure i'll get flooded out now. Reverse the jinx!

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Posted by ave1024

I am in the middle of redoing my basement and I am doing Laminate/Pergo. My basement is very dry so I am not too concerned with flooding.

Of course now that I said this I am sure i'll get flooded out now. Reverse the jinx!

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

we have tile!

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

tile with a cushy area rug

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

we ripped up a wall to wall carpet in the basement when we bought the house and replaced it with peel N stick vinyl tiles that look like pergo. In an ideal world I would have done some sort of tile but we just didn't have the money.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

We are going with tile and once its done, we will be putting down area rugs and those foam squares under the playarea.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Flooring manufacturers will not endorse a hardwood installation below grade unless it is engineered.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

I would either do tile or pergo. There is too much moisture in a basement to have real hardwood.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Tile with area rugs

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

I'd like to do pergo in my own home... Having trouble convincing hubs though.

I'm definitely tiling my laundry room...

So I'd go with tile or pergo. At least pergo is a little softer.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

we had pergo, it flooded . .it warped, had to pull it all up.

HOWEVER we still are going to do half carpet (play area) other half pergo again.

French Drains BETTER FREAKIN WORK! (after the downpours this week, so far it's been dry!)

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Tile with a nice area rug over it.

With a basement you never know and you're safe with tile.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Tile..and spend a little extra for the radiant heat under it..it doesn't go wall to wall - you come out about 2 feet or so from the wall, because usually there is furniture up against the wall..no point in heating an area that has furniture over it.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Thanks everyone. It looks like tile is the way to go!

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Tile! You can get ones that look like wood. We recently did engineered wood over concrete slab in our family room. What a mistake! It scratches so easily, just playing with cars and trucks that have never been outside scratched it up within a week.

I'm so frustrated and annoyed, we got estimates from 5 contractors, they all recommended engineered wood knowing that it was a room the kids would be playing in. I wish at least one of them would have told me that yes it's possible but not a great idea with young kids in the house.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Posted by CathyB

Tile! You can get ones that look like wood. We recently did engineered wood over concrete slab in our family room. What a mistake! It scratches so easily, just playing with cars and trucks that have never been outside scratched it up within a week.

I'm so frustrated and annoyed, we got estimates from 5 contractors, they all recommended engineered wood knowing that it was a room the kids would be playing in. I wish at least one of them would have told me that yes it's possible but not a great idea with young kids in the house.

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Tile or pergo- definitely do not waste the money on hardwood in your basement. I know we get flooded often enough that ours would've been ruined!

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

Re: Tile, hard wood or pergo in basement?

This is what we did as well.