BASEMENT RETREAT REMODEL // CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOORING // ONE ROOM CHALLENGE 2021 // WEEK 3

What whirlwind it has been moving into the end of our third week with this Fall’s One Room Challenge. We hope you’ve enjoyed all our content thus far, and that you’ve had an opportunity to check out the other amazing Featured and Guest designers participating in ORC. We think everyone deserves extra kudos for going all in during such unpredictable times. 

If this is your first time checking us out, welcome! We are Clark + Aldine, an upscale Design + Build firm specializing in residential home remodeling, design and styling. And while we spend most of our time in our client’s homes this project is being done in our home. We’re finally tackling a 6 year project we’ve continued to push…our basement. Take a look at what we started with in our Week 1 ORC post and our design direction highlighted in Week 2. This week we’re doing things a bit out of order, and that’s ok we’re rolling with it (you have to in the design and construction industries). We’re going to be talking all about our flooring, how we chose it and how we installed it. 

CHOOSING THE PROPER FLOORING

We recently wrote a post all about choosing the right basement flooring, but want to highlight both “the why” and “the how” for all of our ORC readers. For us, choosing the right basement flooring breaks down to 3 key areas of consideration: Design Aesthetic, Durability and Comfortability. And our flooring delivers on just that. We worked closely with our partners at NovaFloor to choose the perfect flooring options for our basement space. They not only needed to flow with the rest of our home, they had to fit our vibe from a design and environmental sense. The flooring looks amazing and they are rigorously tested to meet the highest indoor air quality standards through FloorScore® testing for VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Their product certifications include GREENGUARD Gold, Indoor Advantage Gold Standard and ASSURE Certification which tests indoor air quality, heavy metals, phthalates and performance with a 100% phthalates-free product! This is very important to us and our brand…major win win over here. 

In the main area of our basement we landed on the Barrel Oak / Henley 6mm Plank that creates a very realistic hardwood flooring look. In the laundry room we selected the Luna Marble/Willa, which resembles more of a concrete look and represents exactly what I was looking for. Both materials have a lighter look than what I have throughout our upstairs, but pair together perfectly.Given the lack of natural light in our basement space we wanted something both light and airy, and with these floors we were able to achieve that. 

When it comes to durability and comfortability we had to keep the use of the space and those who would be occupying it the most (our boys and dog) in consideration. The Barrel Oak / Henley planks are 6mm thick with their High Density Core (HDC) that’s waterproof as well as dent resistant! The NovaShield® Enhanced Protection works against scratches, scuffs, abrasions, stains and fading…amazing! We all know how our kids and dog are about to get down in this basement space together! So for our basement we know the location has the potential to see water…hello Michigan weather, plus our laundry is housed in the basement. And our basement tends to be cold…very, very cold. One thing I love about the Maybree with HDV Technology Flooring is it has attached foam underlayment for both a sound barrier and comfort! 

HOW TO INSTALL PLANK FLOORING IN A BASEMENT

Now we are going to walk you through how we installed the plank flooring in our basement. First and foremost, make sure your floor is clean and clear of any debris. And if you need to self level your flooring (we’ll write a post about that some day) be sure to plan for it as you want to ensure the product has time to cure for at least a month. Once your surface is set, make sure you have all the right tools on hand.

Tools + Materials You’ll Need

• Tape Measure 
• Pencil 
• Utility Knife with new blades (we recommend Carbide Tip Blades)
• Rubber Mallet (16oz is ideal)
• Framing Square
• Level (2ft – 4ft in length)
• Speed Square
• Jig Saw with fresh detail blades
• Oscillating tool with fresh Carbide Tip Blades
• Knee Pads (if preferred)
• Safety Glasses (for those detailed cuts)
• 6 mil PE moisture barrier sheeting

The Installation Process

1. Choose where to begin. For us we were using 2 different flooring options (both of the same thickness) for different spaces. So a natural transition was at the entrance to our laundry room. 
2. Start by laying your 6 mil moisture barrier sheeting. We always find that laying it in small rows as you go ensures a smooth lay and avoids product from bunching or tearing as you go. 
3. Begin laying out your first row of flooring. If you are starting at a transition area, make sure to pay close attention to where you’re placing your flooring. A framing square and level can help you determine a straight line to start from. And be sure to start with a full piece!
4. When attaching your flooring planks, tilt one piece up in the air as you push the lip into the grooved end on the floor, lay it flat on the ground and tap the seam with your rubber mallet to lock it in place. Continue this process for the remainder of your flooring installation. 
5. When you reach the end of any row or start the next row you will most likely have cuts that need to be made. You first want to mark and draw straight cut lines with your pencil and speed square. Using your utility blade, hold your speed square firmly on the cut line and begin to strike your flooring with the blade against the side of the speed square. Once you strike a full line 2 – 3 times the flooring can be bent and popped off – you may need to use a little force.
6. When you reach areas where some custom cuts will be needed it is time to get your jig saw and/or oscillating tool ready. You first want to mark your cuts (typically around doorways or outside corners of walls) and draw straight cut lines with your pencil and speed square. 
7. Wearing safety goggles, place your flooring plank on a table, hold firmly and slowly begin making your cuts. Once the cuts are complete install the piece and move on to the next one. 

That’s all there really is to it. It can feel repetitive quickly, but once you get into a groove you can fly through it. 

You can follow along on our journey over on IG. And remember, be sure to check out all the other amazing Guest Bloggers participating in this Fall’s One Room Challenge!

Much love –

Michael