Concrete basement floors are a common feature in many homes across Toronto. Well-taken care of concrete that is sealed and maintained can last for decades and withstand a lot of traffic.

Perhaps you want to renovate your basement and add new flooring, or you just want to maintain quality concrete floors. Either way, here are some tips to get the most of our concrete floors so that they last a long time without causing issue.

5 Tips to Make Concrete Basement Floors Last Longer

Fix Cracks That Get Too Big

Concrete is prone to cracking and a variety of factors can cause cracks to surface.  Sometimes these cracks are nothing to worry about, but other times, they require repairs as soon as possible. If cracks are growing wider, spreading out and forming other cracks, or are large enough to fit a coin inside, it’s time to have them patched and repaired.

An expert can assess the cause of the crack while performing repairs to help ensure any major contributing factors are addressed.

Pick the Right Flooring to Add on Top

If you plan to use your basement for something like a livable apartment or a game room, you may want to add a different floor on top to create a cozier space. You have a lot of different options when it comes to flooring that can be applied on top of concrete – in fact, your options are practically unlimited. Some common and affordable options include vinyl composition tile, epoxy coating, laminate flooring, carpeting, and ceramic tile.

Keep in mind, it is not recommended to add carpet over uninsulated concrete flooring. Due to moisture, the carpet will become highly susceptible to mold and mildew. 

Fix Moisture Issues

Before you add any flooring over concrete, it’s important to handle any and all moisture issues and make sure the floors are properly insulated. You can conduct a simple at home test to see what’s going on with your concrete in regard to moisture levels.

Simply tape a strip of plastic sheeting over an area of your concrete floor. Make sure the edges are thoroughly sealed with duct tape. Then, check back in after 24 hours. If there’s any condensation on the plastic, you need to do some work before applying flooring.

Should You Paint Basement Floors?

While painting concrete basement floors is a common technique, it’s not the most highly recommended option. There are a few considerations to make before applying that coat of paint.

• If you have any issues with moisture coming up through the basement floor, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get paint to stick to surfaces.
• You will need a particular type of paint for concrete floors – not just any type of paint will work. Epoxy paints are typically the go-to option, but even those can fail without optimal conditions.
• Make sure the floors are properly cleaned and prepped before applying paint.

Add Construction Joints

If you are building a home from scratch or completely redoing your basement floor, consider adding construction joints in the concrete. Cracks in concrete are just uncontrolled and unplanned joints that form themselves.

By adding pre-planned control joints, you can reduce the formation of random cracking. Plus, you can outfit each control joint with a waterproofing system. For instance, a joint waterproofing system that utilizes crystalline technology offers the most productive long-term protection.

Concrete Repairs, Rebuilds, and Maintenance in Toronto

At Turnbull Construction, we specialize in all concrete services – from first-time construction to repairs and rebuilds, as well as maintenance. Contact us today to get answers to your questions, receive a quote, or schedule a consultation.