Use option a to keep your floor dry if you have damp floors.
Carpet feels damp in basement.
Lay the carpet back on the floor and fire up the air movers and rental dehumidifier.
Install dimpled polyethylene to create an air space between the concrete and the finished floor sealing off dampness and giving moisture a chance to dissipate.
Just be aware that new carpet pad is cheap so don t waste a lot of time trying to dry the old stuff.
The pro carpet side says that carpeting can be installed in the basement and will fare no worse than other types of flooring materials such an engineered wood or laminate.
Directing them away from the foundation of a home can help to prevent a basement from becoming damp.
Basement cracks should be closed off with a concrete sealer.
In addition carpet is one of the most flexible floor covering materials so even if your cement floor is not perfectly level carpet can be installed right over it.
I bought a general tools pin type moisture meter model mm1e and it is reading around 14 throughout the two rooms.
Keep the basement temperature at or below 75 degrees f.
Prevent damp basement floors from ruining carpet and other finished flooring.
Within a week or so the damp spot progressed to a puddle 4 by 6 feet that a wet vac couldn t really keep up with.
Rising damp moisture can rise through the floor and foundation by capillary action.
It comes from damp concrete and poorly drained ground and besides making the basement and lower stories uncomfortable it can damage the floors foundation and other woodwork.
Carpeting a basement isn t impossible and if you like the soft feel of carpet fibers it may very well be the answer for you.
Finishing a basement without first dealing with the moisture problems can result in making health conditions worse and lead to significant damage as well.
Alternatives to basement carpet.
That said even if your basement is unusually dry some of the alternatives to basement carpet are likely to be cheaper flooring installations.
There s no apparent smell but i swear the carpet feels damp not wet just cold and damp.
But i honestly cant tell it s it s just cold from being on the slab or legitimately wet underneath.
This argument runs that carpet has a breathability factor greater than other types and that even light moisture can be mitigated with dehumidifiers.
Carpet is a great floor covering option for a finished basement for several reasons.
If that works you can reinstall it by taping it back together.
Molds and mildew can grow in damp carpets and beneath wall coverings.
Basement water problems are solvable but there is a cost to doing it right.