Dealing With an Uneven Basement Floor

Q: How can I finish an uneven basement floor? There are enough irregularities that you can feel it when you walk around. Would laminates work in this situation? The basement has always been dry. Would carpeting perform well here, perhaps giving a bit more warmth under foot?

A: Although carpeting does sit well on uneven floors like yours, it's not without risk when installed directly on a basement floor. Even if your basement appears dry all the time, the floor is still likely to be cool in the summer. This means that it can be a source of condensation when the weather is hot and humid. Carpeting can hold condensed moisture and promote the growth of mold and mildew. A better approach is to level the floor you've got, then apply a hard surface covering like laminates or vinyl. Laminates are especially dependent on a very flat installation surface. If you’re interested in warmth, install a subfloor underneath first. Applying a flat layer of mortar on top of the existing floor can eliminate a surprising amount of unevenness. Self-leveling, mix-it-yourself compounds are also made for this purpose.