What carpet can we put on top of our tiled basement floor, knowing a little water comes in during the rain?

March 6, 2010 by admin · 4 Comments
Filed under: Decorating & Remodeling 
carpet
Allison asked:

Each time it rains, a little bit of water seeps under the tiles in our basement floor. Not much at all, but I’m wondering what type of carpet/ pad to get so that even that little bit, over time, won’t become mildew/ mold. I’d love any suggestions.

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4 Responses to “What carpet can we put on top of our tiled basement floor, knowing a little water comes in during the rain?”
  1. khole12 says:
    March 9, 2010 at 6:48 am

    Scotchgaurd or any waterproofing adhesive over any easy to care for carpet or even fabric like wool or flannel. First, stick it down w/ doublesided tape or adhesive. I would not recommend that you use an under the carpet pad as it will become wet. Keep it simple. Indoor/outdoor fabric is really the thickest I would recommend. Use baking soda to absorb any odors. Its great as a carpet deoderizer. khole12

  2. LogicBeforeLibido says:
    March 9, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    I really don’t think there is any proper carpet type that can stand up to repeated soakings. It sounds as if your tile floor wasn’t properly sealed and that you have inadequate drainage. I would address your water problem first, then worry about what type of carpet to put down.

    Edit: The reason outdoor carpet won’t work, for those suggesting it is that it’s made to be outdoors, therefore it will dry out in the sun after a day of rain. With the location it’s to be put in, there won’t be any sun or warm weather to dry it out. Moisture will remain trapped up under the carpet. Even if the carpet itself doesn’t mold, the backing and the tile beneath certainly will. And that festering mold and mildew is not at all healthy for any of the houses occupants.

    Just my $.02 good luck with it. LogicBeforeLibido

  3. pickmefirstplz says:
    March 12, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    indoor outdoor carpeting pickmefirstplz

  4. BasementGal says:
    March 15, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    As it is it would be very difficult for you to find a carpet that will work and not grow mold if your basement leaks.Even if you get a carpet that is totally inorganic, carpets tend to trap dust and organic particles that will eventually favor mold growth.

    The US Center for Disease control recommends that any carpet that gets wet be completely dried up within 48 hours or mold will settle in, at which point the carpet will need to be removed and discarded.

    The ideal for you would be to have installed an interior perimeter basement drainage system that would intercept and collect ground water, diverting it to a sump pump, thus keeping the basement from leaking.

    However, if you chose not to do so, your best choice would be plastic, 100% waterproof and non absorbent basement flooring tiles, and here’s why:

    First, they are completely waterproof. The will not soak up water and will not get ruined even if your basement is under water.

    Second, they are floating, interlocking flooring solutions. You can remove them to inspect the slab, you can switch them around, you can remove a few pieces without disturbing the rest of the tiles.

    Third, the finished surface is raised from the basement floor by a system of pegs. That creates an air flow underneath the tile that allows the leaky slab to dry, while keeping that moisture from evaporating into the basement. In addition, it creates a comfortable surface to walk on barefoot. The surface of the tile is in average 10 degrees warmer than the cold basement floor.

    ThermalDry brand tiles come in different finishes, including vinyl, parket and carpet. I am adding more info on the links below. BasementGal

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