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.
Carpet feels damp in basement.
The temporary fix was to rip up the carpet knock a hole in the concrete slab repair the leaking pipe fill in the hole with quickcrete cement and restretch the carpet once it and the pad had dried.
Prevent damp basement floors from ruining carpet and other finished flooring.
Rising damp moisture can rise through the floor and foundation by capillary action.
If you suspect groundwater swelling may be an issue or that the implementation of a sump pump would correct your wet basement issues then call in a professional for wet basement repair.
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.
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.
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.
Use option a to keep your floor dry if you have damp floors.
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.
This argument runs that carpet has a breathability factor greater than other types and that even light moisture can be mitigated with dehumidifiers.
Basement cracks should be closed off with a concrete sealer.
Directing them away from the foundation of a home can help to prevent a basement from becoming damp.
Keep the basement temperature at or below 75 degrees f.
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.
That said even if your basement is unusually dry some of the alternatives to basement carpet are likely to be cheaper flooring installations.
Lay the carpet back on the floor and fire up the air movers and rental dehumidifier.
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.
Carpet is a great floor covering option for a finished basement for several reasons.
Just be aware that new carpet pad is cheap so don t waste a lot of time trying to dry the old stuff.
Alternatives to basement carpet.
If that works you can reinstall it by taping it back together.
Finishing a basement without first dealing with the moisture problems can result in making health conditions worse and lead to significant damage as well.
Carpet is warm soft and cushioned making it ideal for covering the cold cement floor.