If you plan to make the most out of your basement or cellar, the flooring will probably need an upgrade before the space is ready for use. Though there are many options for basement flooring, most come with concrete floors, which can be cold, hazardous, and easily damaged. Basements are versatile spaces, and can be turned into anything from an extra bedroom to a game room, home gym, or music studio. This versatility can make it tricky to pick the best basement flooring for your needs, but luckily there are many rubber options for basement flooring that offer a similar range of versatility.

With so many basement flooring choices, it is important to go with a material that offers enough protection—for both above the surface, and below it. Because they are located underground, basements have a reputation for being cold and dank places. Not the most hospitable. Basement floors are prone to moisture, and even simple water can cause damage such as stains, mildew, and mold. Traditional concrete basement floors can also be damaged by heavy furniture or abrasive equipment—this is especially true for basements that are used as home gyms. Heavy workout equipment like treadmills and ellipticals can cause a lot of damage to concrete basement floors when in use. The machines vibrate and grind against the floor, potentially damaging the flooring or the machine itself. This is why the best basement flooring is one strong enough to protect not only your base floors, but any furniture or equipment on top.

Rubber is the ideal protective barrier and undoubtedly the best basement flooring for any application. Most rubber flooring is made from vulcanized rubber for increased strength and moisture resistance, which is great for withstanding cold basement conditions. Rubber is known to absorb impacts and vibrations, distributing the movement evenly to maintain a stable surface. This makes it the best basement flooring for home gyms, game rooms, or any room that may experience a fair amount of physical abuse. Abrasions caused by furniture and workout equipment are absorbed by the rubber to ensure it never reaches the subfloor. Rubber basement flooring choices come in a wide selection of different gauges, ranging from super-thin 1/32-inch to heavy-duty 2-inch thick rubber. Thicker material means better abrasion resistance and better damage prevention for your concrete basement floors.

Vulcanized rubber is excellent for basement water sealing and it is the best way to protect against basement flooding. Due to their location, many homes are prone to basement flooding caused by weather or leaky pipes. Excessive moisture is a huge hazard, causing damage to concrete basement floors and anything else in the room. Rubber, however, is the best basement flooring to fight against moisture. The solid rubber material is impervious to moisture and works well as basement water sealing. The water gets trapped on the surface of the rubber basement floors, protecting your subfloors until the rubber is removed or cleaned. Rubber floors can be easily removed and dried out if necessary, reinstalled with no damage from the basement flooding. Because they are so susceptible to leaks, quality basement water sealing is vital to maintain the integrity of your concrete base floors.

The best basement flooring must be both safe and comfortable to walk across. Concrete basement floors are extremely cold and can easily become slippery. This can prove itself a hazard, especially if you are trying to turn your basement into a comfortable space like a playroom or man cave. Rubber basement flooring choices are great because they offer both traction gain and temperature insulation. Rubber of any kind will come with a degree of natural grip to it, providing slip-resistance even in the presence of moisture. Some rubber options for basement flooring include patterned or textured surfaces to enhance traction even further.

Just as rubber works for basement water sealing, the material will also create warmth through insulation. This is a quality that sets rubber apart as the best basement flooring, as it turns a dank cellar or basement into a comfortable room. The floor’s temperature is neutralized to guarantee a comfortable surface for bare feet, and the whole room is insulated to maintain a warmer climate. This is what makes rubber the best basement flooring for homes without central heating, or a simple way to cut costs on heating for those that do.

Another reason that rubber makes the best basement flooring is the material’s easy accessibility and installation. Many rubber basement floors are made from recycled and reclaimed rubber materials, making them extremely affordable and easily installed. There are many different options for basement flooring, but most you see will come in either rolled sheets or interlocking tiles. These basement flooring choices are designed for easy DIY installation to avoid costly service fees. In many cases the best basement flooring will be floating, meaning it is not held down with any sort of adhesive. Rubber flooring is heavy enough that its natural grip can hold it in place, especially when the floor is covered wall-to-wall. This type of installation is excellent for basement floors in case of flooding or other potential damage. The affected flooring can be easily removed, dried, and replaced without causing damage to the material or the subfloor below. This gives the best basement flooring a long lifespan and makes it easy to replace whenever needed. If you desire a more permanent installation, double-sided carpet tape or a polyurethane-based adhesive can be used.

Regardless of what you plan to use your basement for, any reimagining of the space will require the best basement flooring possible. In most, if not every case, the best choice will be a type of rubber flooring. With so many materials, gauges, and surface texture options, there is a rubber floor to fit the function of each and every basement. Whether used for storage, fitness, or an extra bedroom—any remodeled basement can benefit from installation of rubber flooring.