Basement Floor Coatings: Is It Worth It?
Homeowners use their basements in a variety of ways. Some might relegate this space for storage and laundry, while others might transform it into a recreational space or showroom for their prized possessions.
Whatever purpose your basement serves, it’s important to maintain it as you would any other part of your house. But is it worth it to coat your basement floor with basement floor paint or other materials? Let’s explore this difficult question.
Are Basement Floor Coatings Worth It?
What are Your Options?
Epoxy Basement Floor Coating
Basement floor coatings come in various materials and aesthetic options. Epoxy remains the most commonly used material for coating concrete floors, and it comes in three main types: 100% solid (commercial-grade epoxy), water-based, and solvent-based. These latter two types of epoxy basement floor paint contain less epoxy (typically 40-60%) but are easier to apply.
Of course, an epoxy floor coating isn’t your only option for your basement. Anderson Painting contractors, for instance, use Penntek Polyurea coatings for concrete floors. Polyurea is generally more flexible, durable, and versatile than epoxy, making it a highly sought-after solution for protecting floors.
Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Basement Floor Coatings
Knowing about your various coating options is a good start, but it can’t determine whether or not investing in basement floor coatings is worth it. To figure that out, you need to do a cost-benefit analysis.
Benefits of Coating your Basement Floor
There are many reasons to consider coating your basement floor. The first and most obvious is that it enhances the floor’s appearance. Unprotected, worn-down floors are often cracked, covered in dirt, and anything but welcoming. By coating your basement floor, you give it and your entire basement new life. Doing so will increase your home’s value, to boot.
Beyond the aesthetic benefits, basement floor coatings also serve an important function: protecting your floors from damage. Properly installed coatings are resistant to moisture, chemicals, stains, dust, and impact damage. Additionally, sealing your floors helps keep bacteria and pests from gaining entry to your floors and the rest of your home.
What Will It Cost?
If money weren’t a factor, then the answer to the question, “are basement floor coatings worth it?” would be a resounding “yes.” Of course, that’s not the world we live in. Materials and labor come at a price, and that price will greatly influence your decision to bolster your basement floor or leave it bare.
The total cost of your basement floor coating installation will depend on the type of coating you choose, the surface area of your floor, how damaged the floor is, and the contractor you hire.
Generally speaking, water-based basement concrete floor paint costs about $30-50 per gallon, and between $50 and $200 per gallon for solvent-based or 100% solid epoxy paint. As for labor costs, contractors may charge by the hour or per square foot. All in all, an average-sized 1,000 square foot basement floor might cost anywhere between $2,500 and $7,000 to coat professionally (this includes material costs), which is about $3-10 per square foot.
You could also try applying coatings yourself to save money. Doing it yourself might only cost a few hundred bucks (and several hours of your time, of course). However, applying 100% solid epoxy and/or polyurea coatings is not easy, and should be handled by a professional. Otherwise, you risk messing up and having to undo your hard work and start over.
The Verdict?
All things considered, investing in basement floor coatings may be worth it if you plan on getting the most out of this space and want to impress potential buyers in the near future. An overall basement remodel can yield a 70% return on investment, and coating your floors contributes to that ROI, meaning you might end up making back a big chunk of your initial expenses.
That said, you must consider your short-term budget, too. If you can’t afford to coat your basement floors without going into debt, you might want to save up for this home improvement until you’re ready. But if your floors are in dire need of repair and protection, it might be worth it to bite the bullet in order to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.
At Anderson Painting, we want to help homeowners feel empowered in every decision they make for their property. Our transparent, fair estimates will help you decide if our high-quality basement floor coatings are worth it to you. For more about us and everything we do, call us today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
