--100.1.xxx.xxx

If you don't plan to get a permit (not advised if A permit is required - it opens you up to all kinds of problems and liability), then you need to make sure you don't have water problems. If it's always dry, you can buy Dry-Lock and paint it yourself much cheaper. Choice of the look of the floor isis what you want. --23.121.xx.xxx

Interesting question, Richard. I hadn't given permits a thought. I think 7' is the minimum for a basement ceiling. I do have 7' and 1/2" so I'm a little concerned of being less than 7' after the floor. --100.1.xxx.xxx

I have basements in nearly all my houses. The most I will do is a basic (one coat) paint job on the concrete floor. The area is then useful as storage, exercise room, etc --199.247.xx.xx

--71.217.xxx.xxx

I would do sheet vinyl. No seams and it can handle unevenness. They make some really nice high quality sheet vinyl these days. Cost effective too. --75.146.xxx.xxx

Larry, I like that idea a lot. Any ideas on finding a good installer? I'd imagine Lowes or HD would want me to pay to level the floor, even if the sheet vinyl could stand the uneven surface. I don't think sheet vinyl is something my handyman could do well. --100.1.xxx.xxx

My rationale at the rental was that, if there is a water entry problem I want to know. I removed all the old paneling and have painted the block and of coarse the floors are all concrete. There really isn't much that can be damaged and it looks good - much better than what was there. Much much more economical than the other options you are looking at. I did all the work myself and I doubt that the materials/rental cost more than $700. --166.137.xx.xx

Do you have a local landlord association? Some of them might have recommendations for local flooring companies. --166.137.xxx.xx

--100.1.xxx.xxx

Still learning, the closest association I know of is 45 minutes away, but maybe it's worth a shot to show up at a meeting and asking for a flooring company recommendation. I'd probably learn of few other things while I was at it. Thanks. --100.1.xxx.xxx

Bill - yes the grinder will blow through the paint and as much of the surface of the concrete as you like. It can generate a lot of dust (very heavy dust!) so do what you need to do to protect yourself. I will try to post a couple pictures later tonight if anybody is interested in either project. I will add to this thread if I succeed. --166.137.xx.xx

Great Thanks Rangor. --100.1.xxx.xxx

Check out video from me handyman on YouTube. He explains it pretty good. --23.121.xx.xxx

Bill Wilso,Knowing where you hail from in Plumbridge Co Tyrone and not averse to getting your hands dirty I d’d forgo all the quotes and roll up your sleeves and do as Brad does ,give it a nice coat of white paint on the floor with some of those sprinkles and cheap too , where I come from we call it Frugal.A coat of Drylock on the walls,then a 4. X. 8’ sheet of 1”” Styrofoam attached with abouto 9 1/ 1/2” tapcons The same number of electricians washers.Then if you want to come out with regular 2. X. 4s and insulate , you can . Finish the walls whatever way you want. After that’s all said and done , unlike Miss Ally I’d not alloy anyone down there unless they’re throwing a party,and I’m invited. If you do,you know who has to pay to get rid of all their priceless pieces of junk( old tires and all kinds of trash) You Do the man with the money,and the truck!........ ........Charlie............ .................Ah that Chicken Pot Pie from Kentucky Fried ,doesn’t taste bad at all!............................. --32.214.xxx.xx

Oh,and get rid of that grinder....too much dust...............doesn’t go well with the Pot pie!.............. .............. --32.214.xxx.xx

Wouldn’t worry too much about the Permits either they get in the way of the Pot Pie wrapper.......................... --32.214.xxx.xx

Why do you want to do this? More rent? Seems like the return won't be there --174.234.xxx.xx

Thanks!! - Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx

Omg. I need to sell everything and go into the flooring business. --50.107.xxx.xx

I would be cautious of the floor install. Any floor attached to the concrete will only be as sound as the paint. Ceramic floor will lift up if the paint lifts up...the weakest point . --107.242.xxx.x

if you paint, you may have to do it again and again and it seems very high, but he is doing more than the floor. Can the floor be scraped so it's not flaking and just splatter paint and make it artsy ?? College rental? just make it fun. How about Carpet square? Rolled vinyl would be my pick if it could be done without seams. Allure would be my next pick, it is somewhat forgiving if the humps aren't too big, lay it and roll it. What about epoxy they put on garage floors, leave the humps and bumps and sprinkle with the colored flakes. ?? --173.127.xxx.xx

--76.188.xxx.x

Thank you everyone for taking the time. Thanks to you I'm much more aware of the flooring options and real-life considerations. - Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx

i just bought carpet on sale at Mernands for 49cents a foot. It's decent. It's forgiving, Perhaps you have Mernands near you? it's gray in color. They have some other styles for 99cents a foot. 12 foot rolls. That would be warm, wood look is not warm, just looks good! --173.127.xxx.xx

I really don't think I can beat this for economy ease of maintenance and just a little more of a unique vibe (I think students would like it) but to each their own. I had 50 gallons of water get into the one basement a couple months ago (before digging a french drain around half the house) and it was no big deal. Vacuum it up and move on to the next project. Good luck - hope this helps. Don't let Charlie scare you about the dust. --75.136.xxx.xxx

Bill,did a basement in Orange,next town over in a private home the way I described ,makes living there ,very comfortable,they’re happier than a pig in s...know what I mean even with the cold we experience in this area of the universe and in the Summer can also be extremely hot,maybe not as hot as canbera or Adelade. But hot enough! Especially for the reasonable cost........... Charlie.............. --32.214.xxx.xx

Bill,if you go the wood look route then regular 3/4” Pre finished Hardwood may be your best choice using 2” cleats over 1/2” plyscore screwed to the concrete with 1 and a quarter inch tapcons.......... Charlie........ --32.214.xxx.xx

Rangor Breathing is a habit I got into,can’t seem to shake it,don’t know why.......................... --32.214.xxx.xx

To keep the rust at bay................. --32.214.xxx.xx

#22, because Bill W.is a man of honour. Who hails from The Sperrin Hills of Co.Tyrone.if he made a promise , then a man of Honour keeps that Promise........... --32.214.xxx.xx

BillW,can’t get rid of me,just like a leach what Plenty suggests about the Carpet squares is also good.Away back I did some building and got Rolls of Carpetting from an outfit in Southern Georgia 12. And 15’ rolls. Don’t know if they’re still there ,we’re very reasonable and delivered right to where you needed it.worth a shot....... Charlie................ still don’t like that grinder..... --32.214.xxx.xx

Almost time for bed.wont sleep much with all that dust floating around..................... , ............ --32.214.xxx.xx

easy peezy and inexpensive - looks great and warm --73.182.xxx.xxx

--100.1.xxx.xxx

Rangor, thanks for posting the photos. The basement in images 1-7 really turned out nice. Like you said, the floor really looked good once the wax(?) was applied. As you mentioned, the older house floor in images 9-14, did not look as good. I think that my older house would turn out similar to your older house. as there's a lot of imperfections in my basement floor. If it would look like the first house in the photos, I would do my basement the same way, as it really did have a cool vibe. I'm just not so sure with my imperfect floor. Thank you!! - Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx

Charlie, as I mentioned above, I’m leaning towards the carpet. I like the squares, as you can replace one section (if you remember where you put them), but I’m a little afraid of all those seems on my bumpy floor. Thanks for the offer(?) on the rolls of carpet, but I’m a stickler on color (even though I never get it right) and would want to pick a certain color and style of carpet. Thanks Charlie! - Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx

put something useful over the concrete bumps like a small bar or seating --73.182.xxx.xxx

Use the thinnest possible flooring and that would be self stick vinyl. They use throw rugs or area rugs to make it nice. YOu are right on the height problem if you use laminate and I don't trust any basement not to get wet and ruined at least once. In fact you could just repaint the floor and use area rugs. --173.61.xxx.xx

--100.1.xxx.xxx

Bill,just woke up almost 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon re reading my recommendations yesterday,must have been half asleep when I gave them. That framing,keep an 1” space between the styrofoam and it,does something,and gives more of an illusion of warmth and relaxation,maybe it does,maybe it doesn’t,I don’t know.And also get reckless with the cheap caulking($1.28)a tube......... ........ Charlie..................... I still don’t like that stuff your talking about,too easily cracked and hard to handle,... ............even for a good handiman............. --32.214.xxx.xx

--73.182.xxx.xxx

Had 50 freshmen girls, never did any damage,wish we had held on to that building,,,, Charlie......... --32.214.xxx.xx

I should have mentioned in my original post, the flooring is for my "luxury" (relatively) student rental. I'm told I have the nicest houses at the university. You might ask is it worth it to have the nicest house, and my response would be: I think so. I can be selective to who I rent to, my houses are never vacant, the rents I get cover my improvement costs, and I really enjoy making and having the nicest house. So, I'm usually not looking for the least expensive solution. I really hope that didn't sound arrogant, I'm just trying to explain where I'm coming from. Thank you all!! - Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx

Bill,We also made a nice one bedroom apartment in the basement and gave it to an older student who we desnogated as an RA(resident assistant) so we had very little contact with the other students ourselves. Worked good,didn’t charge her anything. 7’ ceiling height seems alright to me,Unless you have a bunch of hockey players in there.wee wee noh yes.. ......... Charlie......... --32.214.xxx.xx

Not sure I'd make it inviting for college students to party in a basement if there is no exit. --99.203.xx.xx

And good point about inviting a party. This was brought up in my 2018 post "Basement recreation space". There is a door that opens to stairs going outside, but I'm not sure if the city needs to put some "approved for watching TV and party space" seal of approval on the basement. The zoning board approved the basement as a recreation space, but not as a sleeping area. --100.1.xxx.xxx

Bill,as far as finding out, don’t poke. Let sleeping dogs lye........Charlie....................... --32.214.xxx.xx

"let sleeping dogs lye" Thanks Charlie. Bill --100.1.xxx.xxx