Today we went to our local big box emporium to scope out bathroom supplies. The only things we’re keeping are the tub and toilet (although we will be getting a new seat). We found a white vanity for $98 that we think will work well but decided not to buy it.

It wasn’t on sale, so we can go back whenever. We did come home with a few sample tiles for flooring but the trip was more of a fact finding mission, a baseline for comparison.

After brunch, my father-in-law found 28 13″x13″ tiles in his shed. They’re leftovers from his big outdoor kitchen project and a nice neutral beige (Keyera Beige, to be specific).

(Picture by my father-in-law, who built that whole thing himself. props to that!)

Close-up of tile (which is darker under inside light):

I think there’s enough to do the floor and the price (FREE) is perfect. But finding bathroom floor tile led to a larger discussion about what to do with the basement floor.

The basement floor is concrete with linoleum on top in the “kitchen” and square white tile in the bathroom; neither of which are staying.

(Is it weird that I get some twisted sort of amusement from posting these disgusting pictures??)

The concrete is uneven; more so in some places than others but uneven nonetheless. We’ve discussed some options and, if you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.

Our Options:
1. Jack hammer out all the concrete, excavate a foot (so we get 8′ ceiling height), install radiant heat throughout, and repour new concrete. Install whatever surface floors we want in the various areas. (We share a furnace with the basement apt. Radiant heat is incredibly efficient and would keep things at a nice even temp throughout the winter.)

2. Pour a new skim coat on top of the existing floors to even things out and just deal with the 7′ ceiling height.

OR leave the floor as-is, install the needed backer board and tile the kitchen & bath (cracked tiles stink!). In the main living area:

3. Lay carpet.
I think carpet would add a nice warm and homey-ness to a basement apartment. It doesn’t appear that we have water issues (water stains seem old) but, it is a basement rental, so I guess you never know what could happen to it. Of course it could be an indoor/outdoor carpet; easy to clean and not a huge issue if it gets wet.

4. Paint the floor and call it a day.
This is obviously the easiest and cheapest option. It will also be the easiest to clean after a tenant leaves. I’m worried that it’ll seem to cold and basement-y but I suppose the tenant can provide their own area rugs.

Are we missing any options? What would you do??