LESLIE: Kevin in Utah, you’ve got The Money Pit. What can we do for you today?
KEVIN: Hi. I was wondering if – I know you guys are opposed to putting carpet in basements. What if you have a walk-out basement? Is that still a bad idea?
TOM: Well, the fact of the matter is that a basement space is very damp and very humid and moisture in carpet fibers, as well as the dirt and dust – because carpeting is pretty much a filter material, Kevin –
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. Even the padding too.
TOM: Even the padding.
KEVIN: Mm-hmm.
TOM: It’s just a really good place to attract dust mites and dirt and dust, which becomes mold food. So it’s just not a good surface for …
LESLIE: No matter how dry you keep the space.
TOM: Yeah, for a damp area. So that’s why we really – we prefer to see carpet up on a first and second floor. I mean, I’ve got it on the second floor of my house. It’s very comfortable where all the bedrooms are but on the first floor and the basement area we don’t have carpet.
LESLIE: But you know what, Kevin?
KEVIN: OK.
LESLIE: You can easily do a laminate, which is an affordable choice. You can get one that looks like a beautiful hardwood and then get some really nice area rugs to achieve the same feeling and the coziness. I know in Utah you’re probably having chilly winters and you want to keep your tootsies warm …
KEVIN: Yes.
LESLIE: … so I think you can achieve the same thing and get the same decorative style by getting a couple of area rugs and creating little areas based upon these rugs; you can create little niches for relaxation.
KEVIN: Alright. Well, thank you. That answers my question.
TOM: Well, you’re very welcome, Kevin. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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