There’s a reason most basements are designed with concrete floors. Basements are below the first floor of your home, and most of the time that means underground. This introduces a whole host of problematic factors – mainly insects, rodents and weather conditions. Soil moisture provides excellent conditions for mold to grow or water damage to occur. Concrete can fend off all of these potential problems.
That doesn’t mean your basement isn’t already subject to excess moisture and humidity, though. If there is excessive rainfall or flooding and your basement is properly sealed, concrete alone may not be enough to keep water out. This means that if you install laminate flooring and your home suffers water damage, the laminate could warp and rot if you don’t take the proper precautions. Even in normal situations, laminate may not be able to withstand increased humidity in your basement if you don’t check it first.