The Floor is Yours: Make it Last.

Carpet. Tile. Hardwood. Concrete.

There are so many choices when it comes to the world of flooring options for a new home, that it can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. The options are endless but it’s important to think through each one available since it’s a detail that will be vivid to you and your guests for years to come. We are lending our expertise by outlining 5 key points to consider when it comes time to decide on flooring styles suited best for you and your new home.

1. Which room or rooms are you considering?

Let’s start off with the basics. The function and location of the room obviously plays a big part in the flooring decisions of your home. It’s wise to stray away from carpet in the kitchen or dining room due to the propensity for spilled foods and liquids. Spaces in the home that contain entry doors such as the foyer or a mudroom are considered high traffic zones which will accumulate much more dirt and grit than areas like an upstairs bedroom. Consider choosing a hardwood or tile floor in these areas. Although, no floor will last forever if the grit isn't regularly maintained, of course! The bottom line here is to choose a surface that's suitable for the function and location of the room.  

2. Consider your family's status and lifestyle.

Do you have children? If so, how many? Young ones? Do you have elderly or disabled family members living with you? Are there any pets in the house? These are the next things to consider and quite possibly the most important. How you and your family live makes a difference in choosing a floor type. Children usually create more wear and tear from running, banging and playing with toys. Some of the laminate products might be better in this scenario than site-finished solid wood due to the wear-resistant, or “kid-proof” nature of laminate flooring. These products have factory-applied coatings that are designed to be very durable and scratch-resistant. The surface finish of a site-finished wood floor (one that's sanded and top-coated in your home) doesn't have the same durability characteristics as those factory-finished floorings. No one wants scuffed up wood flooring after only a few months in the house! The grout seams associated with tile may be an annoyance or even a hindrance for family members with wheeled walkers or wheelchairs. The wheels could catch or "clunk" as they pass over the grout, especially wider grout lines. Consider installing hardwood, laminate or even a tile with thin grout lines.

For pets that have long claws and/or have a high volume of shedding, it’s best to select a flooring type that will last. Hard surfaces work well for cleanup from pets that shed whereas carpeting will retain pet hair and dander. On the other hand, claws can also scratch a wood floor. If you have larger dogs with sharp claws, tile or wood/laminate flooring with the most durable surface finishes may be your best bet.

Keeping your family’s health concerns into consideration is always wise when selecting floor types. Carpet can obviously harbor a greater amount of allergens that are more difficult to rid of than those on a hard surface. If you decide on carpet for your home, we suggest setting a strict cleaning schedule in place to assure your carpet stays as clean as possible. This will help avoid the buildup of pesky danders, allergens, etc. that can trigger asthma and other allergies.

  

4. How much care and maintenance are you willing to allocate to the floor?

Speaking of cleaning schedules, it’s important to note the level of care that some flooring options hold over others. Wood should be swept or vacuumed often to avoid the dulling and scratching that comes with ground-in dirt. Stone and tile are very durable although, their finish will eventually succumb to the lack of regular sweeping and maintenance. For carpets, they will easily lose fluff and freshness if they are not vacuumed at least once a week. They track a much higher level of dirt than any other floor option which means they will also stain much faster too! It’s recommended to have them professionally cleaned every 9months or annually to extend their life span in your home.

5. How important are floors to you from a style and aesthetic point of view?

Are you willing to spend the extra buck for something much more high end, or would you rather take the economical route? Spending all your money on a new, expensive floor may not be of interest to you, but buying a super cheap floor may have you spending more money than planned with replacements down the road. From the aesthetic point of view, selecting a vibrant, very unique flooring that is trendy or in style now, may grow really tiring to look at in the next five years. Consider utilizing that trend you love now towards the easily changeable decorations in the room i.e. the wall colors, lamps, pillows, etc. This way you aren’t spending more money on a new floor! Look at all your options. If you like the look of Brazilian Cherry but don't need to have real solid wood to make you happy, consider the laminate options. You might be surprised to find a laminate that's a close match to real wood but for less money. If you're remodeling or building a new home, you can apply the savings to something that provides greater service and satisfaction in the long term such as upgraded appliances or cabinets.