Flooring is a very unique aspect of every home. Not only does it impact the look of a room, but it also serves a very functional purpose and often times represents our personalities and especially our lifestyles. Our flooring is often the first thing we see and feel each and every day.
Each room in our homes may represent and need a different feel from bathrooms to bedrooms, kitchens, family rooms, offices, formal rooms, etc.
Taking all this into consideration, it’s no surprise most people find it difficult to decide which flooring is best when building a new home. The suggestions below will hopefully help you with your selection process.
Top 3 Factors for Finding the Right Flooring
Maintenance
All types of flooring require regular care & maintenance….some more than others.
All flooring needs to be cleaned regularly, but how you go about it depends on the material. It’s another maintenance factor you’ll want to think about. For example, carpet needs to be vacuumed often, along with professional cleanings every 12-18mos to maintain manufacturer warranty. Tile, grout, stone may require regular cleanings and sealing. Wood, laminate and the most rapidly expanding category- Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile - may require only light cleaning with a Swiffer, hard surface vacuum and very little maintenance.
Longevity
Because we walk across the floors every day, longevity should be factored into the decision. This is particularly important in high-traffic areas like the living room, kitchen, and hallways where floors suffer more wear and tear.
Flooring longevity is a matter of long-term value. Carpet is typically the least expensive in terms of initial cost, but it may need to be replaced sooner than other options.
Average life spans below (all dependent upon fibers, materials and manufacturer specifications- please consult your builder & flooring specialist during your important decision).
5-25 years+ for carpet
15-25 years for laminate
25 to lifetime years for Luxury Vinyl Plank
25+ years for engineered wood
75-100 years for tile
100+ years for stone
Appearance
It’s not an exaggeration to say there are endless flooring options. Even if you narrow it down to a type of flooring, there’s a range of finishes and colors to choose from. Personal preference comes into play, but it’s also important that the flooring fits the rest of the room since it isn’t easy to change.
The flooring should flow with the interior decor, style, and architecture of your new home. For example, in a room that’s large, bright, and open dark wood floors help to ground the space and add warmth. In a smaller room light flooring can make the room feel more spacious. It’s best to know what you’re working with before making a final decision on the floors.
Tips for Choosing the Best Flooring
Use these additional tips to narrow down your flooring options.
• Take flooring room by room so it’s less overwhelming.
• Decide if you want to use the same flooring in similar rooms, for example, the same type of carpet in all of the bedrooms.
• Think about what the room is used for primarily and who uses it.
• If you tend to switch up your interior decor, consider neutral colors for your flooring.
• Consider how long you plan to live in the home.
• Keep your lifestyle in mind. An active family can also increase wear and tear on floors.
• Keep resale value in mind if you don’t plan to be in the home for an extended period.
Rich Lancette is the Store Manager of Hessler Floor Covering and can be reached at 941-639-2610 ext. 300 or email rlancette@hesslerfloors.com