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Originally Posted On: Choosing the Best Flooring Options for Your Needs – Home Senator

 

Approximately 50% of homeowners replace their floors due to damage or to match their décor. About 18% also report installing a new one due to family changes.

It’s crucial to select the most suitable flooring material regardless of whether you are building a new home or remodeling. Picking the wrong one can affect your home’s functionality and, in some cases, risk safety.

Besides, you may need to conduct frequent repairs and partial replacements, increasing the maintenance cost.

Are you wondering how to choose from the many flooring options available in the market today? Here is a complete guide on factors you should consider for enhanced safety and returns on investment.

Consider Room Function

The first aspect you should evaluate when looking for the best flooring is a room’s functionality. For instance, areas like bathrooms often have water from showers, baths, and toilet overflow. Therefore, it’s crucial to use a flooring material that can withstand constant moisture.

The most popular option for bathrooms is porcelain tile flooring. Since this material is dense and less porous than other tiles, it can withstand constant spills and water presence. Porcelain tiles also don’t hold water, so installing them can prevent mold growth.

When looking for porcelain tiles for your bath or laundry room, go for textured ones. These can increase grip and friction, reducing the risk of slip and falls.

Living rooms and dining rooms are popular areas for both residents and guests. Hard flooring options such as engineered wood are the most suitable for such places due to high foot traffic. These materials are highly durable and available in a broad range of grades and finishes.

Other rooms and the most appropriate flooring materials for them are:

• Kitchen: Vinyl laminate or ceramic tile
• Bedrooms: Wood laminate and vinyl flooring
• Kids playrooms: Laminate flooring
• Mudrooms and porch: Tile flooring or natural stone

Another area most homeowners forget when considering flooring options is the garage. While polished concrete is ideal due to its resilience to pressure and heavyweight, it gets slippery in an oil or household chemical spill.

The most suitable modern flooring option for this space is garage floor tiles. These materials are oil, water, and chemical resistant, then easy to clean and maintain.

Durability

Installing a new floor is a significant investment, so you should select a material that will allow you to realize value for your money. When looking for flooring material, consider the resilience of each type to foot traffic, heavyweight, and spills.

One popular, durable flooring option worth its value is porcelain tile. This material is waterproof and resistant to scuffing and scratching. Using it in various parts of the house can help you reduce repair and maintenance costs.

Another durable flooring option is vinyl or luxury plank, which consists of multiple synthetic layers. Apart from water resistance, the material is also easy to maintain and available in numerous patterns and textures.

These features make it ideal for use in any room and in homes that have pets. More durable flooring materials you can consider are bamboo, laminate, and hardwood.

Style and Aesthetic

If you are looking for a flooring material that will improve the visual appeal of your home, consider style and aesthetics during selection.

One flooring material that is available in many colors, sizes, and designs is laminate. Depending on the mood you want to create in your home, you can choose anywhere from a light brown to a dark grey shade.

Laminate flooring manufacturers also design these materials from images of natural wood to produce a realistic visual effect. Using them in your home can create a natural, traditional, or modern look based on the installed color, size, and pattern.

Another economical flooring that can enhance the appearance of your home is cork. Because this material comes from the bark of oak trees, it can create a natural yet modern feel. Install dark-colored tiles or opt for lighter cork flooring shades to match your cabinetry and wooden furniture.

Other materials to install for aesthetic purposes are concrete, ceramic tiles, and hardwood flooring.

Budget

The cost of installing a new floor can range from $3 to $18 per square foot, depending on the material. Before deciding on the flooring to install, determine how much you want to spend on the entire project.

After that, look for options within your price range without compromising safety and comfort. Some of the places you can get this information are flooring suppliers’ websites and guides available online.

Other than that, consider consulting a flooring professional for a more accurate estimate. These experts will inspect your home to determine the cost of removing the existing material.

They will then provide a comprehensive price estimate for the new installation. Some of the aspects they may include are material, labor, and transportation costs.

A flooring expert can also recommend the best material for the space within your budget. With this information, you can compare the costs of each project against its benefits, then make an informed choice.

Pick Consistent Flooring Materials

While different flooring options are more suitable for some rooms, it’s crucial to maintain consistency. If you don’t plan accurately, you might end up using many materials and lower visual appeal.

One way to ensure a home has the right floor and a consistent feel is using at most three materials. For instance, use hardwood flooring in living and dining rooms, then opt for laminate in the bedrooms. Also, install porcelain tiles in less conspicuous areas, like the bathroom.

If you choose to install more than three materials, make sure they have a similar feel or appearance. The best way to do this is by using the same shade or texture across various rooms. Still, make sure that the flooring matches the room’s furniture and lighting.

Know Your Flooring Options

Learning more about different flooring options will help you pick the most suitable one based on your needs. You can also determine whether the amount you spend on the installation matches the material’s pros and cons.

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