12 Sep The Ultimate Guide to Beautiful Flooring When Building or Renovating Your Home
When it comes to flooring there are so many options from which to choose. Whether you’re building your custom dream home or renovating your existing home your flooring is a very big part of your project. Beautiful flooring has the ability to change even the most drab and plain house into a showplace. But, how do you know which beautiful flooring to choose and will that beauty endure beyond a trend?
The floor in your home is about much more than function. It’s about style, comfort, durability and defining your space. Here we offer our ultimate guide to beautiful flooring to help you decide on the right style for your home and your life.
Our Ultimate Guide to Beautiful Flooring
Our ultimate guide to beautiful flooring takes you on a walk through your top options whether you’re building or renovating. We also give you the pros and cons of different types of flooring materials. Your house most likely features multiple types of flooring depending on the room and its use. Of course your budget will influence your selection but consider things like high traffic areas, visibility and comfort when you choose the right materials for your home.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors are still a favorite and the top choice for homeowners in the Quad Cities area. But, it’s important to note hardwood, in addition to size, color and finish, comes in two different types. The first is solid wood which, as the name implies, is a solid piece of wood that’s been cut for flooring. The second type of hardwood floor material is called engineered wood. This is a hardwood veneer which has been bonded to layers of plywood.
- Pros: Both solid wood and engineered wood come in a broad variety of wood species such as oak, heart pine, ash and maple. The traditional beauty and warmth, the durability and, with proper care, long life of hardwood keeps it at the top of the list of beautiful flooring.
- Cons: Though cost varies depending on factors such as type and species hardwood is an expensive choice. It is wood and as such is subject to scratches, dents, splinters and so forth. Wood responds to humidity by expanding and contracting and hardwood flooring is no different. That can result in cracks and fissures as well as some squeakiness.
Laminate
A popular home renovation show refers to laminate flooring as “pictures of wood” and they aren’t wrong. This beautiful flooring is a type of engineered wood but instead of wood veneer laminate is topped with a photo of wood or slate or tile that bonds to dense fiber board.
- Pros: Laminate has a plastic topcoat that makes it resistant to dents and scratches which means it’s highly durable and a great option for your busy, high-traffic areas. This beautiful flooring works for easy DIY installation as it has a planks that snap together and is a floating floor system that doesn’t require glue or nails.
- Cons: While high-end laminate resembles the “real thing” it still seems to visually miss the mark a bit. Unlike hardwood laminate can’t be refinished so it has a much shorter lifespan. Some people consider laminate the least sustainable of the beautiful flooring options and may emit odors linked to the chemicals used in manufacturing.
Luxury Vinyl: A Beautiful Flooring Option
Luxury vinyl tile is a highly popular choice. This highly resilient and beautiful flooring option is especially comfortable as it has multiple layers including cushioning layers. This option for your floors comes in several styles including different designs and hardwood-look.
- Pros: Stain-resistant, scratch and dent resistant and waterproof this option for beautiful flooring works well in bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. It’s thick and sturdy and mimics the look of hardwood far better than laminate. Installation is easy.
- Cons: Although it looks slightly more authentic as stone, hardwood and ceramic it is still not quite the same. Luxury vinyl tile cant be refinished and it is right up there with hardwood cost-wise.
Carpet
Carpet is the largest flooring category in the U.S. Most carpet today is highly durable, owed to the fact that the fibers are typically tufted nylon with a polyurethane backing. Some carpet manufacturers use recycled materials so carpeting is less of a strain to the environment than laminate or vinyl. Carpet is a great option for bedrooms. It projects a cozy warmth and is very foot-friendly on those cold Iowa mornings.
- Pros: Carpet is comfortable and available in a vast variety of colors, styles and price points. It comes in stain-resistant varieties that are phenomenal and requires little care beyond regular vacuuming.
- Cons: The biggest issue with carpeting is the nature of the material to hold odor, stains, dirt and dust. Homes with occupants who suffer from severe allergies may want to consider an alternative to carpet.
Tile
Ceramic or porcelain tile makes for a beautiful flooring option and sets a distinct ambience. It comes in a variety of colors and you can create your own custom design easily using tile for your floors.
- Pros: Today’s tile is versatile and can be used to portray any style you like. It’s waterproof and durable, stain-resistant and lasts for years.
- Cons: Should be professionally installed and does require some upkeep. Tile may crack or break if something is dropped on it. Should need be, you can replace a broken or cracked tile piece. Tile tends to be chilly so if cold floors are something of a turn off you may consider heated tiles. Tile can be fairly costly as well.
Beautiful Flooring is Part of Your Dream Home
No matter what type of beautiful flooring you opt for Seiffert Home Design is ready to help. Our design experts understand all of your flooring needs and are ready to help you whether you’re building a custom home or renovating an existing home. Find out more about your flooring options when you contact Seiffert Home Design.