Choosing flooring when renovating or buying a new home is a tough decision. You want the comfort and luxury of carpet, but the timeless look of hardwood and the durability of laminate or tile. You really can’t have it all, but you can make a decision best based on your family’s needs.
Questions to ask
First of all, you need to know a few answers about the room for which you are placing the flooring. Figure out the size of the room, as that is the most important question for when it comes to budget. Figure out your exact budget and you’ll know what you can pay per square foot. Second, figure out the traffic in the room. High traffic areas need durable flooring. Third, you’ll need to know if the area gets a lot of moisture. These areas include the basement, bathrooms and kitchen. Certain flooring needs a dry space. The last question to ask yourself is how much maintenance you want to perform on your flooring. Each flooring choice has its own level of maintenance and while none are maintenance-free, some are less work than others.
If you are planning on selling your home, you might also want to ask yourself what potential buyers will want. Do you want to add value, wow buyers or just placate them?
Each type of flooring has its own pros and cons and these are easy to figure out. Once you’ve answered the questions above, you should be able to figure out what type of flooring is best for you.
Hardwood
Desired by most buyers, hardwood floors are also the most pricey of the lot. Hardwood floors can add value to your home and can last a lifetime, so they are definitely a good investment. But, they require constant maintenance of cleaning and sometimes waxing so that dirt and debris doesn’t cause scratches. They aren’t great in high-traffic areas either, as they are easily scratched. You can’t place them in wet areas, as high humidity can destroy your floors and frequent wetness on the surface can cause fading and warping.
Laminate
There are some great laminates out there that look like hardwood, but hardwood enthusiasts know when they see it, it is not hardwood. It is definitely the most durable of the bunch and can be the cheapest on your budget. You can place laminate anywhere in your home as it is moisture-resistant and also resists scratches. They are easy to clean and don’t require the upkeep that hardwood does, although they also don’t last as long as real wood floors do.
Carpet
Some people love the feel of carpet, while others can’t stand it for its ease of getting dirty, ability to attract dust mites (and trigger allergies) and how easily it can get stained. Carpets can be placed wherever you want in a home (although bathrooms are usually a no-no) and the cost of the carpet varies depending on your budget. There are also so many choices for style, fabric and colour so carpet is definitely the best choice for tying in your home fashion choices.
While renovations should usually add value to your home, make the choice based on your lifestyle.
Leave a Reply