How to Choose Flooring for Your Home

When it comes to choosing the right type of home flooring, the decision can be tough. With so many factors to consider, how do you even know where to begin? Where do you look and how do you decide? Is a certain flooring great for everyone, or does it depend on the home it’s being installed in? We’re here to answer those questions and more. A+ Construction & Remodeling is a Design and Build Firm specializing in General Home Improvement, providing a full range of services. Read on to learn all you need to know about how to choose to floor for your home.

How to Choose Flooring

When it comes to choosing a type of flooring, there are several things to take into consideration. Whether it’s cleaning or color, be sure to answer these questions before you make a final decision.

Is the Flooring Being Installed in a High-Moisture Area?

High-moisture areas in your home can include bathrooms, the kitchen, and areas near entry points.

You have to consider the risks of installing wood flooring in a high-moisture area. Though there are steps you can take to protect wooden flooring, you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to you in the long run.

Flooring like concrete or tile is better-suited for these areas.

Do You Need Pet-Friendly Flooring?

If you have dogs, cats, or any animal in between, pet-friendly flooring may be necessary.

While hardwood may not be your best option, something like vinyl, laminate, ceramic or porcelain tile and even carpeting are great choices if durability is something you need.

Are You Installing This or Is a Professional?

When you install the flooring yourself, you’re often able to cut your flooring bill in half.

When it comes to difficulty level, laminate and vinyl flooring tend to be the easiest for homeowners to do themselves. Tile flooring can be done at home as well, but how it comes out is going to depend upon your skill level.

On the harder end, carpeting can be hard to get perfectly flat. Hardwood and engineered wood are also best left to professionals.

What Is Your Budget?

Knowing your budget before starting any project is the number one thing you can do. It’s going to prevent overspending, and it’s also going to let you know what exactly you can and can’t purchase.

Is That Budget per Square Foot?

To get more specific, figure out how much money you can afford to spend per square foot. Most flooring stores are going to have prices listed per square foot, so following their lead is going to save you a lot of time and math when you’re looking at floors.

Obviously, the kind of flooring you get and your installation method are going to be dependent upon this budget.

Typically, laminate and tile flooring is going to run the cheapest. If you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can get higher-quality laminate and vinyl flooring, and even some hardwood floors.

The most expensive options are going to be rare and imported hardwoods and engineered wood options. You can also find high-grade, luxury laminate and vinyl flooring.

Do You Need Low-Maintenance Flooring?

If you have pets, children, or you’re just busy, low-maintenance flooring might be the best option for you. When you’re considering flooring, be sure to take this into account.

What are the Types of Flooring?

Now that you’ve learned about the factors that go into choosing a floor, it’s time to learn about the types of flooring that are available. Here are a few we’ve already mentioned.

Hardwood Flooring

While hardwood floors are often natural, there are also engineered hardwood floors available on the market. What is the difference between the two, though?

Natural hardwood planks are singular pieces cut from a tree, but engineered planks consist of several materials topped with a thin layer of natural wood on top to give the appearance of maple, pine, oak, and more.

Both types of hardwood floors, like Nydree Flooring, are durable but can be susceptible to scratches in homes with pets and children.

Laminate and Vinyl Flooring

Laminate and vinyl flooring often mimick the appearance of hardwood but don’t come with the price tag.

Laminate flooring is made primarily from resin and fiberboard material, with a top layer equipped with a printed image of hardwood flooring.

Vinyl flooring is made from vinyl planks, and is installed similarly to how wood is installed, except a professional isn’t necessary. There are grooves on the side of each plank that let you know where each one is supposed to go.

Both options are durable choices and are great for a variety of homes and situations.

Tile Flooring

Tile can be made from all kinds of materials. From porcelain to stone, tile is a diverse flooring option that’s also known for its durability. Tiles can break if enough pressure is applied, but so can hardwood.

Tile can also have different finishes that can determine whether it’s slippery or prone to stains, but that’s what makes it great for so many homes. It’s versatile and is great for a lot of different situations, depending on the type of tile you use.

Carpet

Everyone has come across carpeted flooring at one point or another.

It’s made up of woven fibers that come in a variety of different styles, colors, and patterns. It’s great for providing sound absorption, warmer temperatures, and a non-slip surface.

It can, however, be prone to stains and it can also trap pet hair and other dander if it’s not properly cared for.

Remember to Consider These Factors

Remember to consider these factors when you’re learning about how to choose flooring for your home to make the entire process easier. Instead of spending too much time deciding on a floor, create a list of the things you’re looking for, and then decide which is the best match for you.

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