New flooring is the way to go if you hope to take on some home improvement projects and want the most significant impact. Not only can it change the appearance of your home, but it also provides an over 100% return on investment for resale.
Even if you don’t have plans to sell your home anytime soon, you want to choose the flooring that will stand the test of time and add aesthetic value to your home.
Gone are the days of adding carpet or linoleum to your home’s floors. So, are you wondering about the best flooring options on the market today?
Read on to learn about today’s best flooring options for your home renovation project.
Types of Flooring Options
Choosing the right flooring material for your home has many factors. It’s important to understand some of the features of flooring types as you prepare to install new flooring.
Let’s take a look at the most common types of flooring.
Wood
Hardwood flooring is a classic and popular choice that has lasting power. It’s likely the most costly choice, no matter which type of wood you select.
Solid wood comes in many different types of wood, including oak, maple, mahogany, pine, and bamboo. When you consider all the types of wood and possible combinations of stains, the options are almost endless.
A nice feature of solid wood planks is their longevity. If they start to look worn after years of use, they don’t need to be removed. You can have them stripped and refinished without replacing the floor entirely.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is another type of flooring made of solid wood veneers. These wood veneers adhere to a core of other layers that make up the floor planks.
Depending on the type of wood and manufacturer, engineered wood flooring is likely to be slightly less costly than solid wood. It’s also usually more stable and won’t contract or fluctuate with humidity and moisture.
Pay attention to the thickness of the engineered wood veneer, as it can vary. The thicker the veneer, the more durable it will be.
Laminate
To make laminate and luxury vinyl, the manufacturer takes photographic images and adheres them to layers of high-density fiberboard. The images repeat over a certain length, and the flooring is installed in strips like the previous two options.
Again, this type of manufacturing allows for an endless variety of options in the flooring. Pay attention, again, to the thickness of the laminate. It can vary greatly by manufacturer.
Flooring costs for laminates will also vary but generally are less costly than solid wood or engineered wood.
Many appreciate the ease of care and durability of laminate options while still giving the appearance of wood flooring.
Factors in Choosing Flooring
As you begin choosing flooring, you need to be aware that it involves more than simply finding the floor that looks nice.
If you want to find the best flooring for your home, then you need to consider many factors when selecting what will work best for you. Let’s take a look at some considerations.
Moisture
One important consideration is where the flooring will be installed. Is this a location where the flooring might be exposed to heavy humidity or moisture?
Rooms like bathrooms and laundry rooms make floors susceptible to water and the damage that comes with it.
Certain flooring will handle moisture better than others. For example, real wood is not a good choice for moisture-heavy areas, and laminates often can handle the risk of moisture.
Pets
Like children, pets are a part of our families. If you have pets, you want to choose pet-friendly and durable flooring to stand up to the wear and tear of their feet.
If you have pets, choosing durable flooring that can resist scratching is an important consideration.
Vinyl and luxury vinyl are often good choices since they can withstand the wear and tear of a pet’s nails.
Budget
The flooring cost can vary greatly depending on the type of flooring you select. It’s good to know how much square footage you hope to cover; then, you can calculate cost vs. budget.
Start with a budget in mind that’s realistic for you, the size of the room; then you can begin the selection process.
Remember, even within the same type of flooring; the cost can vary significantly. It’s worth noting here that cheaper is often not the best quality option.
Lifestyle
Consider how you live in your home and how much traffic and wear and tear your new flooring might get.
If you have kids and pets, that should also be a factor in your selection.
If, for example, you do lots of outdoor entertaining, you want floors ready for the traffic at doorways.
Flooring Design Elements
Beyond the type of flooring, you’ll also have other design options to consider. Each flooring type comes in a host of patterns, like straight planks or herringbone.
You’ll also need to consider the size of the flooring planks. The plank size can change the visual appearance of a floor, so it’s a factor to pay attention to.
Installation and Flooring Restoration
Another factor when purchasing and planning for your new floors is hiring a flooring contractor for installation. You want to consider their experience and knowledge about the type of flooring you’ve chosen. ASAP Remodel & Construction is your leading Austin flooring contractor servicing North Austin, Round Rock, Hutto, Georgetown, Pflugerville Texas and surrounding areas.
If you have existing floors, you might also consider if the flooring contractor does flooring restoration to strip and refinish existing wood flooring. ASAP Remodel & Construction can install as well as refinish or restore existing wood floors.
Choosing the Best Flooring Options for Your Home
With so many flooring options, installing new flooring is a great way to transform a room in your home. Consider the type of flooring and its features to get a floor that will last and make the investment worthwhile.
If you’ve decided on flooring for your home, you need help with installation. Request an Estimate from ASAP Remodel & Construction to discuss your installation or flooring restoration needs.