Modern Flooring
More and more types of flooring seem to become available each new season! There are some fine products on the market and I am going to cover the big three.
Old is still new! Hardwoods and tile are still very popular choices to enhance our homes and bring a touch of elegance. I suggest when shopping for these two items that you pay attention to quality. In hardwood choices I would always choose a solid ¾” thick wood unless there was a compelling reason to go with engineered floors. Engineered floors are a good choice if you choose the higher grade floor. The lower grade floors do not allow sanding and re-finishing!
The same is true for tile, particularly the more popular larger tiles. I suggest shopping at a local tile store rather than a box store (for most everything!) as these tiles can have issues with “lippage” This is when the corners do not match and create a small bump in the floor or wall. There are ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and marble tiles available and having a qualified installer is vital and each tile has varying install requirements.
The flooring I want to also mention is what many of my clients are choosing as a durable option to hardwood, Luxury Vinyl Plank.
Hold on! This is not our parents sheet vinyl! This is a quality material that installs as a floating floor and is great for use in basements as it is usually “waterproof”. The top manufacturers make the product without using materials that can be damaged if there is a water event in the home. They also work great in high traffic areas like a kitchen or bathroom. I do want to point out that as with everything, there are some lower quality floors on sale that just are not worth the investment. The initial thing to look for is overall thickness, and confirm that there is a cork or rubber barrier already built in the flooring. The next essential item in the Mil finish of the actual floor itself. I suggest a minimum of 12mil as a starting point. This will provide great value and the floor will last for an extended period.
All in all flooring is a great topic and often a new floor can change our home! Go forth and shop, and please remember to hire a qualified contractor to ensure the proper installation for your new floors!