If you’re going to buy new flooring for your home, you must make the right call. With this guide, you’ll be prepared for the long haul. From flooring options to prep strategies, it covers it all.
Your Options for a New Floor
In the world of flooring, there are four products that most consumers prefer; they are carpeting, hardwood, tile, and laminate flooring. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about these materials.
Carpet
Carpets provide warmth and comfort. They are typically made of cotton, wool, nylon, or artificial fibers.
Pros
Thick carpeting is very supportive. Kids and pets can spend hours sitting on a comfortable, plush carpet.
Carpets can capture contaminates, and this can improve the air quality in a space.
Cons
Since a carpet can harbor a lot of dirt and debris, it will have to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis.
If carpeting is not properly cared for, its fibers will break down. Then, the entire carpet will have to be replaced.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring has a luster that’s tough to ignore, and it comes in many fantastic tones. A light or dark hardwood floor can instantly elevate a dull or bland space.
Pros
A hardwood floor is very easy to clean. You can wipe its surfaces with a mop or sweep away dirt and dust with a broom.
Cons
Hardwood is expensive, and it requires regular maintenance.
It’s vulnerable to all forms of moisture. If moisture remains on hardwood for far too long, it will ruin the material.
Tile
Tile is the best flooring option for kitchens and bathrooms. It’s available in many fun colors and patterns, and it’s easy to incorporate into an existing space.
Pros
Tiles are extremely strong and durable. They will less likely crack, tear, or stain as they age.
When compared to other flooring, tiles are quite economical. Not only are they inexpensive, but if they are properly cared of, they could last for over two decades.
Cons
The act of cleaning tiles can be tricky because it’s not always easy to scrub the grout lines.
Tile is a dense material, so it can be hard on your feet.
Laminate
Laminate flooring will give you options during a remodel. For starters, you could place this flooring on top of existing tiles or wood flooring, and because it’s strong and durable, it will hold up well in the run long.
When it comes to laminate flooring options, laminate flooring can have two layers or three layers. A floor with three layers is more durable than a floor that has two.
Pros
Laminate flooring does not require a lot of maintenance. Most products on the market are scratch-resistance and stain-resistant, and they come with a warranty, which serves as a safety net. A typical warranty will cover the flooring if it is every damaged.
Cons
Moisture can ruin laminate flooring like hardwood.
If laminate flooring is ever damaged, you cannot refinish it. You’ll have to replace it with new laminate flooring.
Key Considerations
Upgrading a space with new flooring is exciting, but you must make a few very important decisions before you begin. Every remodel starts with a game plan. Here’s how you strive for the win.
The Location
Some flooring materials are better fit for specific areas in a home, so keep this in mind when you’re scouting different flooring options. For example, tile is great for high traffic areas because it’s easy to keep tidy. However, because it’s so dense, it may not work well in any location when you have to constantly stand on their feet. This applies to the kitchen; you’ll have to stand in front of your kitchen sink as you wash your dishes, but there is a strategy for this. If you’re going to put tile flooring in your kitchen, place a rug in front of your kitchen sink to protect your feet.
Coordination
When you buy new flooring without planning ahead, you could accidentally create more work for yourself if you have to redecorate. To avoid this, ensure that the new flooring will coordinate with everything that you currently have in the existing design scheme.
The Climate
The climate can be a major factor because it can drastically impact how certain flooring will perform in the long run. For example, while carpeting is plush and comfortable, it does not perform well in a humid climate. When carpets are exposed to high humidity, mold will make its way to the fibers. Humidity affects hardwood in a different way; when it heats up, it can buckle or warp.
New Flooring in the Shreveport-Bossier-Houghton Area
If your home needs new flooring, you don’t have to cover a lot of ground. Turn to Paragon Flooring. We have quality products and the best value in town.