How To Choose The Best Flooring
Choosing The Right Flooring: A Guide to Your Options So you’re looking at new flooring and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices out there. I get it, there’s…
So you’re looking at new flooring and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices out there. I get it, there’s a ton of options and they all have their pros and cons. Let me walk you through the main types of flooring we work with and give you the real deal on each one.
This is the real thing, the classic. Most popular options are Oak, Hickory, and Pecan because of their availability, price, and the fact that you can stain them just about any color or shade you can think of.
The Good Stuff:
Solid hardwood is beautiful and timeless. You can sand it and refinish it multiple times over the years, which means this floor can last for generations if you take care of it. It adds real value to your home and there’s just something about a real hardwood floor that prefinished stuff can’t quite match.
With solid wood you get that authentic look and feel, and you can customize the finish on site to get exactly what you want. Want a specific stain color? We can make it happen.
The Not So Good:
Here’s the thing with solid wood though, it has to sit on site until it reaches its long term moisture percentage. This usually takes a couple of weeks or so at least. If it gets installed, sanded, and finished too soon there will be cupping and warping of the boards in the near future, and nobody wants that.
Solid wood needs a plywood subfloor, so if you’re working with a concrete slab you’re looking at extra cost and time to install that subfloor first. It’s also more susceptible to moisture than some other options, so it’s not ideal for basements or bathrooms.
And yes, it tends to be pricier than some alternatives, especially if you go for something like Mesquite which is pricey but exceptional because of its deep red/amber color and resistance to moisture.
This stuff has become really popular and for good reason.
Why People Love It:
Prefinished engineered hardwood comes factory finished, which saves time on installation. This type of flooring is made of multiple layers, kind of like plywood. Each layer goes the opposite direction which keeps it stable, meaning it doesn’t expand and contract or warp like solid wood can.
The top layer is oak or hickory or whatever species the flooring is, and the thickness of this top layer is called the wear layer. Usually 1.5 or 2 mm is the common range. The overall thickness is typically 3/8 to 1/2 inch.
It’s more stable than solid wood because of those multiple layers, and it can handle moisture better. Installation is usually quicker since you don’t have to wait for finishing to cure.
The Drawbacks:
Here’s something important, they all make claims that it’s super strong finish but that’s not always the case. You have to hold a piece up in the light and see if you can scratch it with your thumbnail. If you can, you don’t want it. We always make sure it passes this test before we recommend it.
The wear layer determines how many times you can refinish it. With a thinner wear layer you might only be able to sand it once or twice, versus solid wood that can be refinished many more times.
Also, prefinished flooring is nice but it just can’t hold a candle to site finished hardwood when it comes to that seamless, custom look.
This is kind of the best of both worlds in a lot of situations.
The Benefits:
Unfinished engineered hardwood floors have become extremely common in recent years because they can be glued directly to the concrete slab, eliminating the need for a plywood subfloor like with solid hardwood. These are site finished so you can’t tell the difference once we’re done, and the top layer is nice and thick so you can refinish them many times.
You get the stability of engineered wood with the custom finish quality of solid hardwood. If your project doesn’t have time for solid wood to acclimate, this is your best bet while still getting that authentic site-finished look.
What to Consider:
It still needs to be sanded and finished on site, so you’re looking at the same curing time and having to stay out of the area for a few days. There’s also that urethane smell for a bit with some finishes.
The cost is usually somewhere between prefinished engineered and solid hardwood.
Also known as LVP, this stuff has really taken off in the last several years.
Why It’s Popular:
Vinyl plank is super durable and water resistant, which makes it great for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, anywhere moisture might be an issue. It’s also usually the most budget-friendly option.
You’ve got two main types. There’s click lock which gets installed as a floating floor, most has the pad attached on the bottom but some you have to buy the pad separate. Then you have glued down vinyl plank, this type tends to be more durable and commercial grade because it doesn’t have that tiny little fragile tongue and groove like the click lock.
Installation is pretty quick and straightforward. By far the most common of these are the ones that look like hardwood flooring but they do have some that look like tile and stone as well.
The Downsides:
It’s not real wood, so if you’re looking for that authentic hardwood feel underfoot, this isn’t it. Some of the cheaper stuff can look pretty fake and plasticky.
With the click lock type, that tongue and groove can be fragile. If you get a lot of heavy furniture being moved around or high traffic, you might see some issues down the road.
It also doesn’t add the same resale value as real hardwood. And if you damage a plank, replacement can be tricky depending on how it was installed.
Ceramic and porcelain tile are solid choices for certain areas.
The Pros:
Tile is extremely durable and water resistant. It’s perfect for bathrooms, entryways, kitchens, basically anywhere that might get wet. It’s easy to clean and maintain, and there’s a huge variety of styles, colors, and patterns available.
Quality tile can last for decades without needing replacement. It’s also great for homes with allergies since it doesn’t trap dust and allergens like carpet can.
The Cons:
Tile is hard and cold underfoot. Not the most comfortable if you’re standing on it for long periods. Grout lines need regular cleaning and maintenance, and grout can stain over time.
Installation is more labor intensive than most flooring types, which means higher installation costs. And if a tile cracks, replacing just that one tile can be difficult, especially if you don’t have extras saved from the original installation.
Good old carpet still has its place in homes.
What’s Good About It:
Carpet is soft and warm underfoot, which makes it comfortable for bedrooms and living areas. It provides good insulation and sound dampening. It’s generally less expensive than hardwood options.
There’s a wide range of styles, colors, and textures to choose from. It’s also safer for young kids and elderly folks since it’s softer to fall on than hard surfaces.
The Not So Great:
Carpet stains, there’s no getting around it. Even with stain resistant treatments, spills can be problematic. It also traps allergens, dust, and pet dander, which isn’t ideal if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.
It wears out faster than hard surface flooring, typically needing replacement every 5-15 years depending on quality and traffic. And let’s be honest, it can start looking worn and dingy pretty quickly in high traffic areas.
This is kind of the budget-friendly hardwood look-alike.
The Positives:
Laminate is more affordable than hardwood while giving you a similar look. It’s more scratch resistant than some hardwood options and easier to maintain. Installation is typically DIY-friendly if you’re handy.
Modern laminate can look pretty convincing, and it holds up better to moisture than solid hardwood (though it’s not waterproof).
The Negatives:
If water gets into the seams, laminate can swell and warp, and once that happens you usually have to replace it. You can’t refinish it like you can with real wood, so when it’s worn out, it’s done.
It can sound hollow underfoot, and it doesn’t add the same value to your home as real hardwood. The really cheap stuff can look obviously fake too.
Honestly, it depends on your situation. What’s your budget? How long are you planning to stay in the home? What kind of traffic will the floor see? Any moisture concerns? How important is resale value to you?
If you want something that will last for generations and add real value to your home, solid or unfinished engineered hardwood is the way to go. If you need something water resistant and budget-friendly, vinyl plank makes sense. For a quick update that looks good, prefinished engineered is a solid middle ground.
Whatever flooring you end up choosing, just know that it’ll probably be discontinued soon, so you might as well buy already discontinued materials and save substantial money! I’m only half joking, these materials get discontinued by manufacturers because of color changes, name changes, etc. They’re not defective materials.
If you want to talk through your specific situation and see what makes the most sense for your home, just reach out. We can look at samples, discuss your needs, and figure out the best option together. No pressure, just honest advice about what will work best for you.
Remember, if you have to do it twice it’s not going to be cost effective, so it’s worth taking the time to choose the right flooring the first time around.
