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When it comes to renovating your home, where do you begin? There are so many minor details that must be decided on, that it can often be overwhelming trying to decide on even the simplest of things. Premier Construction is here to help. We want to help make your decision process a little easier when deciding on which floors to put in your property. The options may seem endless, but we’re here to help you narrow it down. Here’s a list of the five most common flooring types and the overall quality, price, durability, and functionality of them for each room of your home. Although some flooring might look great in each room, you need to fully consider the types of flooring that are practical for each room.
Adding carpet to a room is the best way to make it feel warmer, cozier, and more inviting. Carpet feels soft on your feet, but also makes your room more comfortable, making it is a softer surface for children to play on. Carpet is great for upstairs rooms in your home because it functions as a noise barrier, preventing footstep and voices from echoing through the floor boards down to the main floor. Carpet is relatively cheap, but can vary greatly by price depending on the quality and quantity that you choose to purchase. The prices of carpet range from two dollars a square foot for the cheaper kinds, up to five dollars a square foot for the more expensive kinds.
One downfall of having carpet in a main living area, is that it can show wear and tear rather quickly. No matter how often you clean your carpets, the fibers become worn over time, causing dirt and debris to settle even further into the carpet fibers. If you neglect to clean your carpets, it will only decrease the longevity of your carpets. Carpets are one of the only types of flooring that may be difficult to get fully clean, and often requires hiring a professional to remove the deep down dirt particles once a year. Stay away from carpet if you or any of your family members have sensitive allergies to dust.
We recommend placing carpet in bedrooms and any low-traffic areas in your home. Any room that may be prone to more spills, such as living rooms and dining rooms near the kitchen can be a hazard to clean when it becomes dirty.
The greatest perk of hardwoods is the overall look of them in your home. Hardwood floors stay in very good shape when taken care of properly. Another perk of hardwood floors is that they are very easy to keep clean, allowing you to easily wipe up any messes or spills.
A downfall is that hardwood floors do not respond well to standing water, which is why they should never be placed in a lower level that is susceptive to flood waters or pipe bursts. Although hardwood floors look great in kitchens and high traffic areas, they might require some refinishing over time as the wood gets worn down from foot traffic, chair scuffs, furniture, pets or children’s toys. Another downfall of hardwood floors is that they are loud to walk on and don’t provide much insulation or privacy when placed on a top-level floor. Basement bedrooms can be easily disrupted by those walking on upstairs hardwood floors. What you’re giving up in cost and quietness, you’re gaining in the overall high quality look of a finished, polished hardwood floor.
Depending on the quality, type, and cut of hardwoods you choose, the cost can range from as low as about three dollars a square foot, and be as expensive as fifteen dollars per square foot. Aside from the cost of the wood, hardwood floor installation can cost a pretty penny.
Laminate is a relatively inexpensive flooring option that is highly durable for high traffic areas in your home. Laminate comes in a wide variety of different styles and looks, so you are bound to find a type of laminate that would work well in your home. Because it is cheaper than hardwood, many homeowners choose hardwood laminate when they want to achieve the look and feel of hardwood without paying for the wood quality.
Because of laminate’s durability, it does not scratch easily. Laminate is great for flooring underneath tables and chairs or if you have pets in your home.
Laminate is usually the cheapest of the four options we discussed in this article, but that doesn’t mean you are sacrificing the overall quality and look. Many homeowners choose laminate because of it’s price, and the inability to tell that it’s not actually real hardwood or tile.
One downfall of laminate, similar to hardwood, is that it does not work well with water. Placing it in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms is not advised, as these rooms commonly collect moisture. When laminate has been damaged by water, replacing the entire flooring is usually the only solution to fix it.
Tile is also a very durable flooring option that is also resistant to scratches. Tile tends to be the type of flooring that can vary the most in size, style, color, finish, and cost. With materials such as porcelain, marble, and granite and more, the type of ceramic you choose will affect the cost.
Unlike hardwood and laminate, tile is one of few hard flooring types that is not negatively affected by water. Because of this, tile is the best option for your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and even dining rooms where food and drinks are served.
Tile is thought to be one of the most difficult types of flooring to install, so even though the price could be cheaper, the cost of installation tends to outweigh the cost savings. Each individual tile must be laid and grout is put in between each tile to hold it in place and seal the small gaps in between, preventing water from getting underneath. Aside from a time-consuming installation, tile tends to be cold and loud. Although some homeowners install heating systems underneath their tile flooring, this is a very expensive feature to have in your home.
Is your Central Iowa home in need of a flooring makeover? You’ve come to the right place! Premier Construction specializes in kitchen renovations, custom room additions, and lower level finishes in the heart of Iowa! If you’re interested in learning more, or seeing what we can do for you, give us a call. We’d love to hear from you to discuss your next project!