Remodeling Tips on How to Choose the Best Flooring Options for Your Home

Benefits of Updating Current Flooring

Enhanced Aesthetics

Your floors have an unmistakable impact on your home's overall look and feel. Replacing outdated, worn, or damaged flooring breathes new life into any space. Today's flooring options allow you to amplify your design vision with luxurious hardwood, sleek tile, plush carpeting, and more. An upscale flooring upgrade creates a stunning focal point that elevates your home's style and perceived value. 

Increased Home Value

Upgrading your flooring is one of the smartest investments you can make before putting your home on the market. Whether replacing dingy carpeting or refinishing scratched hardwood, new floors help listings look fresh, stylish and move-in ready. Remodeling publications consistently show that upgrading floors increases perceived home value and return on investment when selling.

Improved Functionality

Beyond aesthetics, new flooring improves daily living and enjoyment of your home. Durable materials like rigid core luxury vinyl create resilient, water-resistant surfaces ideal for active families. Radiant-heated floors add delightful warmth and coziness underfoot. Open layouts are enhanced by continuous seamless flooring.

Increased Energy Efficiency

Drafty, uninsulated floors can be a major source of energy loss. Replacing ill-fitted baseboards and gaps with sealed, insulated flooring strengthens the thermal envelope. This ensures heated or cooled air stays indoors, reducing utility costs while minimizing your carbon footprint year-round.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Older floors trap dust, pollen, odors, and allergens that circulate through your home. Installing new hard surfaces like wood, tile, or vinyl plank helps minimize indoor pollutants. Hypoallergenic flooring options like cork or bamboo with antimicrobial properties further improve air quality.

Reduced Maintenance

Tired of struggling with endless carpet stains, warped wood planks, or chipped tile? Today's cutting-edge floors are incredibly low-maintenance. Options like waterproof vinyl and rigid core flooring simply wipe clean. High-quality wood finishes and glazed porcelain tile resist wear with basic cleaning. Less time spent on maintenance frees you up to enjoy your living spaces.

Determine Your Flooring Budget

The first step in planning your ideal flooring remodel is establishing a reasonable budget. Having a firm idea of how much you can invest helps narrow your options while avoiding overspending.

As a general guideline, expect to pay:

• $3-5 per square foot for basic vinyl or laminate
• $5-10 per square foot for engineered hardwood or wood-look luxury vinyl plank
• $8-25+ per square foot for high-end solid hardwood
• $2-6 per square foot for basic tile
• $5-20+ per square foot for premium porcelain or natural stone tile
• $2-4 per square foot for carpet

In addition to the flooring material costs, account for necessary underlayments, removal/disposal of old flooring, baseboards and trim, furniture removal, and professional installation fees.

To calculate your estimated flooring costs:

1. Measure each room's square footage
2. Decide which flooring material best fits your goals, style, and budget
3. Multiply the room's square footage by the estimated cost per square foot
4. Add at least 10-20% extra for overages, underlayments, and other expenses

Remember, less expensive flooring materials may cost more over time due to frequent repairs or replacement. Investing in quality flooring now provides long-lasting value.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Flooring

When you're considering flooring choices for your home, there are certain things you should think about:

Comfort

Other than picking aesthetics, you should also consider the comfort of your flooring. Given that you and your family will be on it daily, choose something that works well with your daily activities. Although materials like stone or tile are more durable, they aren't the most foot-friendly or an optimal choice for kids' play areas.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The amount of flooring in your home means that maintenance can vary significantly based on your choice. While some options are hassle-free and just need a simple vacuuming, others, like hardwood or tile, could require regular care like polishing or refinishing.

Health and Environmental Concerns

While natural flooring options are available, many floors are produced in large industrial settings using a collection of harmful chemicals. Given the variety of eco-conscious choices out there, it's important to invest time in understanding your options and selecting one that fits your needs.

Top 5 Flooring Remodeling Options

Combing through all of the available flooring options can seem like a never-ending process. To make it easier for you, here are our top five recommendations for remodeling your floor:

Hardwoods Flooring

Hardwoods are a classic and commonly chosen flooring type for homeowners. They provide durability and can greatly improve the appearance of your living space. 

Choices for hardwoods range from white oak, maple, and cherry to white ash and hickory, and many other options. Each has its own unique look and can either blend seamlessly into your home's theme or make a strong design statement.

However, you should be cautious when using them in kitchens or basements since moisture can quickly warp floorboards and cause maintenance issues.

Tile Flooring

Not just used in kitchens and bathrooms, tile flooring is a versatile material that's suitable for any room in the home. Popular tile choices include ceramic, porcelain, and stone. For those looking to add a contemporary style, glass or metal tiles can also provide a distinctive touch, making spaces really pop.

Tile is a reliable solution for high foot traffic areas due to its durability and in areas prone to additional moisture, like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and entrances. However, you should remember that they're often quite cold during the winter, and there's always the risk of cracking tiles if heavy objects land on them.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring, often considered in the vinyl flooring vs tile debate, is steadily gaining popularity among homeowners due to its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. A significant draw is its pain-free maintenance as well as its comfortability when walking on it. Despite being budget-friendly, though, vinyl has a wide range of designs that closely resemble tile, wood, and stone.

However, it's important to know that vinyl isn't as strong as other flooring types. Its softer texture can be susceptible to damage, especially from sharp items or areas with higher foot traffic. However, it's still a great option for different rooms in a home.

Laminate Flooring

For those who want the look and feel of hardwood without the high price tag, laminate flooring is an excellent choice. Constructed from layers of compressed fiberboard and resin, laminate has a top layer that very closely replicates the appearance of wood.

Laminate isn't just about aesthetics, though - it's also very practical. Unlike hardwood, which can be susceptible to scratches and requires careful cleaning, laminate stands up well to daily use and is easy to maintain with most standard cleaning products.

However, a notable drawback is its inability to be repaired once damaged. In case of significant spills or damage, the entire flooring might need replacement rather than fixing a specific section.

Cork Flooring

If you're interested in adding a unique look and eco-friendliness to your home, cork flooring is a great option. Its durability and soft, cushion-like texture are incredibly comfortable to walk on. Additionally, the cork's natural characteristics make it an excellent choice for sound absorption, making rooms much quieter.

One of its standout features is its resistance to mold and mildew. This makes cork a good choice to use in damp areas like bathrooms or basements. Its anti-static properties also repel dust and dirt, making it easier to maintain.

While it might not be suitable for every room, cork can bring a unique flair to different spaces in your home. However, it's important to note that cork is sensitive to direct sunlight and sharp objects and this can quickly damage its surface.

Some Other Flooring Options to Choose From

If you're eager to add some character to your home, there are several other flooring materials that might interest you as well:

Concrete Flooring

A sturdy, low-upkeep flooring solution that can be tinted and polished for a range of looks.

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Bamboo Flooring

While not technically wood, it has a unique look, is eco-friendly, and easy to maintain.

Linoleum Flooring

Crafted from natural, decomposable materials.

Rubber Flooring

Commonly seen in areas with heavy foot traffic, like gyms or garages.

Plastic or PVC Flooring

While not the "greenest" option, it's highly durable and water resistant and can mirror the look of other floor types.

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Plywood Farmhouse Flooring

Perfect for DIY enthusiasts, it is made up of plywood sheets that can be stained or colored for a unique custom finish.

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Choose a Flooring Option That Looks and Feels Great

Given the different options out there, evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of each flooring type is important. But by considering the style and function of every room, you'll find flooring that's not just great to look at but also simple to care for.

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