Best Foot Forward: The Pros and Cons of Various Flooring

Updating flooring is a chance to refresh a space. Unsplash

Flooring is the foundation of a room, and its importance should not be underestimated. In addition to being durable, functional, and ideally, low-maintenance, it should enhance the room’s overall design style. Updating flooring is a chance to refresh a space, and often a large expense, one that can also enhance the home’s value. For example, hardwood normally offers a good return on investment, while vinyl and engineered flooring don’t increase home values as much, but are more budget-friendly.

Color also comes into play, particularly if one is planning on selling the home shortly. Light and neutral tones are popular, and can make small rooms appear larger. At the other end of the spectrum are rich wood tones that add a traditional elegance. Avoid what’s trendy, particularly when planning to put the house on the market, as such flooring doesn’t appeal to everyone.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a flooring type that pleases you, and suits your family’s lifestyle when it comes to cleaning, maintenance, and durability.

Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring is warm, stately, and timeless. If treated right, it can last for centuries; just think of all those old English country homes with hardwood floors. Since it’s made of three-quarter of an inch or even thicker planks, it can be sanded and refinished over and over again. Other plusses include the wide variety of hardwood trees to choose from, all with their own look and texture, making each plank unique. The floor can be finished in a wide variety of finishes, or bought pre-finished.

The downside is that as a natural material, wood is susceptible to termites, temperature, humidity, and water damage, which can cause it to warp and swell, as well as stains and scuffing, depending on the species and the finish chosen. Hardwood requires more maintenance than its man-made cousins, and is best for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and other relatively low-traffic areas.

Solid hardwood flooring is warm, stately, and timeless. If treated right, it can last for centuries. Unsplash

Engineered and Laminate

Engineered hardwood was created to offer the ambiance of solid hardwood with more versatility and lower maintenance. Comprised of a thin layer of solid wood veneer over plywood or OSB (oriented strand board), it is available in the same wide variety of species as solid hardwood. In addition to being a more economical choice, where engineered hardwood really shines is its ease of installation as a floating floor—simply click it into place over the subflooring. It’s easier to cut into tight corners and odd shapes than solid hardwood, and handles moisture better. It is not fully waterproof, however, and cannot be refinished indefinitely.

Designed as a more durable alternative to engineered hardwood, laminate hardwood flooring uses a bottom base/core layer, a highly realistic image of wood to replace the veneer layer, and is topped by a wear layer of transparent plasticate that protects against fading and wear. Rambunctious family? Not a problem. Some planks feature a fourth layer for cushioning or soundproofing, which is more important on second-floor installations. While it is extremely durable, lower-end options have been known to chip, and the hardtop can lead to slippery floors, particularly if they get wet. Perhaps the biggest downside is that laminated flooring can’t be refinished or repaired.

The Varieties of Vinyl

Eye-catching and economical, ready to shrug off tough messes, and available in a wide variety of designs, extremely water-resistant vinyl flooring is seeing a resurgence in popularity. As vinyl doesn’t absorb moisture, it rarely stains, and most of the time a quick mopping or wipe-up after a spill is all that’s needed. Longevity is another factor, particularly when it comes to luxury vinyl plank (LVP) that mimics wood planking, and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) that mimics natural stone and ceramic tile by the use of ingredients such as pulverized limestone, fillers, thermoplastic binders, and colored pigments.

Sheet vinyl is another option that is perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, playrooms, basements, and anywhere else it’s going to take a beating. Unlike the sheet vinyl of decades past, these new materials are more aesthetically appealing and can reach luxury levels depending on the price point. The downside is proper installation is required, preferably over a perfectly flat subfloor, since vinyl can show every bump. It can also yellow, and it reacts with rubber, leading to staining—so ditch the rubber-backed floor mats—and repairs are difficult.

Tile

Tile floors can be had in any size, shape (including faux wood plank), and budget, starting at around $2 per square foot. That is pretty reasonable when one considers this a potential flooring for life—just check out some Roman ruins. Ceramic tile is higher fired than porcelain or stone tiles, so it’s harder to crack or chip. It withstands heavy foot traffic, dirt, mud, and spills and is allergen-resistant. On the downside, it’s a hard surface to walk on, grout lines should be regularly sealed, and one needs to order a few spares in case a tile is cracked.

Remarkable Spaces

Innovative flooring solutions in captivating colors and unique materials elevate a room’s form, function, and aesthetics.

Carpet

Nothing adds warmth, color, comfort, sound, and heat insulation as well as carpet, but it requires regular vacuuming to remove dirt, allergens, dust mites, etc. It can stain and hold odors. Or consider a hard flooring topped by a plush area rug.

Bamboo

Bamboo is warm and welcoming, low-maintenance, and an environmentally friendly, economical choice. However, it is not suitable for high-traffic areas, high-moisture areas such as bathrooms, or areas that require regular wet mopping.

Cork

Naturally insulating, cork holds in heat for warmer feet in winter. It’s hypoallergenic, ergonomic (cushions the joints), and can be stained like hardwood. On the downside, the surface will show wear over time, is sensitive to sunlight, and needs to be routinely sealed.