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How to Choose the Right Flooring

Ready to put down that new floor?

Then get ready to be bombarded with flooring options.

But don’t fret.

We’re here to give you an insider’s guide on how to choose the right flooring.

HARDWOOD FLOOR

hardwood floor

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and classic choice for many areas of the home.

Hardwood floors provide a homey charm and add classic, traditional character to any room.

There are a wide variety of colors and widths to choose from. Though there are many wood species to choose from, we recommend oak or hickory. These two species are the hardest in the wood family, making them most resistant to nicks and able to handle heavy foot traffic with ease.

Pros:

  • Healthy and sanitary. There is nowhere for dust and grime to hide or be absorbed into like carpet. This makes for a safer and healthier living environment, especially for allergy sufferers.

  • More durable and stain resistant. Typically require less maintenance than other types of flooring.

  • Can be repaired and refinished. Hardwood floors can get damaged with scuffs, dents and scratches. Luckily, the damaged area can usually be sanded and refinished easily.

  • Never go out of style.

  • Increase the value of your home. Many buyers looking for a home will often rip out old carpet to refinish the wood underneath or replace with a new wood floor. An exquisite hardwood floor could be the reason a house is bought!

Cons:

  • Can be noisy, developing a creaking noise in some areas over time.

  • Occasionally need to be polished or refinished.

  • Require regular maintenance to prevent from a termite attack, if your house is in an area prone to termites.

  • High heels, pet nails, furniture and other sharp objects could scratch the floors.

  • Can be cold in the winter.

How to maintain:

  • Don’t wear shoes in the house.

  • Sweep the floor often.

  • Only use a damp mop when mopping.

  • Use a special hardwood floor cleaning attachment on your vacuum for deep cleanings ever 3-5 months.

  • Re-stain when needed

Room best for: Kitchens, living room, family room, dining room and bedrooms

Rooms to avoid: Bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms and any area that has a lot of moisture.

TILE FLOOR

tile floor

Tile sends an instant, definitive message about your personality, taste and style. Tile allows you to express yourself with many different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures.

There are three main types of tile:

  1. Ceramic tile is usually cheaper and easy to cut. Ceramic tile is fire resistant, won’t fade in the sun, and won’t crack in extreme heat or cold.

  2. Glazed ceramic tiles have a coating on them that makes them resistant to water and stain infiltration.

  3. Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile made from finer, heavier clay. It is fired at a higher temperature, making porcelain tile more durable and stain and scratch resistant.

Pros:

  • Allows for personal expression of style.

  • Can last 50 or more years (if installed correctly).

  • Easy to clean.

  • Moisture, stain, and scratch resistant.

  • Increases a home’s resale value.

Cons:

  • Slippery when wet, posing a risk of injury.

  • Hard to repair or replace when damaged.

  • Can be very cold in the winter.

How to maintain: Sweep and mop regularly. It’s important to not drop exceptionally heavy items on tile.

Room best for: Kitchens*, bathrooms, and hallways.

Rooms to avoid: Bedrooms and basements**.

*Tile looks great in a kitchen, however tile is hard and some complain that after standing for long periods of time on a tile floor their knees and back hurt.

**Basements are usually not suitable for tile as they can be moist and usually are an area used for laundry, kids play, and games.

LAMINATE FLOOR

laminate floor

Laminate flooring is great because it comes pre-finished and is durable. Best of all, it’s cheap!

There are two types of laminate flooring:

  1. Engineered wood is made up of layers of real wood that have been glued together. The top layer is high quality, but thin, and sealed with an acrylic finish. Each layer below provides strength and durability. Engineered wood is usually double the cost of plastic laminate, and is also vulnerable to dents and scratches because it is constructed from real wood.

  2. Plastic laminate is entirely synthetic. The top layer is a wood grain print covered by a layer of clear hard plastic. The middle is a resin-saturated fiberboard and the bottom layer is made of melamine. Plastic laminate is more durable and can withstand abuse from moisture, pet nails, staining materials (nail polish), and heavy traffic.

Pros:

  • Looks like real wood or tile without the cost.

  • Comes prefinished.

  • Many shapes, styles, and textures to choose from.

  • Easy to clean

  • Easy to install

  • Can last 15-30 years with proper care

Cons:

  • Needs a base layer underneath to protect from moisture and to soften sound.

  • Water can seep into seams which if left too long can cause severe damage.

  • Hard surface with little to no give.

  • Unnatural feel.

How to maintain: Vacuum regularly to avoid scratches from dirt and debris. When mopping, use a damp mop with a natural, non-harsh cleaner.

Room best for: Living room, dining room, bedrooms.

Rooms to avoid: Laundry room, bathrooms, basements and kitchens.

LUXURY VINYL TILE

luxury vinyl tile

When you think of vinyl flooring, images of your grandmother’s lime green kitchen floor may come to mind.

Vinyl has come a long way since those days.

Luxury vinyl tile has developed a reputation for being the perfect blend of style and functionality.

Luxury vinyl tile is more durable to foot traffic and water, and more scratch resistant than laminate and hardwood.

There are many options in shape, texture, style, and color. Because of its durability, flexibility and variety, it’s one of our favorite flooring choices.

Pros:

  • Can look like real wood or tile with better durability.

  • Mold and water resistant.

  • Has a little give to it so it’s less hard on your back and knees, making it a great choice for laundry rooms and kitchens where standing for long periods of time is common.

  • Warmer in the winter than hardwood, tile, or laminate.

  • Stain resistant.

  • Easy to maintain.

  • Exceptionally durable.

Cons:

  • Not as comfy as carpet.

  • Slippery when wet.

How to maintain: Sweep or vacuum, and mop with a damp mop.

Room best for: Living room, dining room, kitchen, basement, laundry rooms, bedrooms.

Rooms to avoid: None

Regency Developers has created personal relationships with top quality flooring manufacturers, including Metroflor, a luxury vinyl tile specialist. Metroflor is a New York based flooring company providing durable, versatile and exquisite luxury vinyl tile.

We’ve also developed partnerships from other floor manufacturers, providing us the advantage of buying direct from the manufacturer. Ultimately, you benefit with significant cost savings.

Visit our showroom today to discover your flooring options to better understand which floor type is right for you.

If you have any flooring questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re a group of friendly, flooring specialists that are here to make your floor makeover as easy as possible.

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