Flooring Basics Buying Guide

It's amazing how new flooring can change the look and feel of a room. Your choice of material will become an integral part of the design of your home and there is a world of options that will enhance any style or décor.

The right floor can add to the beauty of a space, as well as add value to your home. But, how do you pick the right floor when there are so many options? Navigate through our site to find the plentiful choices in materials and learn about the things to consider when selecting your new flooring.

What To Consider When Purchasing Flooring

There are several factors to consider when picking your flooring material, including style, budget, durability, maintenance, health considerations and the condition of your sub-floor.

Style
Because flooring is such a significant part of the architecture of a space, it’s important to think about how it will affect the overall look and feel of the room.

Always consider the overall style of your home as well as the room the flooring will go in. Is your home modern or traditional in design? Is it a formal room or an informal room? Wood floors have always been a fairly traditional choice but with the large variety of species available today, hardwood can work with virtually any design style. Likewise, tile and carpet also come in a wide variety of materials and looks that can accommodate the most rustic to the most formal decor.

Color is another key factor when it comes to selecting your new floors. The colors of the walls and furniture should be taken into account. For example, if your wall color is on the darker side, consider a lighter color floor and vise versa. Selecting more neutral colors will provide more flexibility when it comes to fabrics and furnishings.

Before making your final decision, get some samples of flooring materials you're considering so that you can look at them in your space. Most flooring showrooms have samples you can borrow to take home.

Budget
There's a wide variety of flooring materials to accommodate all budgets. The materials you choose, how they're installed and the level of maintenance required all affect how different materials stack up from a pricing standpoint.

Wood floors tend to be on the higher end of the price range because installation and finishing are labor intensive. The species of wood you choose as well as the type – solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood, will also affect price. Solid hardwood floors last longer than many flooring options because they can be refinished, so keep this in mind when considering your budget.

Tile floors can vary in price depending on the type of tile chosen. Tiles, whether ceramic, concrete, or stone, can cost as little as $2 per square foot and as much as $100 per square foot or more. Costs for installation depend on the size of the tile and how intricate the layout or pattern is. The material from which the tile is made of will dictate how much maintenance is required. To learn more about the different types of tile, see Tile and Decorative Surfaces Design Tips.

Carpet comes in at a variety of prices and is one of the easiest and most cost-effective flooring materials to install. However, the life span of carpet tends to be shorter than that of hardwood or ceramic. Like other flooring materials, the style and material of the carpet will have an affect on price.

Laminate and vinyl flooring offer some of the most economical choices. Material costs are low, as are installation costs. Although they may not last as long, the cost to replace laminate is significantly less than other flooring types.

Durability
Depending on your lifestyle and the room you're selecting flooring for, durability and maintenance are important considerations. If you have young children, you'll want a floor that's easy to clean and more resilient. Kitchen and bath flooring should be able to withstand water and spills, as well as be slip resistant. High-traffic areas, such as entries, stairways and halls, should be able to withstand the wear and tear of daily traffic.

Health Considerations
Health considerations also play an important role when deciding upon flooring. If your family has dust allergies or compromised immune systems, you should stay away from carpeting, which can harbor irritants including dust, fungi, bacteria, and pollen; stick with hardwood, tile or laminate flooring.

Subfloor
The material and condition of your sub-floor should be considered when making your flooring selection. For example, if your existing sub-floor is not level or smooth, you may have significant prep work to do before installing a wood or tile floor. If that extra work doesn’t fit within your budget, you’ll need to consider other flooring options that are more flexible, such as vinyl, linoleum or carpeting.