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here are so many types of flooring to choose from that electing the right one for your space can feel overwhelming. To narrow down your options, first articulate your aesthetic, lifestyle and budget. Then consider the type of room where flooring will be installed and if you’d like to handle the project yourself or go with the pros. Your aesthetic — or personal style — is probably one of the easier variables to define. Consider the colors and finishes you love. Browse through design magazines and check your Pinterest and Houzz boards to see which options pop up over and over again. If you’re remodeling, consider the elements that will remain in place and find flooring that will complement them. And don’t get hung up on material; what appears to be wood,
stone or ceramic tile in a photograph might actually be something else entirely. Then consider your lifestyle. Some floors are very low maintenance. Others require sealants, special cleaners, and taking great care to avoid spills and stains. Certain flooring options are more durable for households with kids and pets, while others are gentler on aging joints or soft toddler feet. The type of room may direct the type of flooring you choose, especially if it’s a high traffic or high moisture area like a kitchen or bathroom. But budget tends to drive most flooring discussions. You can cut your costs (or splurge on a higher cost floor) by installing your flooring yourself. Just be aware that some are more difficult to install than others.
Hardwood Hardwood floors are very long-lasting. Some historic homes boast original floors that are more than a century old. A huge variety of hardwood is available in many colors, from the palest birch and white oak to deep, dark cherry wood and mahogany. Wood flooring is available in three forms: strip, plank and parquet. Strip flooring segments top out at just over two inches wide, while plank flooring strips are much thicker. Parquet floors combine shapes (often geometric ones) into patterns. The maintenance for all types of wood floors is similar – just sweep, vacuum and clean with a damp mop. Too much water will warp wood, so a little goes a long way. Wood is durable, but it does scratch and wear down in high traffic areas. Scratches and gouges will need to be sanded out. And all wood floors will need to be refinished once or twice in their long lifetimes. Hardwood is one of the more expensive flooring options. You can find domestic hardwoods at $3 to $5 per square foot, while imported wood can cost more than $12 per square foot. Installing wood floors is a job best left to the professionals, which increases the cost. But hardwood floors are also one of the few flooring options that actually increase a home’s value during resale. They can also last a lifetime. So that may save you money in the end.
42 Lake & Home Magazine MARCH / APRIL 2021