I'm ready to replace my old carpet and can't wait to get a maintenance free floor that I don't have to be a slave to. Sound familiar? Seems like everyone has a vision of replacing old stained worn out carpeting with a flooring that needs no maintenance, no cleaning and will last a lifetime. Perfect world's do not exist but a world that offers less stress from your flooring choices is yours for the taking.
Cork is making a big comeback and has reached a level of popularity in recent months. Tile and stone are timeless as well as hardwood flooring. Manufacturers have done an excellent job with the newer vinyls being offered in today's flooring market. Laminate flooring has become a major player in flooring replacement the last few years.
With so many choices out there to quench the buyers thirst for easy living, what is the best choice for today's buyer? There really is no clear cut answer to the masses. Fortunately there is a clearer picture for each individual consumer depending on factors such as demographics, family size, active households, pets etc. Someone from a colder northern climate will probably frown on having tile or stone in main living areas mainly due to the fact that tile will always maintain a small level of moisture and will be very cold to walk on in the winter months. A hardwood floor, although is also a hard surface, tends to be much more comfortable to walk on. Hardwood floors offer a beauty and warmth to a home that is hard to beat. Cost, scratchability, UV ray damage and maintenance make the choice of purchasing a hardwood floor a tough decision for some. A laminate floor shares the same characteristics as a hardwood floor but you may experience a different sound when walking on it depending on the thickness of the laminate and the quality of underlayment that it is installed over. Cork is a legitimate option but can be damaged a little more easily than laminate.
We see most people opting for tile or stone in kitchens and baths and settling for the warmer look of hardwood and laminate flooring in their main living areas. Besides the battle to keep grout clean, tile or stone is very easy to maintain and offers better protection against damage from floods and spills. To further maintain a level of maintenance free flooring, you can go with a rectified tile (no grout lines) or communicate with your contractor that you want the smallest grout lines (usually 3/8").
The question usually comes down to hardwood or laminate. Since hardwood flooring is more susceptible to damage and wear, you have to weigh how much use and abuse the flooring is likely to be exposed to. Families with young active children or big dogs might not fair well in the maintenance department in regard to hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring has become the more popular choice with active families or people residing in warmer southern climates that want true maintenance free flooring options without the hard cold feel of tile.
Some of the newer styles of laminate have replicated the look of real hardwood to the degree that it takes careful examination of the floor on your knees to decide for yourself if it is real hardwood or not. A few examples of this include Tarkett's new line of flooring which has some very impressive styles that will even fool installers. Armstrong has a 12 mil product line called Grand Illusions that has a mirror finish to it that is quite breathtaking when entering a room. Quick Step has recently introduced a new line called Linesse that offers a three-strip plank visual, with the ability to stagger planks using the new UniLink technology. Two moveable strips in the plank are designed to slide against a stationary strip to provide the look of customized floors with little or no repeats.
Thickness of floor, locking systems, wear layer rating and type of core are vital components of any laminate floor in addition to the quality of the underlayment that is chosen. Find a reputable flooring company that will offer the most choices on your journey to find the right floor covering and options for your family. Make sure you find someone who will take the time to explain the differences in thickness, wear layer rating etc. Too often, people end up with a retailer that only carries one or two brands and is pressured into choosing a flooring option that might not be the best solution for the buyer. Look for a retailer that carries the most brands and has your particular needs in mind when recommending flooring options.
