Flooring 101-- Which floor covering is right for me?

Flooring 101- Which floor covering is right for me?
This is the million dollar question and it seems like there are nearly that many “correct” answers!
Here are a few things to consider when trying to make your choice of what surface to use in your home.

• Do you want soft-surface flooring like carpet or hard-surface like laminate, vinyl or hardwood?  Sometimes this is an easy answer based on which room the floor covering is going in. Be aware that hardwood is not recommended in areas of humidity, potential for puddling, or basements.
• How long will you be in this home? If you plan to be in the house for longer than 5 years-look at the best quality floor covering you can afford. No floor covering is indestructible and knowing the life of the product you are buying will save you frustration when you have to replace an inexpensive product.
• Do you have children or pets? We often work with young families who are looking for inexpensive carpet for playrooms, bedrooms and family rooms. The average life of carpet can be anywhere from 3-12 years, mostly depending on quality of carpet and upkeep. Daily vacuuming can do wonders for the longevity of carpet!
• Are you the type of person who sees minor imperfections in a floor and is bothered by them? Sometimes it’s the little things that bug the heck out of us that can be a deciding factor in floor covering. Some people can’t stand to see scratches on their wood floors or are bothering by contraction gaps that can occur in the winter. Some people are               bothered by the “sound” that a laminate floor makes versus the hardwood walk. Does anyone else know a person who vacuums themselves out of the house because they can’t stand to see footprints in the carpet? Sigh....it’s all about knowing what is important to you! 
• Is your flooring choice determined solely on price? For many consumers, price is a big factor. Start with deciding how much you can afford for the project. Then research what is available to you to achieve the look you want. If you want hardwood floors but can’t afford it, look at “wood” options in laminate, vinyl and even tile! Be open to new ideas on how to achieve a similar look.

Congratulations if you know exactly what type of floor covering you want--You are on your way to taking the next step of choosing the actual product! Next week we’ll talk about pros and cons to different types of floors. Have a safe and fun holiday weekend!