From the Floors Up

What Type of Flooring Do I Choose?

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Are you in the market for new floors? If so, if you are anything like us, we tend to be guilty of overlooking the importance of flooring choices and how that choice will affect the style and function of our home. To help, we have listed a few tips below that will help you choose the right flooring for your lifestyle and family!

Daily Activity

Your lifestyle is critical when choosing the right flooring for your home. For instance, do you have children, pets, or friends and family coming and going? If so, your floors must withstand heavy traffic and be resilient to moisture and dirt. Ceramic tile and vinyl flooring are durable, tough, and ideal for high-traffic areas. Hardwood floors are durable, but will scratch and over time and require refinishing. If you prefer softness underfoot and have minimal traffic, consider carpet or using area rugs over hardwood and tile flooring. Just keep in mind the function and style of each room and choose your floors accordingly.

Specific Room Tips for Individual Rooms

Foyers

Foyer entryways should always say welcome and introduce your style. A key factor to remember for entryways is preventing dirt and debris from being tracked into the home. If snow, rain, mud, and sand are elements in the entry, consider stone, tile or hardwoods. Just make sure you place an entry mat outside before entering to trap and absorb much of the debris.

Interior Floors

To protect your entry interior floors, rugs are always the perfect solution while adding pops of color that enhance the entry foyer.

Living Rooms

Family and great rooms are active rooms, so remember that area rugs are ideal over tile and hardwood floors. They help add an element of comfort and style to your classic flooring options.

Bedrooms

Many people still prefer carpet in bedrooms simply for the softness and warmth on bare feet.

Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Laundry Rooms

Keep in mind that kitchens, bathrooms, laundry/utility rooms are considered work areas, and the flooring should resist water as well as be durable.

Flooring Cost

Flooring is priced per square foot for product and labor. Understanding flooring pricing is an essential factor to keep you on track and within budget. Keep in mind the product grades of quality and the padding or moisture barrier for carpet, hardwood, and vinyl plank flooring. Another factor for flooring cost is longevity. Floors need to be maintained, and the type of flooring you choose will depend on how often you must replace them.

Please reach out with any and all questions. We are here to help you make the best decision for your next floor!

Question 9 In the Series Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring

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Today we are answering the ninth question in the 1o part series: Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring.

Question:

Should I use the same floor that my mother/neighbor/best friend used because it sure looks good in her house?

Answer:

You should only have the same floor as someone else if you have the same floor plan, on the same lot, with the same lifestyle, the same taste and the same budget. Not a likely situation, right?

Choosing the right flooring for your home depends on a variety of factors such as:

  • Room size and layout
  • Amount of light available in the room
  • Lifestyle (kids, pets, elderly parents)
  • Amount of time you plan to spend in the home
  • Personal design style and taste
  • Style of the home
  • Budget
  • Activity planned for the room
  • Other design elements in the room such as wall color, furniture, art, etc.

It can seem like such a good idea when you see a floor in someone else’s home that looks really nice and to just assume that because it works for them that it will work for you. You may very well need or want the exact same type of flooring as someone else, but please be sure to consider the factors above before making that decision and also be sure not to expect the floor to look exactly the same in your home.

Question 7 In the Series Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring

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Today we are answering the seventh question in the 1o part series: Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring.

Question: How can I tell what my flooring will look like when it’s installed in my home?

Answer: There is no way to tell exactly what your floors will look like when they are installed in your home, but there are some hints, tips and tools that can help you visualize and get a pretty good idea!

Things to consider:

  • The lighting in the store is different than the lighting in your home. It’s best to take the samples home to view them in your light.
  • The surroundings are different in the store than in your home. It’s best to look at the sample next to your wall colors, furniture and fabrics.
  • Typically, the color of your carpet will look lighter once it is installed. Most carpet selections are made from smaller carpet samples, so seeing the color in a large amount in an entire room or home will make it appear lighter. This is especially true if there are bare walls, windows and no furnishings.
  • To visualize what most floors will look like when installed its best to view them at a distance. Very rarely are you viewing your floors up close so walk away and stand back from the sample to get a more accurate visual.

Tools to help you visualize:

  • Perhaps the best tool to help you visualize is a virtual room designer. (For a dealer in your area, just leave a comment and we will send you a link to a dealer in your area) This allows you to “try on” different floor types, colors, installation directions, etc in a room scene to get a feel for what it will look like.
  • Some flooring retailers have a tool where you can upload a picture of your own room and within 48 hours you will be able to change flooring options with the virtual room designer tool to get a preview of what this will look like in your home. (fees may apply)
  • When trying to visualize what a natural stone floor will look like you can either look at multiple samples or draw a grid on a transparency sheet and lay it over the stone sample. This will show you the range of the stone and what the overall floor will look like.

An important note, when purchasing new floor covering, the job is not complete until the furniture is placed and the pictures and hung back on the wall. It takes all of the furnishings being back in place to give you an accurate feel of what the room will look like. Try not to judge a new floor (or wall color) until everything is back where it belongs. You will be surprised at how much it matters to the overall look of the room when everything is back in its place.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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