How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Lancaster Remodel

The flooring you use in your home remodel is a big deal. It has a large impact on the aesthetic of your home and significantly affects its functionality. You need flooring that looks great and is durable enough to stand up to your lifestyle. You probably have a budget you want to stick to. And you likely want flooring that doesn’t take too much maintenance to continue looking its best. With so many goals and so many choices, how can you decide on the best flooring for remodeling? We’re here to help. Read on for information on the most popular types of flooring, including the pros and cons for each. You’ll be able to make a confident and informed decision!

A Few Things to Consider

First of all, what areas do you need flooring for? High-traffic areas like kitchens and living rooms need more durable flooring than, say, a spare bedroom would. Bathrooms and kitchens also generally need flooring that can withstand moisture–an issue that isn’t a concern in other areas.

Second, who will be walking on the flooring? Do you have young kids? Consider prioritizing durability and comfort over aesthetics. For families with dogs, scratch resistance and moisture resistance might top the priority list. If you have elderly family members, non-slip flooring becomes more important.

Third, what’s your style? Is your home modern and sleek? Minimal and warm? Colorful and eclectic? Do you lean toward a farmhouse vibe, Quiet Luxury, or maximalism? How do you want your house to look and feel? The flooring you choose will either complement or compete with the style of your home.

Some Popular Options

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood is a timeless classic for a reason: it’s beautiful, warm, welcoming, and durable. With care, a good wood floor can last a hundred years. It gets more lovely with age, and imperfections add to its character. Wood flooring fits in with any aesthetic, and because there are so many types of wood and colors of stain available, you can get any look you want.

Red oak is the most popular choice for hardwood flooring today. It is easy to stain to match existing flooring (making it a good choice for a remodel), and it’s durable and beautiful. Wood’s hardness is ranked on something called the Janka scale, and red oak scores a 1290, which means it’s hard enough to be strong and soft enough to be easy to work with. Other popular wood for floors include white oak, maple, cherry, and even bamboo (which is actually grass, not wood!).

With hardwood floors, you can expect some maintenance. While daily sweeping or vacuuming will keep your floors looking good, you will want to clean with a special wood cleaner once a month or so. Every few years, you can apply a new protective coating. And if the wood is damaged or really worn, you may want to sand it down and refinish it. Don’t allow water to remain on the floor as it can cause the wood to swell. With a little TLC, your wood floors will look great for decades.

Hardwood pros include:

• Hardwood adds value to your home–it’s a very desirable choice.
• It’s eco-friendly and a renewable resource.
• It’s durable and beautiful and fits any aesthetic.

Hardwood cons include: 

• It doesn’t withstand moisture as well as some other flooring options.
• It does require some basic maintenance.
• It can be expensive.

LVP Flooring

Luxury vinyl planks (and LVT: luxury vinyl tiles) are a great option for a home remodel. These vinyl planks are made to look like wood but are generally less expensive and easier to maintain than their wood counterparts. LVP has come a long way in terms of looking and feeling like wood, with textures and colors that give the appearance of real wood planks.

LVP is made of several layers of materials: a backer board for stability, a core layer to add strength, a vinyl layer that is printed with a color and pattern, and a wear layer on top that helps it resist scratches. It’s a strong, water-resistant, and durable product, and you can get it in just about any pattern or style.

LVP pros include:

• It gives you the look of wood (or tile) without the expense and upkeep.
• It’s great for homes with small children and/or pets. It’s soft enough to sit on–unlike tile–and it’s durable.
• Because it resists moisture, it’s great for bathrooms and basements.
• It’s a good choice for high-traffic areas.
• It’s relatively inexpensive

LVP cons include:

• Some brands contain VOCs and off-gas after installation. Be cautious if you have sensitive family members.
• It’s not easy to remove if you change your mind.
• It’s not as eco-friendly as other options.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has many of the same properties as LVP. It’s made of several layers of material combined to be a durable, good-looking, and less expensive option than authentic wood or tile. Laminate flooring can be produced in planks, tiles, or sheets and is fairly easy to install.

One major difference between laminate flooring and LVP is that laminate includes a particle board core that is not resistant to water. This means that laminate flooring can be damaged if water seeps between the seams. It’s also a little less soft underfoot–although most laminate flooring comes with a foam underlayer to make it softer. 

Laminate flooring pros include:

• There’s a large variety of colors and styles to choose from, meaning you can make it fit any style or aesthetic you want.
• Laminate flooring is a very inexpensive option that still looks good. It’s a cost-effective flooring option.
• It’s easy to install.

Laminate flooring cons include:

• Laminate flooring doesn’t wear well and isn’t the most durable option. This means it’s better for low-traffic areas.
• Laminate flooring doesn’t add value to your home the way hardwood or tile does.
• It’s not water resistant and can be damaged by excess moisture.

Carpet

A great choice for bedrooms and sometimes living rooms, carpet has a lot going for it. It’s a naturally sound-dampening flooring, which is especially great in kids’ rooms and bedrooms. Carpet is warm and comfortable underfoot, and gives a sense of relaxation to the space.

Wool carpet is a good option–the natural fibers are temperature-regulating, durable, and easy to maintain. It has a luxurious look and feel.

Carpet pros include:

• Carpet is comfortable underfoot, especially in the bedrooms.
• It’s good for regulating sound and temperature.
• It’s cozy and soft.

Carpet cons include:

• It will eventually look worn and may not be the best choice for high-traffic areas.
• Carpet doesn’t increase your home’s value.

Tile Flooring

One of the most durable home flooring options, tile is often a great choice. Because it is waterproof, it is most often used in kitchens and bathrooms, although it looks great in other spaces as well. Tile comes in countless colors and patterns, and can be installed in different patterns, which increases your design options.

Natural stone tile (marble, slate, granite, etc) is a good choice that increases your home’s value. It’s an excellent choice for high-end remodels. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are other popular options that are known for being beautiful and durable. 

Tile flooring pros include:

• Because it is waterproof, tile is a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens.
• Tiles come in endless styles, shapes, and colors. You can even get tile that looks like wood, for the durability of tile and the warmth of wood.
• Tile usually adds value to your home.

Tile flooring cons include:

• Tile can be slippery when wet, so make sure to choose textured tile for shower or bathroom floors.
• It can be uncomfortable or cold to stand on for long periods (consider in-floor heating to combat the cold!).

So Many Options!

With so many possible flooring solutions available, how do you know what’s best for you? After you’ve thought about the rooms you’re remodeling and their use, who will be walking on the floor the most, what style suits your home, and what your budget allows, you may have a clear answer. You can also look at our gallery for ideas–these are beautiful floors that work perfectly in these homes. If you still have questions–and many people do!–our professional designers are ready to help. Contact us today and let’s get to work making your home perfect for you and yours.