You may not think much about your home flooring if it’s been around a while. It may be a little worn, and when you walk in the door it no longer catches your attention. If you’ve ever gone to a friend’s house who got new flooring  or toured a model home, you know there can be a different feeling when you walk in the door. Few things can spruce up a home more than some new paint and flooring, and in this article we will focus on the flooring.

But first, it can admittedly be a little overwhelming. You may have many questions you need to answer such as:

• Do I want hard flooring throughout the entire home?
• How important is having highly durable floors?
• Is carpet important to me? In which rooms?
• Which floors have that wow factor and make me feel like I’m walking into someplace special?

There are many more considerations such as cost, matching styles, etc. but many of these can be figured out within a certain type of flooring (for example the option of inexpensive wood floors all the way to very expensive wood floors). So today, let’s look at a few exciting (and some familiar) types of flooring that are very popular today.

Wood-look Tile

Wood-look tile has been around for quite some time, but that hasn’t made it any less popular. The benefits of ceramic tile - water proofing and durability, along with appearing somewhat like a beautiful wood floor make this choice an ongoing favorite. Is this type of flooring for you?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I like the look of wood-look tile?
• Does this meet my durability needs in the rooms it will be in?
• Does this meet my flooring comfort desires?

Stylish Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring has long been the budget-friendly option for new flooring. Durable and relatively inexpensive, vinyl flooring is a go-to option for flooring that is likely to stay popular. Being lower cost does mean it isn’t as “fancy”, but don’t be fooled – vinyl flooring has a luxury segment. According to HGTV.com, “The demand continues for the “luxury vinyl” segment -- top-quality resilient flooring with lookalike qualities that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from stone, wood plank and ceramic tile.”

So if vinyl is a consideration for you, ask yourself these questions:

• Is cost an important factor in my new flooring choice?
• Is vinyl the best choice for my durability needs?
• Do I like any of the styles of vinyl flooring, including the luxury vinyl category?

Stained Concrete

With a modern look and hard to beat durability, stained concrete flooring has grown in popularity. This type of flooring isn’t for everyone though – it has a unique design and of course the floors are hard and there is no pad between the concrete and your feet. According to Realtor.com, stained concrete floors can cost up to $2,000 for a 200 square foot area. If you’re unsure about concrete floors, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the stained concrete style one that matches my home’s design or the direction I’m taking the design?
• Am I ok with no padding on the floor beneath me?
• How does the cost fit in with my overall budget?

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood floors are great in many ways. They have the beautiful look of hard wood but are made to be more durable and forgiving. It is also a low maintenance flooring and won’t warp. There are endless styles to choose from as well. So, what are the cons? Cost is greater if you’re comparing them to vinyl, tile and carpet. Additionally, since these are not solid wood floors they can’t be sanded and refinished in the same way. The ability to refinish depends on the thickness of the top layer. If you’re considering engineered wood flooring ask yourself these questions:

• As one of the more expensive flooring options, can I afford engineered wood floors in my budget?
• Am I happy with the look of the options out there and are they preferable over solid wood flooring?
• Do the pros of engineered flooring over solid wood flooring outweigh the cons?

Carpet

Last but not least, let’s talk about carpet. Carpet flooring is sometimes like a pair of tennis shoes – not very upscale, yet comfortable and familiar and you just might like it better at times. Often when talking about popular flooring the higher end options get all of the attention. Many of the options above probably make sense for highly trafficked areas and parts of your home where there is water use (kitchen and bathroom) or a lot of traffic coming in from the outside (entry way). It’s hard to argue with the look of some of the tile and wood floors, but it’s important to ask yourself if you like the feel of them in the more comfortable spaces of your home – like the family room and bedrooms. Carpet is a timeless popular choice due to the ability to clean it and even more for the warm comfortable feel it gives your room. So if you’re considering carpet flooring or if you have ruled it out, stop and ask yourself:

• Do I want hard surface floors in my bedroom?
• Do I want hard surface floors in the living room?
• What areas of my house would do better with carpet, and what areas would do better with hard flooring?

These are a few of the most popular types of flooring. Thinking through the different types of flooring can help get you started so you know what to discuss with a new flooring specialist. If you need help and want a free consultation to discuss new flooring in the Chico area, contact us at Experts In Your Home today!