Choosing flooring is far more complicated than just finding the best-looking product. Several other factors–moisture, durability, costs, and more–greatly influence your decision. These steps should help you reach a flooring decision that is right for you!
1. Will Your Floor Be Installed in a Basement, Full Bathroom, or Other High Moisture Area?
Flooring such as concrete, ceramic or porcelain tile, or vinyl tile is suited for a high- or medium-moisture environment. If moisture is not a limiting factor, many different flooring options become available.
2. Do You Have Pets, Children, or Any Other Extra Need for a Durable Floor?
You will need a floor with superior wear resistance. There are several varieties of highly durable flooring, like ceramic or porcelain tile, laminate flooring, plank vinyl flooring, or even carpeting. Some flooring that appears to be wear resistant often is not. For example, site-finished solid hardwood can easily scratch. Its saving grace is that scratches can be sanded out.
3. What Is Your Square Footage Budget?
$2.00 or less
You will find bargain laminate flooring around this price; nothing gorgeous but it has a general wood-like appearance. Sheet and tile flooring can also be found in this price range. It is worth noting however that tile installation is fairly intensive.
$2.00-$5.00
The sweet spot price range for many types of flooring. You can snag some domestic solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring, but do not expect any exotic woods. The more attractive laminates fall in this range, as well as higher quality luxury vinyl tile.
$5.00 or more
Increasing your price range means you can explore some of the harder, more exotic hardwood and engineered wood options–kempas, ipe, brazilian cherry, mahogany. The highest quality, premium laminate and luxury vinyl flooring products will be found here.
4. Do You Want To Install Your Flooring By Yourself?
Installing your flooring yourself can often cut your entire flooring cost in half. Laminate flooring and plank vinyl flooring tend to be the easiest floor coverings for homeowners to install. Both are floating floors, which means that each board connects to an adjacent board (not to the sub-floor). If attempting something a little more challenging like ceramic and porcelain tile, it might be best to start on an out-of-the-way room, like a basement bathroom.
Wall to wall carpet is tough for DIYers to lay down perfectly flat. Nail-down solid hardwood and engineered wood floors are best installed by pros. As mentioned, ceramic/porcelain tile can be self-installed; it is more a matter of whether you want it installed well.
Jenkins offers in-house installation.
