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You can paint the walls, add accessories, and even replace furniture on a budget, but replacing an entire floor is a much bigger — and costlier — job. Carpeting can also increase home value, though not as much as hardwood. The estimated increase in home value from carpeting is 1%–3%, varying based on the quality of the carpet and the style of the home. Tile is a popular choice for high-moisture areas like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. Here's what to know about hardwood, tile, stone, laminate, and more.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring might be the most timeless of building materials. Elegant historic homes often feature it, as so do many of the nicest new homes being built today. No wonder installing hardwood floors is such a popular home improvement project, adding warmth and beauty to any residence — and value, too. In fact, the upgrade has one of the highest returns on investment (106% to be exact), according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest Remodeling Impact Report. The amount of foot traffic a floor will endure can also influence your choice of flooring. Below, we detail different flooring types to help you choose based on how much foot traffic, sunlight, and wear and tear you expect your floor to endure.
Types of Hardwood Flooring
Whichever way you go, you’ll have your choice of sheen on the finish. Gloss finishes reflect the most light, so they’re not ideal in high-traffic areas because they show scratches. Hardwood flooring is known to add value to a home due to its timeless appeal and durability. Professional installers bring expertise and experience to the project, which can ensure superior installation.
Best Types of Hardwood Flooring, According to Experts
Brazilian walnut has an extremely high Janka score of 3,680, popular white oak has an average hardness of 1,360 and southern yellow pine is relatively soft with a Janka score of 870. If you’re looking for the most durable possible hardwood floor, pre-finished is the way to go, since the factory application is hard and stable, and often involves multiple coats. Keep in mind that other factors impact durability, including how the wood is cut and application of the finish coat. Unfinished floors (or site finish) will come to your home raw and unfinished.
These days, there are lots of different flooring options, including several that are very affordable. Vinyl, laminate, and some kinds of tile can all cost under $1 per square foot. When you order prefinished hardwood floors, your materials will arrive at your home with a stain and top coat already applied.
Underlayment materials include foam, cork, rubber, felt, and specialized soundproofing mats. The different function that each type performs will affect your choice—as will the type of flooring you’ve chosen and the existing subfloor. Thin vinyl flooring is more likely to split or break during installation. That could mean you’ll have to buy more flooring to cover those accidents. Focus on vinyl flooring with a thickness of 7 mm or more; you can find thickness information on the product’s label or online product page. Thickness can be a factor in the durability of other flooring materials—and for solid wood, its ability to be refinished.
Bruce focuses on providing value and ease of installation with its Lock & Fold line of wood flooring. The Robbins line is sold in specialty flooring stores and through special order at select home centers. Armstrong has floating engineered wood flooring across all its brands. Common high-traffic areas are entryways to rooms and to the house itself. Consider very resilient flooring for family rooms and other areas that pets and kids frequent. For less busy areas, consider one of the top engineered wood or bamboo floors for their natural veneer and easy installation.
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Flooring
A flooring dealer interviewed by Consumer Reports says customers often assume the luxury vinyl planks on her showroom floor are real wood. For example, hardwood is consistently popular because of its warm, classic look, but it doesn’t hold up well to moisture or rough treatment. Here’s a look at the pros, cons, and costs of several popular types of flooring, as well as some ideas about which are the best flooring options for specific areas.
Another possibility to consider if you’re on a tight budget is refinishing or painting your old floors. Refinishing a worn-out hardwood floor is a lot cheaper than replacing it, even if you have to hire a professional to do it. And painting is a reasonable DIY project that can work on old wood floors, concrete, laminate, or even vinyl. According to HomeAdvisor, carpeting varies in price from $2 to $7 per square foot.
Podcast Episode 628: Porch Railings, Porch Flooring, and Japanese Footings - Fine Homebuilding
Podcast Episode 628: Porch Railings, Porch Flooring, and Japanese Footings.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You should look for two different warranties in your company search. A manufacturer's warranty protects you in case of a product defect, while an installer's warranty covers workmanship. Depending on the installer and flooring brand you pick, warranty coverage could be limited to a fixed term.
The big downside of a home equity loan is that it puts your home at risk. If you’re unable to pay off the loan as scheduled, the bank could foreclose on your house. Home improvement loans often have lower fees than other types of home loans, such as home equity loans or HELOCs (discussed below).
Ensure your wood floor is sustainably sourced by looking for a Forest Stewardship Council mark. This leading carpet manufacturer crossed over to hard-surface flooring through acquisitions and partnerships and now offers wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring. Mohawk sells stone flooring under the American Olean brand and laminate flooring under the Quick-Step brand. In vinyl, Mohawk distributes the Congoleum brand through its vast dealer network.
They said before the vote that they opposed unfettered aid to Israel that could be used in its offensive in Gaza. The opposition to the Israel aid represented a minority of Democrats, but reflected the deep resistance to unconditional aid and the divisions in the party on Gaza. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee said, "I don't think it will happen" and "I don't think it's a good idea to move it forward" when pressed on a motion to vacate. Our Hardwood Flooring can be found throughout retail stores, luxury hotels, and multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California. We have worked with many interior designers, architects, and large-scale developers to create incredible home and retail experiences. We recommend requesting a copy so you can study the crew's handiwork.
Maple’s tones range from creamy white to reddish brown, so in most cases you will be able to stain it just about any color. Solid hardwood flooring is often between 5/16 and 3/4 inches thick. Polyurethane creates a hard top coat over the surface of the wood, making it more durable against wear and tear. But, if scratches do occur or a plank is damaged, repairing your floors can be difficult.
Consumer Reports says the material is easy to install yourself, but HGTV cautions that it takes “patience and ingenuity” to fit the planks around corners and through doors. Laminate floors can mimic the look of wood or stone for much less money. Laminate is a hard material that resists scratches, dents, and stains, according to HomeAdvisor. Glazed tile is easy to clean and maintain, but the lines of grout between the tiles can stain if you don’t seal them regularly. And although tile is a durable material, it’s not that easy to fix if a single tile happens to crack.
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