Floor Covering Options in a Remodeling Project
Instead of Carpeting Use Natural Stone or Seagrass or Laminate
Jul 16, 2009
Not so many years ago, homeowners selecting flooring materials when planning a remodeling project had only traditional building materials to select from; linoleum tile for the kitchen, ceramic tile for the bathroom, and carpeting for the den and living room.
Higher end homes might have hardwood plank or parquet tile floors. These are still very popular, although over the past few years, laminate flooring has been stealing a bit of the thunder, and contractors have been acquiring the requisite installation skills.
Natural Stone Flooring Choices
Natural stone has been quarried and used for centuries. Materials like slate, marble, and granite offer durability and relative ease of maintenance, but the price can carry a bit of sticker shock.
Subfloor preparation is important when installing natural stone. Unless the surface is absolutely level, the chance of cracking is high. The good news is that once it's in, it's in. Unlike carpeting, it doesn't have to be changed out every few years or so.
Using Natural and Renewable Resources
Using natural, sustainable building materials is trendy; no doubt about it. Because of that, and the cost of harvesting it, it can also carry a weighty price tag. Many of these materials lend themselves to area rugs. Hemp is one of these (don't smoke it). Hemp is very durable and inexpensive to produce, which is why it has always been a popular choice for rope making.
Seagrass is a natural and obvious choice for bathroom floors. After all, it comes from the water, so it tolerates dampness well. Plus, its texture is easy on the feet. The only issue as this material grows in popularity is the same as the rain forest issue; over-harvesting poses concerns since seagrass is a habitat of many animal species.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has been gaining in market share. The two biggest reasons are that it's very affordable compared to hardwood flooring, and the ease of installation makes it a great DIY project. The learning curve is fairly flat and the tool list is short.
The price is kept low by so many manufacturers entering the market. The biggest brands are Pergo, Bruce, Armstrong, and Alloc, among others, but the list goes on and on. There are some areas of the home where laminate is not the best choice. It is discouraged in the bathroom and kitchen due to the chance of water spillage.
Hardwood and Parquet Tiles
Both hardwood floors and parquet are traditional flooring systems. The main things that recommend them are that they are durable and easy to maintain. The drawbacks are that they must be refinished periodically and waxed (or otherwise maintained) on a regular basis.
So, there are more flooring choices than ever before. The homeowner should consider price, maintenance, and traffic for all areas of the home being remodeled.
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