Flooring Buying Guide

22 January, 2023

Flooring in Houston

When you’re buying new flooring for your home, your first consideration might be looks. Do you want to see rustic, weathered wood underfoot? Elegant imported ceramic tiles? Smooth, shiny stone? Checkerboard vinyl tiles or herringboned pine? Or something simple and unassuming to lie under your area rugs?

Once you have your dream floor in mind, it’s time for a reality check. Installing a new floor is one of the more expensive home improvement projects you’ll undertake, so make sure you have the budget for the flooring you favor.

Consider how much foot traffic, sunlight, and wear and tear your flooring will endure. For example, some engineered woods, along with a few types of solid wood flooring, aren’t as resistant to moisture as vinyl or laminate is—a serious drawback in a bathroom or busy kitchen. If it’s durability you’re after, porcelain tile would be a better choice. The good news is that some new porcelain tile designs closely mimic the look and texture of wood. But tile can be expensive and requires labor-intensive installation.

It’s also wise to have a backup choice. In this age of supply chain disruptions, the availability of building products like flooring is bound to fluctuate.

A large quantity of hardwood, marble, and porcelain is produced in Europe, or sourced from Europe’s forests and quarries, explains David Steckel, a home expert at the website Thumbtack, which links consumers to providers of home-improvement and other services. "It can be more profitable to ship cars and appliances than flooring, which decreases the supply [of flooring] available," he says.

Types of Flooring

Most flooring falls into one of the following six types. The type you choose will depend on your needs and budget—not to mention your personal style and aesthetic.

Solid Wood Flooring

Pros: Wood has a natural warmth and impressive wear resistance, and it can be sanded and refinished several times. Prefinished floors can hold up better than those finished on-site.

Cons: Solid wood will expand and contract with varying humidity levels and can dent easily. Some species can show wear quickly and become discolored from sunlight. Wood flooring is not a good choice for basements and other damp spaces.

Flooring Ratings

Engineered Wood Flooring

Pros: Because engineered wood is typically made of thin layers of wood sandwiched with adhesives, it can usually withstand higher levels of humidity and would be less likely to expand when compared with solid wood flooring. This flooring uses a thin veneer of real wood or bamboo over structural plywood, making it a cost-effective choice. Well-installed, high-quality engineered wood can be as durable as solid wood.

Cons: Most engineered wood doesn’t wear as well as solid wood or laminate. It also dents easily, despite differences in wood species. Depending on the thickness of the veneer, some engineered wood flooring can be refinished as many times as solid hardwood flooring. However, most can be refinished only once or twice, and some can never be refinished. If you think you may need to refinish your engineered wood flooring, check with the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

Laminate Flooring

Pros: Constructed of dense fiberboard with a photo beneath a clear-plastic protective layer, laminate can mimic almost anything.

Some brands use a cork backing underneath, which the manufacturers claim can help muffle sound. The best laminates resist scratching and discoloration from sunlight better than most wood products. It can be extremely tough stuff.

Cons: The repetitive pattern can compromise realism (read: look fake), so when installing, mix planks from different boxes for less repetition. In terms of durability, you might be able to touch up minor flaws, but you’ll have to replace the flooring once its top layer has worn through because it can’t be sanded like wood can.

Vinyl Flooring

Pros: Especially good at fending off wear, dents, scratches, discoloration from sunlight, and stains. Installation is easy, particularly for tiles or planks, and more color and design choices are available these days. It’s also waterproof, so it’s a great alternative to tile in wet rooms such as kitchens and baths.

Cons: While the premium brands can mimic the look of stone, tile, and wood, even the best products still look like vinyl up close. Top-of-the-line vinyl can cost as much as or more than the best solid wood and laminate floors.

Linoleum Flooring

Pros: Made of linseed oil and wood products, linoleum is a natural, resilient material. Today’s products offer far more styles and colors than years past. Linoleum tends to fend off discoloration from sunlight.

Cons: Resistance to wear, scratches, and dents varies widely from product to product.

Porcelain Tile Flooring

Pros: This classic material tends to resist wear, moisture, scratches, dents, and stains.

Cons: Installing porcelain tiles can be challenging. A lot of prep work is needed, and your subfloor needs to be perfectly smooth before you can set your tile in thinset and put grout in the cracks. For most applications, it might be best to hire a professional. Tiles can crack, and some grout can stain. Dropped cups and dishes break more easily. Tile is also relatively expensive and more difficult to install. Replacing cracked tiles can be a challenge.

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Source: consumerreports

Portton Construction Inc: We are a General Contractor in Houston and surrounding areas. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, we provide general contractor needs for all domestic markets. In need of a home makeover? Look no further! We provide services in all areas of home remodeling.

Flooring in Houston

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