If you're reading this you're looking for flooring--or thinking about looking for flooring and, failing a magic wand, hoping for some guidelines to simplify the process. If you're renovating, flooring is just one of many decisions you need to make. And face it, even if you're not renovating nine times out of ten a new floor means new room decor so be warned--new paint, trim and window treatments are soon to follow.
Budget, lifestyle, room use/traffic patterns and taste are the main considerations to help you navigate a world of choice. Let's consider each one in turn.
Flooring prices that meet your budget
Is money no object? Or are you juggling preferences and practicalities within clear spending limits? Here's a very general rule of thumb: medium grade installed carpet or vinyl runs about one-third of the price of hardwood or ceramic installed in the same space; installed laminate is roughly two-thirds of the price. That said the variety of quality and choice is seen in the range of floor pricing--installed vinyl can be anywhere from $1.40 to $6.50 a square foot, installed laminate from $2.50 to $7.50 and installed hardwood from $9.00 to $12.00.
Of course, if you're handy and undaunted at the thought of doing your own installation all bets are off. You can save a lot of money as long as you know what you're doing, have the requisite time, skill, tools, patience and understanding roommates. (Remember, your work encroaches on their evenings, weekends and holiday time too.)
Brands and warranties also factor into budget considerations. Basically the longer the warranty period, the better the floor and the higher the price. You do get what you pay for so if you want flooring that will last, look for a decent warranty along with brand recognition. Recommended brands are mentioned in the lifestyle section below.
Flooring that suits your lifestyle
Are you a growing family, on your own or a couple? Do you entertain alot? Are you planning to move in the near future or putting down roots? Do you have the time and inclination to vacuum often or is the broom your best friend? Do you have pets? (In a tank or fur-bearing? Bigger than a guinea-pig? Do they get the run of the house? Indoors, outdoors or both?) The answers to these questions will give you a sense of what flooring is suited to your needs. Consider the following pros and cons.
Carpet is warm, comfortable and cushy, usually well-warrantied and stain resistant. A lower grade will show stains, wear and tear quicker than a higher quality grade, and Berber makes a great choice for kids and pets. Regular vacuuming and spot-cleaning will keep your carpet in good shape but here I have to admit to a personal bias. Vacuuming is not my hobby and I've yet to meet a rug that stands up well over time to furballs, pet hair and pet odours. (Though I do recommend the industrial wet/dry shop-vac if you have dogs--we had 3.) Recommended brands--Richmond, Shaw, Coronet, National. For stain resistance, look for the Stainmaster Seal.
Vinyl makes a practical cushioned floor for a bathroom, hallway or kitchen. It doesn't hold odour and it's easy to clean. It comes in a huge variety of patterns and looks, mimicing ceramic and even hardwood. While vinyl is surprisingly durable, with the current trends towards hard-surface flooring few choose it for a family or living room. We inherited vinyl tile flooring in our living area and it made a good-looking, resilient covering for several years. Recommended brands--Armstrong, Tarkett.
Laminate is a hugely practical, popular flooring choice. Plank flooring comes in every colour, pattern and finish imaginable--your floor can look like bamboo, heritage oak or highly polished hardwood. Ceramic and cork are also available on a laminate tile tongue and groove backing for ease of installation. Durable, easy to clean, scratch and stain resistant, laminate can chip if heavy objects are dropped with a lot of force. Mop up spills right away--laminate does not do well in the wet. Recommended brands--Pergo, Laurentian, Armstrong, Wicanders.
Ceramic tile makes a beautiful, practical choice. Available in a variety of tile sizes for floors, detail work and backsplashes. Ceramic is breakable and it isn't cushy underfoot--if you put it in the kitchen, use a non-slip mat in the standing area. Recommended brands--Casa Roma, Centura, Olympia Tile.
Hardwood is a classic flooring favourite. If you're concerned about scratches and markings go with a harder hardwood--oak, maple, cherry or bamboo. Eventually all hardwoods will mark, but marks are a characterisitic of wood and floors can always be refinished. The variation in pattern and colour that natural hardwood provides is timeless. Recommended brands--Bruce, Laurentian.
Something green? Bamboo hardwood is harvested from the bark of the tree, which replenishes in about 5 years. It takes 23 years to replace a mature oak tree--and bamboo is 23% harder than oak.
Flooring that fits your room use and traffic patterns
What room are you updating with a new floor? How do you use the space and who uses it most? Does your family spend a lot of time there or is it a high-traffic, pass-through area? High-traffic pass-throughs show wear more quickly so invest in a quality floor cover with a good warranty. While there are no hard and fast rules, the following is a list of common choices by area:
Bathroom - vinyl, ceramic, laminate
Kitchen - vinyl, ceramic
Living Room - carpet, laminate, hardwood
Family Room/basement/games room - carpet, laminate, hardwood
Study - carpet, laminate, hardwood
Bedroom - carpet, laminate, hardwood
Hall - carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwood
Entrances - ceramic, vinyl, laminate
Stairs - carpet, laminate, hardwood
There's no accounting for taste
Taste is the indefinable element that often overrides every other consideration. Unless you're moving, you'll live with your choice for a long time so you'd better love it. Limit the number of people involved in making the final decision to two, and then figure out which options you both like. Be prepared: the person with more passion for style, color and fashion often sways the vote. In our household when we find something we both love we buy it--that's why we're finally trading in the vinyl tiles for bamboo hardwood! (That is, after the requisite paint and trim updates are complete. Yours truly is having too much fun painting out the old floor along with the walls!)
Marion Taylor is a writer and video-maker living on the shores of Mississippi Lake with her husband John. John owns and operates a retail flooring store; together they've combined skills and resources to create how-to-flooring videos. For information about their video on Installing Laminate Flooring click on the following link: http://www.taylorscustomflooring.com/laminate-video
Flooring Choices - How Do You Decide?
