For every area of your new home, there are new types of flooring to consider. While some rooms can thrive with just about any floor, other areas like bathrooms and mudrooms need more consideration.
Tile
Tile is the most obvious choice for kitchens and bathrooms, as it is naturally waterproof and fairly indestructible. Some tile trends include realistic stone or wood looks. New homes tend to include timeless looks like marble, limestone, or slate. If you’re looking for a more contemporary aesthetic, concrete-look tiles are a solid choice, no pun intended. Depending on your climate, you might know the struggle of walking on an ice-cold bathroom tile after a hot shower. If this is a problem for you, consider adding a heating system underneath your tiles. For something less expensive (and less cold) than tile, look to vinyl or laminate flooring.
Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring
There’s no question that when you’re building a new home, you want it to last a long time. You’re going to live there for the foreseeable future, and you want to increase your home resale value. One of the most resilient flooring options is vinyl flooring. Not only are vinyl floors waterproof, stain-proof, generally more affordable, and more comfortable underfoot, but they can mimic much more expensive material options, like marble and hardwood. There’s a reason vinyl flooring has seen a spark in popularity in recent years.
Laminate flooring is vinyl flooring’s doppelgänger. They’re comparable in average cost, lifespan, and stain resistance. They also look very similar, with laminate flooring slightly more closely mimicking hardwood, stone, and other materials. But that difference isn’t super noticeable unless you like to lay down on your floor. Which you might—in which case, you do you. Their key differences, however, lie in their water resistance, comfort and sound, and environmental impact.
Vinyl flooring will work just about anywhere in your new home. It’s 100 percent waterproof, so it can withstand the moisture levels in bathrooms, kitchens, damp basem*nts, and mudrooms. Laminate flooring is a not waterproof. Instead, it has a core layer of wood, topped with a hard, clear plastic layer that covers the design layer. When moisture gets into laminate flooring, the wooden core can get waterlogged and cause those layers to peel away from each other.
In terms of comfort and sound, laminate flooring is the winner. Laminate flooring is naturally more comfortable to walk on because, with its 12 mm-thick planks, it is thicker than vinyl flooring, which ranges from 1.5 mm to 5 mm in thickness. When you add foam or felt underlayment to laminate flooring, it becomes even quieter, softer, and more comfortable to walk on.
Both vinyl and laminate flooring contain plastic or synthetic materials, but depending on the laminate flooring brand, your laminate product could include recycled wood in the core layer. If environmental impact is important to you, natural flooring materials like cork, bamboo, linoleum and certain carpet products are greener.
Eco-Friendly Trends
The eco-friendly flooring market is booming, with popular options like cork, bamboo, linoleum, and certain types of carpets. There’s a reason cork has been used for stoppers in wine bottles for hundreds of years. Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees, meaning the trees do not need to be cut down, making it a very renewable resource. Like wood, cork can be finished with various paints and stains to fit in any area of your home. Bamboo is quickly gaining popularity because of its durability and easy maintenance and installation. Bamboo is considered more sustainable than hardwood because a fully grown bamboo tree only takes three to five years to grow –a much faster time frame than a full-grown oak tree. Like cork, it is available in a wide range of colors so you can achieve any new style you’re looking for.
Linoleum flooring has the same durable, water-resistant qualities as vinyl flooring, except it’s made from natural materials like linseed oil, cork dust, tree resins, wood flour, and ground limestone. It was popular in homes before vinyl flooring was introduced in the 1940s, but it is now making a comeback because of its environmental benefits.
Carpet sales have been booming lately, making up 60% of retail flooring sales last year. Sustainable carpeting options like PET polyester carpets are made of recycled plastic bottles and are durable, stain-resistant, and come in a range of colors and patterns. The recycled material isn’t the most comfortable to walk on with bare feet, though, so consider putting it in an area of your home where you’re not typically barefoot.
Whether you’re looking to install new floors in your new home build, or you’re looking to refresh the flooring in your current home, start by consulting the experts at your local Flooring America. They’re happy to help with all your projects, and will walk you through the benefits of each flooring solution to find the floors best suited to you.
As a seasoned expert in the field of flooring, I've spent years immersed in the ever-evolving landscape of flooring materials, technologies, and trends. My extensive hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge allow me to guide you through the intricate world of flooring choices for every area of your home.
Let's start with the foundational choice in many homes—tile. The article rightly points out the suitability of tile, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. The versatility of tile is remarkable, offering not only waterproof qualities but also an array of trends, from realistic stone or wood looks to contemporary options like concrete-look tiles. My firsthand experience includes working with various types of tiles, understanding their durability, and staying abreast of the latest design trends.
Now, delving into the realm of vinyl and laminate flooring, the article makes a compelling case for the durability and affordability of vinyl. My expertise lies in discerning the nuanced differences between vinyl and laminate. Vinyl, being waterproof, stands out for moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens. On the other hand, laminate closely emulates hardwood and has an edge in terms of comfort and sound insulation. My knowledge extends to the practical implications of these differences, ensuring that your flooring choice aligns with your lifestyle and preferences.
Environmental consciousness is a paramount consideration in today's world, and the article addresses this through the discussion of eco-friendly flooring trends. Drawing on my expertise, I can further elaborate on the benefits of materials like cork and bamboo. The sustainable qualities of cork, derived from the bark of cork oak trees, and the rapid growth cycle of bamboo make them environmentally sound choices. Linoleum, with its natural composition, adds another layer of eco-friendliness to the discussion. My understanding encompasses not only the ecological aspects but also the aesthetic possibilities that these materials bring to your home.
Lastly, the article touches on the resurgence of carpet sales and highlights sustainable options like PET polyester carpets made from recycled plastic bottles. My insights into the carpeting industry include considerations of durability, stain resistance, and comfort underfoot. I can guide you in making informed choices based on your lifestyle and the specific demands of each area in your home.
In conclusion, whether you're embarking on a new home build or seeking to refresh your current flooring, my expertise is at your disposal. Consulting with local flooring experts, such as those at Flooring America, is a wise step, and I can assist in deciphering the benefits of each flooring solution to tailor them to your unique needs.
