Choosing flooring is stressful. After all, with so many options, where do you begin?
A practical starting point is your budget. Some flooring choices like sheet vinyl are just $0.50 per square foot while exotic hardwoods like tigerwood clock in at more than $20 per square foot. But cheapest isn’t always best.
Before settling on teak hardwood or cork, you should weigh cost alongside other factors like style, foot traffic, and general wear and tear. In this guide, we do just that to help you pick picture-perfect flooring.
Hardwood floors are timeless. They add warmth and beauty to any room. However, they aren’t suited for every space in your 1920s American Foursquare.
COST OF HARDWOOD FLOORS: $5 to $10 per square foot
Living Rooms: Hardwood can endure the foot traffic that comes with Sunday gatherings and holiday parties. However, be sure to clean up spills right away.
Dining Rooms: Pine or mahogany hardwood pairs well with any dining room. Just add soft pads to your chair and table feet.
Master Bedrooms: Carpet in the bedroom is so 1990s. Instead, hire a general contractor to install hardwood and place a few rugs by the bed.
If you’re set on decking your highly-trafficked halls and overly wet basement with hardwood, opt instead for engineered hardwood. This flooring option looks exactly like traditional hardwood (we promise!) but is made of multiple layers of crosshatched plywood for durability.
COST OF ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORS: $3 to $14 per square foot
Basements: Unlike traditional hardwood, which will swell and warp when exposed to humidity, engineered hardwood is designed to maintain its shape even in swampy basements.
Remodeled Spaces: Engineered hardwood is a fraction of the thickness of traditional hardwood. This is especially helpful when you need to seamlessly transition from a different kind of flooring in a remodeled space.
Bathrooms: Though engineered hardwood is fairly water-resistant, it still doesn’t hold up in a hot and steamy bathroom.
Laundry Rooms: Engineered hardwood also doesn’t play well with wet clothes, dribbles of laundry detergent, or a leaking washing machine.
When most people think “vinyl,” they imagine tacky flooring with a dizzying tile design from the 1970s. But we promise that today’s vinyl is significantly more durable and aesthetically pleasing. In fact, this flooring is a top pick among homeowners because it looks convincingly like hardwood.
For the sake of simplicity, this guide focuses on vinyl plank flooring – a tongue-and-groove option that’s perceived as the crème de la crème of vinyl flooring. However, homeowners also have the choice of vinyl sheet flooring and peel-and-stick vinyl. Both are affordable but vary in quality.
COST OF VINYL PLANK FLOORS: $2.50 to $5 per square foot
Basements: Unlike traditional hardwood, which will swell and warp when exposed to humidity, engineered hardwood is designed to maintain its shape even in swampy basements.
Remodeled Spaces: Engineered hardwood is a fraction of the thickness of traditional hardwood. This is especially helpful when you need to seamlessly transition from a different kind of flooring in a remodeled space.
Joint Pain: If you have bad knees, you know that standing on ceramic tile, hardwood, and concrete takes a toll. Fortunately, linoleum offers a softness and “bounce” that’s perfect for homeowners with joint pain.
Asthma & Allergies: Linoleum is a great flooring choice for people with asthma and allergies because it doesn’t hold onto pet dander or pollen. It’s also made of natural materials that won’t off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Coastal Locales: Though linoleum is water-resistant, it’s not a great choice for your beachside bungalow. When exposed to wet, sandy feet or high humidity, this flooring will curl at the edges.
Split-Level Homes: In a split-level home, the lower level is below-grade (meaning it’s below the earth’s surface). Since below-grade spaces are typically damp, linoleum is a no-go.
Linoleum and vinyl are often confused for one another despite being very different. Whereas linoleum is made of linseed oil, a substance extracted from flax seeds, vinyl is made of synthetic materials like PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
That being said, linoleum is an environmentally friendly alternative to vinyl. It also lasts four times longer when regularly sealed. The downside? Linoleum is more expensive and less waterproof than its synthetic cousin.
Made from the bark of the cork oak tree, cork flooring is a completely natural and incredibly stylish flooring option. The downside? Cat and dog nails are its arch-nemesis.
No longer is tile flooring reserved for the laundry room and bathroom. Nowadays, a herringbone mosaic is considered vogue in about any space – from your master bedroom to your dining room. The sky is the limit!
COST OF TILE FLOORS: $1 to $100 per square foot
Sunrooms: Sunrooms are named such for a reason – there’s lots of sunlight. While hardwood and vinyl flooring will fade when exposed to UV rays, tile flooring keeps its color.
Foyers: Your home’s entryway receives the most foot traffic. This is the spot where guests kick off their gritty shoes and kids drop their bookbags. To withstand that much wear and tear, you need a durable tile floor.
Kids’ Playrooms: Since tile flooring is notoriously resilient, you might be tempted to use it in your daughter or son’s playroom. However, keep in mind that this material is hard. If your little one takes a spill, they’re liable to hurt themselves.
In the 21st-century, we have access to smartphones, electric cars, and a bevy of carpet options that aren’t shag. (Thank goodness, right?) In fact, manufacturers now produce such attractive offerings that carpet accounts for more U.S. sales than all other flooring types combined.
But before you carpet every inch of your home, keep in mind that this material isn’t suited for all spaces.
COST OF CARPET FLOORS: $0.65 to $12 per square foot
Stairs: If you have a little one toddling around, you need carpeted steps. Hardwood steps are slippery and have sharp edges that can cause a nasty boo-boo.
Bedrooms: Though other flooring materials like tile and vinyl fare just fine in bedrooms, there’s nothing quite like putting your bare feet on warm carpet first thing in the morning.
Hallways: Hallways see lots of grimy feet. Over time, this constant pressure will leave your carpet threadbare and stained.
Water Exposure: Any space that sees water (think: kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements) should never see carpet.
If you want a contemporary flooring option that’s as tough as nails, consider concrete. This no-fuss material is as affordable as it is stylish.
COST OF CONCRETE FLOORS: $2 to $6 per square foot
Ultra-Modern Homes: Concrete floors add a sleek and utilitarian look that other flooring options just can’t provide.
Basement Workshops: If you hope to remodel your unfinished basement into a woodworking shop or a place to tinker with your mountain bike, consider leaving the concrete floors as they are. After all, concrete can withstand the blunt force of a dropped wrench. It’s also easy to clean.
A word of warning: Flooring stores can be very overwhelming. With hundreds (if not thousands) of options and oftentimes commissioned-based salespeople, you’re liable to choose a flooring option that’s over budget and ill-suited for your house.
The solution? Ask yourself these questions before you go:
Rambunctious dogs and tweens are hard on floors. Whether you have a four-legged child or a few with two legs, you need to stick with durable flooring like tile, vinyl, and concrete. |
Since durability won’t make or break your flooring choice, continue to the next question. |
Bathroom, kitchen, or basement |
Another room |
Water is a big issue in these spaces. To avoid mold and mildew, choose water-resistant flooring like vinyl, tile, and concrete. |
If moisture isn’t an issue, any type of flooring may be used. Proceed to the next question. |
$2 or less
$2 to $5
$5 and up
Stick to vinyl or concrete. For a truly affordable option, install some sheet vinyl for less than $0.50 per square foot. |
You can nab certain types of hardwood, engineered hardwood, and tile flooring without breaking the bank. |
In this price range, you’ll find premium exotic hardwoods, high-quality linoleums, and porcelain tiles. |
Coastal |
Industrial |
Mid-Century |
Farmhouse |
Pick a light and bright ceramic tile, engineered hardwood, or vinyl. |
Concrete gives you the most authentic industrial look. However, mahogany or walnut flooring works too. |
Stick with large, 12×12 tiles or polished concrete. Funky carpets offer a mid-century vibe, as well. |
For a farmhouse aesthetic, choose a wide-planked hardwood, terracotta tile, or high-quality vinyl. |
Still not sure which flooring will look best in your studio apartment or lofty farmhouse? Call the flooring experts at Portico. As a licensed general contractor in Charlotte, we can help you select a flooring option that looks great and is suited for your space. Our team can also install the flooring, ensuring it’ll last a lifetime.
For a free price estimate, contact us online or give Portico a call at 704-742-2720 today!
