A family home should be an expression of style and self. Choosing the correct flooring options to reflect who you are can be challenging for even the most discriminating homeowner. With all the choices it is hard for the average person to know where to begin. Internet searches can be overwhelming. HGTV gives us the impression we can do it all ourselves until reality sets in as we try to understand all the different products and their capabilities, or lack thereof. It is easy to become overwhelmed and exasperated. So we come to the decision that our much needed project can wait until next year.
That’s where the HBA of Northern Colorado Remodelers Council can give you some much needed support. NAHBR can provide you with qualified experts in every field, including flooring. An experienced remodeling professional can put together a complete package to meet a homeowners needs.
When replacing outdated flooring it is important to consider the factors that are most important to you. Quality and cost are typically the first things we consider but when we dig deeper there are many other things to consider. Environmental sustainability, comfort and style all come into play.
Environmental sustainability is a much larger factor today for most consumers than it was 10 years ago. One idea to dress up your 90’s red oak floor is to simply have a flooring contractor sand and refinish your floor with a new look. You can choose from many stains and ultimately completely change the look of your floors without replacing the original floor. If you live in an older home, you may have a hidden treasure of old wood floors under your 20 year old carpet that could simply be refinished. If not cork and bamboo are fun eco friendly products. Think even further outside the box and sisal, reed grass and sea grass make great substitutes to wood floors. Natural linoleum can be a green alternative to the typical vinyl floor for an eclectic laundry or mud room.
Comfort should also be something to consider. While a concrete floor with radiant heat may be a fantastic option for the environment, if you have little ones crawling around you may want consider alternatives, or purchasing a plethora of area rugs. Most consumers enjoy the softness of carpet with a high quality pad for their bedrooms, living and media areas. Carpets come in a variety of cut piles, colors, fibers, and styles. Selecting the right style and fiber is important to carpet durability. You will want to choose a product that fits the traffic pattern of your household. It is also essential that your flooring expert provides you with the proper carpet cushion to coordinate with your carpet choices. With recycled materials being used in carpets and carpet cushion today you can still get all the coziness that carpet provides while still being environmentally conscience.
If you are going for a more traditional feel, hardwood is always an excellent option. Wood comes in hundreds of species, ranging from common oak to exotic tigers woods. Mix and match different plank widths to spice up your floor. If you choose to go with hardwood you can choose from products that are finished at the factory with a durable aluminum oxide finish, or a sand and site finish product that is completed in your home by a flooring professional. Engineered wood flooring is an option as well. Your flooring specialist can help you understand which products will best fit your needs. One thing to always consider with a wood floor is that no matter how durable a finish it is still wood on a floor and will dent and scratch over time.
If you like the look of hardwood, but prefer a more durable easy to maintain product, several manufacturers produce vinyl plank floors that reflect the beauty of all species of wood. There floors are perfect for a lower level concrete floor. They will give you the look of hardwood without the cost and maintenance or real wood.
Natural stones such as travertine, marble, limestone and slate can provide gorgeous options for flooring. Slate gives a warm mountain look to any room. If your style is more on the Tuscan side travertine is always a fabulous option, while marble and limestone typically will give you a more traditional look. Ceramic and porcelain tiles can give you similar looks to natural stone at a lower cost.
No matter how big or small your flooring project is visit the NAHBR remodelers of Northern Colorado’s website at http://www.northerncoloradoremodelers.com/ , or call Dotti at the Homebuilders Association of Northern Colorado at 970-686-2798 to locate a qualified professional to assist you.