Today’s flooring market offers an enormous array of options, each available in numerous styles, colors, textures, and patterns. So which choices will boost your home’s resale value and deliver the best return on investment? Below, the most popular flooring options among homebuyers are explored, along with practical remodeling ideas to tackle.
Large cracks and expansion gaps should be filled and smoothed. Luxury vinyl flooring can be installed directly over smooth plywood subfloors, provided the wood is flat, sound, and solidly built.
Potential Disadvantages Of Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a nonrenewable product derived from petroleum and PVC plastic, which can release certain chemicals during manufacturing, including dioxins. Engineered hardwood consists of a real wood veneer bonded to a plywood or similar core, offering a different set of performance characteristics.
It performs best in basements with no leaks or persistent moisture on walls and floors. For a convincing wood look, choose wide planks that mimic genuine floorboards. Layering vinyl over a sound-dampening underlayment helps reduce hollow-sounding effects underfoot.
Samples Are The Best Way To See How The Brand New Flooring Will Look And Feel In Your Home
When moving furniture, protect feet with felt pads or lift the pieces off the floor before relocating. CoreTec Everyday Oak Vinyl Plank in Cordova illustrates how vinyl can mimic wood. Like any material used in a home, vinyl has its advantages and drawbacks.
It is a strong option for high-traffic areas or households with pets. With proper care, quality luxury vinyl flooring can remain attractive for many years, showing minimal signs of wear.
Luxury Vinyl Tile
Vinyl has earned a reputation as an affordable flooring option that still gives a refined look. At a low cost per square foot, it remains a popular way to achieve the wood floor aesthetic. Engineered wood is more resistant to water damage than solid hardwood, making it suitable for bathrooms and kitchens. Beyond cost, a key benefit of engineered wood is its smaller expansion and contraction, which makes it favorable for basements.
Never install a permanent product on top of a floating floor. Doing so can restrict movement and cause issues. Heeding this, it is often wise to install around floating areas or to glue down an entire room. As with most things, proper care ensures lasting results.
Hardwood Flooring Information: Care & Upkeep
Luxury vinyl flooring feels soft underfoot, is easy to clean, and resists water, making it a solid choice for kitchens and active spaces. See how luxury vinyl can fit into family life. Weigh the pros and cons, shop carefully, and make an informed decision. Vinyl’s broad availability offers many options to match aesthetics, lifestyle, and budget. Its soft surface can be more prone to cuts from sharp objects; in kitchens with sheet vinyl, damaged tiles can often be replaced individually. Under heavy furniture, placing pads under the feet is a prudent precaution.
Compare vinyl with other flooring choices for a clearer view of options. Vinyl plank flooring has become a top choice for busy households, workplaces, cafés, and commercial settings. There are numerous advantages to vinyl, including its waterproof surface, but considerations depend on specific needs. A practical resource for laminate, vinyl, and hardwood projects helps guide shopping decisions.
Broad Plank Pergo Laminate Flooring
Gluing down vinyl plank flooring can complicate removal. If the project is temporary, avoiding glue makes future removal easier. For large, open areas, a glue-down approach can be ideal. Carpeting still covers a larger area in some homes than vinyl. There are solid reasons for vinyl’s popularity and circumstances where alternate materials may be a better fit. Always check a brand’s guidelines, but most planks require a small expansion gap to accommodate movement.
The kitchen in a model home shows vinyl flooring that resembles hardwood and blends well with kitchen features. For those considering Clayton’s vinyl options, several popular choices stand out. Vinyl uses a specialized plastic composition to achieve luxury vinyl flooring. In years past, vinyl did not convincingly imitate natural wood; it was mainly used in commercial spaces where cost and practicality took precedence. Today, higher-quality vinyl can closely mimic real wood in appearance and feel.
Vinyl Type: Tiles And Planks
Choosing vinyl can reduce installation costs. Repairing a subfloor or removing existing flooring may no longer be necessary. DIY projects often reveal that vinyl plank installation is simpler than expected. Wall-to-wall carpet or carpet tiles remain viable options for straightforward installation and customization.
Rubber flooring is a versatile choice for home gyms because it protects any surface, including concrete, and cushions heavy equipment. Rubber offers durability and impact absorption, ideal for active spaces. Durable Luxury Vinyl Flooring benefits from a three-layer construction with a textured top layer that evokes the feel of natural surfaces.
How Long Does Vinyl Sheet Flooring Last?
Vinyl can be installed as a DIY project, but hiring a professional is common. When selecting a contractor, ask for referrals, verify insurance, and consider industry associations. With modern vinyl plank options featuring rigid cores, floors gain improved dimensional stability and resilience.
That baseline estimate remains useful. Properly installed vinyl with regular care can perform for two decades or more. For longer life, sheet vinyl tends to reduce seams and moisture infiltration. Seams can drive wear in many floor coverings, so fewer seams offer greater durability. While vinyl plank and tile may not always boost home value as much as laminate, these floors still influence long-term durability and market appeal, a factor in a competitive real estate market. Dense fiberboard topped with a sealed surface, laminate remains a cost-effective alternative.