What type of flooring will you choose?

Redoing old floors is a must when it comes to home remodel and repair, but the process tends to be both labor intensive and costly if it is not planned out carefully.

As with a number of projects we have discussed, the cost of redoing your floor stems from the type of material you choose and the price associated with installation, whether you do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

We got help from Lyle Morris of Interior Floor Designs in Seattle, and got a better idea of what will make your next flooring project that much easier. Along with the different types of floors, we consider substrates, setting (including kitchen, dining, bedroom, bath,) and installation.

Tackling the type of floor you want to install is the obvious first hurdle. Knowing what you want is always a plus, but it’s important to consider both cost and the kind of stresses you are going to put on your new floor.

Carpet ($0.99 – $4.00/ Sq. Ft.)
Carpeting the most common material to choose for a home floor project, mainly because it has the potential to be the cheapest of all the choices. As Lyle points out, “Carpet is soft underfoot, and naturally dampens loud noises; helping to create a more intimate setting.” What is more, carpet comes in almost any color and style which allows you to select a pattern the matches your setting perfectly. The downside is that although carpet itself can be cheap, once it is all said and done the cost can be quite high. Considering the type of padding is important not only for noise reduction but also for cleaning purposes. Finally, installing carpet generally falls on the shoulders of professionals due to the tools and techniques required (and they’re not always cheap).

Wood ($1.50 – $10.00+/ Sq. Ft. depending on style)
Hardwood floors are a more popular and more expensive flooring choice, at least when considering the initial materials. Hardwood provides you with a couple of options ranging from traditional tongue-and-groove flooring, to floating floor systems, and even wood laminate. It all depends on budget and taste, but wood flooring provides a more durable alternative to carpet. Wood floors are generally more resilient to stains, and are also easily matched with cabinetry and molding in different parts of your home. There is a small tradeoff in terms of comfort and noise reduction, although this can be remedied with a modest area rug.

Make sure to think carefully about how involved you want your project to become. Tongue-and-groove floors, while extremely durable and traditional looking, can be a hassle to install and tend to be time consuming. Floating floor systems provide a reasonable alternative that is easy to install in roughly a day or two. As with carpet, consider a substrate that provides moisture resistance and dampens sounds. It may sound odd, but another benefit of floating floors is that you can take it with you if you decide to move!

Tile ($0.50 – $3.00 Sq. Ft.)
Tile provides consumers with an array of choices from glass to ceramic, porcelain and even stone. Tile itself can be the cheapest option square footage-wise, but extras including hardy-backer and grout can quickly increase the cost of your project. As with some wood flooring, consider tile in moisture sensitive areas, or wherever you need some added durability. Lyle and the rest of the group have a list of reasons why tile, especially glass, is becoming a more popular choice due to easy cleaning along with its resistance to chemicals and scratches. Tile is an obvious choice for your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry area, and can be used to accent your hearth or other parts of a living space.

Your floors are literally what support you at home, so really consider what is best for your situation before you install. A flooring specialist like Lyle Morris and the others at Interior Floor Design can really save you hassle when it comes to choosing a floor and installing it. Usually you can get free estimates from these companies that won’t set you back anything, and will at least give you a sense of what you are getting yourself into. If you would like to learn more about Lyle or Interior Floor Designs contact them at
interiorfloordesigns.com