The Best Flooring Options Recommended by Home Remodeling Services

The flooring in a room plays a vital role in a space's ambiance, making the flooring selection process you go through with a professional in the home remodeling services sector vital. As you're choosing, you need to worry about not just the aesthetics but also the durability, maintenance, and practicality of it for your family and pets. To help save you some headaches when selecting, we've compiled a list of the best flooring options, whether you're looking into a whole house renovation or a small-scale home remodeling project for one room.

Hardwood

People were possibly using hardwood as early as 6,500 years ago in the ancient Hittites' civilization, though, we usually associate this flooring with the Middle Ages.

With that being said, hardwood floors became and have been a staple in homes for quite some time, with the popularity of it taking off in the 1800s when it started being mass-produced. While the rage dwindled in the late 1900s because of the more affordable option of synthetic carpeting, in the past decade or two, natural wood flooring has been making a comeback.

This flooring option provides a living space with a classic look, and there are many finishes to choose from, making it a highly versatile option when it comes to matching your decor. Plus, it can be used in almost any room of your home, though we recommend against opting for it in the bathroom or basement due to the high humidity of these areas and the potential for warping. Furthermore, it's known to last, especially since it can be refinished repeatedly to make it look new again.

Vinyl

As you're thinking about a home renovation project, consider vinyl. This material has worked its way into homes in a number of ways, being used for siding, wall panels, roofing, and decking. It also can make for beautiful flooring, coming in various colors, designs, shapes, etc.

There's a good reason why it's widely used. Durability, the number of options available, and the fact it's low maintenance are among some of the benefits of this material. Customers appreciate how water resistant it is, especially in high-moisture areas like the bathroom, as well.

Typically, an investment in vinyl floorings means you receive flooring intended to last 10 to 20 years. Moreover, as you're comparing costs, it's generally more budget-friendly, considering it's synthetic and doesn't require an extensive installation process.

Laminate

Like vinyl, laminate is commonly used by home remodeling contractors in various ways, including:

• Cabinetry

• Paneling

• Countertops

• Trim

• Molding

In terms of flooring for a home remodel project, laminate is a durable option, withstanding children and pets and coming out with barely a scratch because of its multiple-layer design. You won't have to worry about letting the light shine in a room with this flooring, either, because it's fade resistant. Generally, it'll last 15 to 25 years after one of the home remodeling companies in the area installs it.

If cost is a top consideration you'll be focusing on when contacting home remodeling services, you'll be pleased to know this is a cost-efficient option, often costing half as much as hardwood. Because of its moisture resistance, it's even practical in a basement or for a kitchen remodeling project.

Carpeting

Carpeting is a more budget-friendly option than hardwood and usually laminate and vinyl as well. However, its life expectancy is rather low, usually only lasting five to 15 years.

As a homeowner, though, you and your family will benefit from the warm atmosphere carpeting creates. If you're looking for physical warmth, carpeting adds a layer of insulation.

Plus, you can select from a range of choices, including low or high pile, textured, looped pile, and more, and carpet is available in a range of colors.

Stone Flooring

Stones are synonymous with strength and longevity, so they're commonly used in landscaping projects. They last the test of time, minus erosion, of course. Humans have taken a chunk of nature's wonder material and extended its use to inside homes as well as outside, a practice dating back over 3,000 years ago when the Greeks used stone mosaics as floor tiling.

Throughout the years, humans have only enhanced this concept, and now remodeling services offer it as a long-lasting flooring option, with numerous designs and styles available. Every flooring project with stone is completely unique since the material is natural. This particular flooring option lasts the lifetime of your home and can be used for everything from kitchen renovations to bathroom remodels. You could even give your garage/basement or living room a bit of character with it.

We can't forget to mention that it can withstand daily foot traffic well without the standard wear that carpet or other flooring may exhibit in high-traffic areas. Plus, it's resistant to fading from the sun.

Stone also adds value to the resale price of houses, and the maintenance might be less intense than you thought.

Because of how long this flooring option holds up, it does tend to cost more money, but you won't have to worry about replacing it unless your style changes; therefore, it's worth the cost to some in the end.

Besides price, other downfalls of this material include it remains cold, is prone to water damage, and gets slippery when wet.

Cork

If you're a homeowner looking for eco-friendly and are trying to adhere to a budget, cork might be the answer. Cork comes from the bark of cork trees, which means it's a renewable resource. The tree itself doesn't sustain damage during the extraction process because the bark is a protective coating that will grow back.

When it comes to the feeling on your feet, cork is uber comfortable because it's both soft and resilient. Projects made with cork flooring transform the space into a cozy environment as it provides incredible insulation, helping your floor maintain its warmth.

While it can go with just about any color and style of walls in any room, it's an excellent choice for bathrooms and the kitchen. Home service businesses recommend it for these rooms because it's water-resistant and won't become slippery when wet.

Businesses in the home remodeling services space stress that this is a cost-efficient solution because it's generally inexpensive and can last up to 40 years with proper care. However, as you're considering cork for a house renovation, select an option that's higher grade. The lower-quality options are easily damaged and are prone to scratching, especially in high-traffic areas.

Whether in bathrooms, the living room, or the kitchen, if the room receives a lot of sunlight, cork floors could fade.

As you're thinking about house renovations and choosing between top home remodeling services, understanding the best flooring options can help you create your dream space, no matter the location or size of your renovation project.

FAQs About Home Flooring Services

While there's plenty of helpful information about home flooring services in this blog, homeowners may still have questions. Or, if you're just skimming through, wondering the answers to the most frequently asked questions about flooring home remodels, we have the answers to the usual questions homeowners ask.

1. How Much Do Most Contractors Charge to Lay Flooring?

If price is a consideration when planning home remodeling projects, understand that the price varies based on your area. The skill and expertise of your contractor(s) also play a role, and so does the cost of the material itself. High-end, durable flooring and ones that require extra care or time during the installation process will cost you more.

But, in general, as you're searching, you can expect to pay between $2 to $20 per square foot. This means that homeowners can expect to pay $3500 per 500 square feet if the flooring is $7 per square foot.

Keep in mind, though, that you can find a contractor(s) who offer financing to ease the initial price burden.

2. How Much Does it Cost to Install 1,000 Square Feet of Flooring?

As mentioned, the price varies based on the type of flooring, among other factors. However, if you have 1,000 square feet of flooring installed, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $12,000. While that may seem like a hefty price tag a business charges, with proper care, you can make your investment last. Financing options are available if shelling out that much money at once is off-putting or impossible.

3. What's Better: Vinyl or Laminate Flooring?

These flooring options both look similar at first glance. However, part of the selection process entails considering if the area where the contractors will lay it receives a great deal of moisture. In this case, you'll want to choose vinyl. It's also a better option if you want one that's easy to clean and maintain.

If the return on investment is a consideration, you'll want to choose laminate because it provides a higher resale value. Laminate is usually more scratch-resistant, especially if you're having it installed in a heavily traveled area. Moreover, this variety of flooring is usually less expensive. As with vinyl, this flooring is easy to clean.

Besides considering the benefits of each, you'll also want to think about the aesthetics. Both can be a sound investment, but you'll want to take into account which patterns/colors match your tastes.

4. What Is the Cheapest Flooring Option?

The cheapest flooring option is sheet vinyl, which can cost as little as $.50 per square foot. Carpeting also ranks as a less expensive option, but keep in mind that you'll need to replace carpet and sheet vinyl sooner than other higher-priced options.

5. What Flooring Increases Home Value?

Any type of new flooring will increase the value of your home, but some offer a higher rate of return than others. In general, the more expensive kinds of flooring offer the highest return on investment. Real hardwood and stone are two that increase your home's value the most due to their high return on investment.