When you start looking at new flooring for your home, you quickly realize you have many decisions to make. Because new flooring is a significant investment, you should take the time to make the right decisions. At the beginning of the process, most homeowners think that the only real decisions are the type of flooring and the flooring company. There are actually five important decisions beyond the type of flooring and installation company.
1. Underlayment
Although this isn’t an issue with tile flooring, if you’re choosing real hardwood, laminate or engineered wood flooring, it is recommended. Not only does underlayment act as a sound dampener, but it also may provide a moisture barrier. Talk to your flooring company about the best option for your home and flooring type.
2. Size & Shape
Tile comes in many different shapes and sizes. The larger the tile, the more expensive the installation typically. Wood flooring comes in different widths and length boards. The wider the wood plank, the more expensive the material. Most of the time, your real hardwood comes in variable length boards. Engineered and laminate are more readily available in fixed length.
3. Pattern
Depending on the size and shape you choose for your flooring, you’ll have different options to lay the flooring. Most wood flooring companies recommend laying in a straight pattern as it’s the least expensive and most common. However, herringbone, chevron, parquet, diagonal and square are other options. Most of those choices work with rectangular tile. With square tile, you have to decide if you’re going for an offset pattern, diagonal or basic square.
4. Color
Because many tiles come in different color options, you’ll need to decide if you want the same tile throughout your space or if you want to vary the color. Sometimes using a few different colors make for a bold pattern that adds a modern touch. Be careful, however, it can lead to an overly busy looking space if not done well.
Pre-finished woods come in countless options. It’s best to keep the color consistent throughout the space unless you’re planning a border around a room. If you’re installing real hardwood for your new floors, you’ll want to talk to your flooring company about how different stains look on different types of wood. For example, lighter colored stains on red oak have a bit of red that comes through where the white oak with the same stain would look more neutral.
5. Finishing Touches
Although engineered wood and laminate are already finished, just about any other flooring material requires one more decision. With tile, you’ll need to decide how far apart the tiles are from one another. The further apart, the wider the grout line. For your hardwood flooring, you’ll need a topcoat. You can choose between matte, semi-gloss and high gloss. The higher the sheen, the more imperfections (and dirt) show.
As a full-service, experienced flooring company, Seer Flooring will help you through the process, including choosing the right material for your home, lifestyle and budget. We’re ready to help you with any questions you may have about the right flooring and install it professionally so you love it for years to come. Call us today at (727) 785-1930 or fill out our contact form.