Hardwood flooring offers many benefits. It’s timeless, it’s beautiful, and it can be finished in a wide variety of colors. However, it does have drawbacks where longevity is concerned, especially in the beach communities of Sarasota, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, to name a few.
Sand, Water and Hardwood Flooring
If you frequent the beach, you know that no matter how hard you try, you’re going to end up with sand in your home. Even if you drive to the beach, it’s likely that sand will end up stuck to your shoes and feet. Sand is abrasive. Because of its abrasive properties, we use sandpaper to remove the top most layers when we refinish flooring. Sand will scratch the finish of your flooring, so this is something you’ll want to avoid as much as possible with hardwood flooring.
Another concern for hardwood flooring is water. Homes on the beach or those with backyard pools may track water in on occasion. This can cause warping or bowing of boards at entry points. Water can lead to seriously damaged hardwood flooring which must be replaced.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury Vinyl Plank, often referred to as LVP, is an alternative to hardwood flooring. LVP comes in many colors and finishes that mimic actual hardwood flooring. However, LVP is virtually waterproof. It handles water well, even when exposed for an extended amount of time. But like any flooring, if your home floods, you’ll need to replace it.
Although LVP is not completely scratch proof, it is scratch resistant. When sand is tracked in, it won’t lead to the same damage to LVP that your hardwood flooring may see. And, if you do end up with a visible scratch, it can be sanded out and repaired much of the time.
What About Tile?
Tile is still one of the most popular flooring options for beach houses. It’s virtually impervious to water and it doesn’t scratch easily. However, it’s hard to stand on. Also, it can be slippery when wet. We’ve started to see its popularity decrease over the last few years due to the popularity of luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile.
Let Seer Flooring Help You Choose
As local flooring experts, we offer many types of flooring including hardwood, luxury vinyl products, and tile. We’ll help you make the right decision based on your family, lifestyle, concerns, and budget. Call us today for your free in-home consultation. We service the Gulf Coast from Sarasota through New Port Richey. Call us today at (727) 785-1930 or fill out our contact form.