If you love your new home, but despise the unattractive carpeting that the previous owners left behind, you can increase the value of your home by upgrading your flooring to wood or tile.
Wood and tile are two of the hottest trends in home flooring. They’re easy to clean and require minimal maintenance. If you have pets or children, you don’t have to worry about spills and stains as you do with carpeting. Many people today suffer from allergies, and wood or tile flooring are great options to keep allergens to a minimum. New carpeting can actually trigger breathing problems in homeowners who are exposed to them for longer periods of time.
Wood
Since wood is an abundant, natural resource, many homeowners are making a deliberate, ecological choice to select wood flooring over carpeting, which is manufactured with synthetic materials. Bamboo, a popular hardwood flooring choice, is fast-growing, which appeals to environmentally conscious homeowners.
But one of the primary reasons that wood flooring is so popular is because of the way it looks. Wood floors are classic, and always in style. It is one of the oldest flooring materials used today. Since there are so many different types of wood, shades, patterns and grains, homeowners have a large selection to choose from.
Wood flooring also will increase the value of your home, unlike carpeting.
If you’re interested in installing wood flooring yourself, but don’t have the time or energy for all that sanding and finishing work, engineered wood planks are a popular option. They look and feel like real wood, but they’re not solid wood. The planks snap together with tongue-and-groove joints, and require no glue or nails.
Wood flooring has some disadvantages. It can get slippery, making it difficult to walk on in socks. Wood is susceptible to deteriorating because of high humidity and moisture, so if you do spill something on your wood floors, it’s important to clean it up well.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is a popular flooring choice and can be used in many home settings, including the kitchen, bathrooms, dining and living rooms. They’re nearly maintenance free, often only requiring cleaning as you would do with any floor in your home. Tile is one of the most cost-effective flooring materials on the market.
Similar to wood flooring, installing tile flooring adds value to your home. The initial installation costs are often higher than carpeting or other flooring, but ceramic tiles are durable and will last for many years. If you happen to damage a tile, the piece can be removed and replaced without having to reduce the flooring, unlike most wood flooring or carpeting. Some homeowners like the look of the same ceramic tile in each room, providing a sense of flow throughout the home.
Some disadvantages of ceramic tile are that it can easily show dirt, the tiles can chip and the grout can crack. Grout also can become discolored. Some people don’t like tile because it can feel cold. A way to counter the chill is to install a radiant heat system beneath the tile.
Both wood and tile floors can be installed yourself, saving you money by not having to hire a professional. If you don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself, your best bet is to hire someone who has the tools and skills to quickly and seamlessly finish the project.
