Categories
Home Improvement

How To Choose Condo Flooring For The Remodel?

Whether you’re doing other renovations as well with the flooring or focusing on just the flooring, take help from this guide for choosing the flooring, and don’t hesitate to ask home addition contractors about trending floorings.

Condo Flooring Options

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is made of solid wood without mixing anything else in it. It’s wood throughout the plant. This makes it durable and natural. It’s an expensive type of flooring, but still a popular choice among condo owners.

As it’s a costly yet desirable flooring option, it increases the value of the condo as well so if you’re looking to sell your condo in the near future, installing hardwood flooring can get you better returns.

Pros Of Hardwood Flooring

  • The planks are made of natural solid wood.
  • Various types (maple, walnut, oak, cherry, ash, and many others).
  • Strong and durable flooring.
  • Increases the resale value of your property.
  • You can refinish hardwood flooring multiple times.
  • Well-maintained hardwood flooring can last for decades.

Cons Of Hardwood Flooring

  • It’s an expensive flooring type.
  • Hardwood flooring is prone to damage with moisture.
  • You should not install hardwood flooring in parts of the condo where moisture is persistent like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.
  • Hardwood flooring requires more maintenance than many other flooring materials. You may need to use a specialty hardwood floor cleaner once a month and also refinish it every 3 to 5 years.
  • It can get scratches and dents, especially in high-traffic areas.

Engineered Wood Flooring

This is considered a cost-effective more durable alternative to hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring is made of a thin layer of solid wood that is bonded to layers of high-quality plywood to form composite planks that are more durable than solid hardwood planks.

Engineered wood flooring is less prone to warping when exposed to moisture and temperature changes than hardwood flooring.

Pros Of Engineered Wood Flooring

  • The top layer is made of real wood and appears almost the same as hardwood flooring.
  • Various types of wood can be used to make engineered wood flooring. You can use any type that is employed for hardwood flooring as the top layer in engineered wood flooring.
  • It can last for decades if maintained well.
  • Less prone to expansion and contraction with temperature changes.
  • Moisture damage is seen less on engineered wood flooring compared to hardwood flooring.
  • Due to its better resistance to moisture than hardwood, engineered wood flooring can be used in kitchens, basements, and bathrooms as well.
  • Less expensive than hardwood floors.
  • You can install it yourself.

Cons Of Engineered Wood Flooring

  • You can install it in moist areas of your house, but you will need to be careful and maintain it well because engineered wood is susceptible to moisture damage after all. Moreover, there are better flooring options (tiles, stone) for moist areas so you should consider those options as well.
  • Engineered wood flooring can’t be refinished more than once.
  • Walking on this type of flooring sounds hollow compared to hardwood.
  • They emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are emitted as gases from engineered hardwood flooring and many other engineered products and can cause health problems like skin irritation, difficulty in breathing, nausea, and damage to the central nervous system. Some VOCs can cause cancer.
  • You should clean water and spills immediately to avoid damage.

Laminate Flooring

It is a cheaper flooring option that looks like wood flooring. Laminate flooring is made with particleboard wood. The top part of this material has a photo of real wood printed on it for a wood-resembling appearance. On top of everything, there is a protective plastic coating.

Pros Of Laminate Flooring

  • Laminate flooring is fairly durable, but as much as hardwood flooring or engineered wood flooring.
  • It’s scratch resistant and good for condo owners who have pets.
  • It can get the design and color of any wood or natural stone on laminate flooring.
  • Laminate flooring is cost-effective.

Cons Of Laminate Floorings

  • Laminate flooring has the print of real wood on it but it’s almost never convincing. You can spot laminate flooring quickly due to the repetition of the wood design.
  • It gives off a plastic feel and sounds underfoot.
  • Laminate flooring can’t be refinished. If it wears off or fades, you will need to replace it.
  • Standing water on laminate flooring can damage it quickly.
  • Laminate flooring chips easily.

Tile Flooring

Tiles are commonly used in bathrooms and any moisture-prone area of a house or condo. This is due to the water-resistant and durability of tiles.

There are two types of tiles: ceramic and porcelain. Ceramic tiles are softer and affordable whereas porcelain tiles are denser, more durable, and resistant to water.

Pros Of Tile Flooring

  • With the two types, you can choose the tile with respect to the cost or durability you prefer.
  • There are limitless designs and styles of tiles. You can even choose various sizes of tiles and those with minimal grout lines.
  • Tiles are waterproof and work best in moist areas.
  • Tile flooring is low-maintenance and easy to clean.
  • Porcelain tiles are more durable and resistant to scratches and dents.
  • Porcelain tiles are also long-lasting.

Cons Of Tile Flooring

  • Tiles should be installed by a professional so this flooring is not DIY-friendly. Consult home addition companies McLean for tile flooring installation.
  • Porcelain tiles are costly and are in the same range as hardwood flooring.
  • Tiles are slippery when wet.
  • Tiles can be cold in winter. If you live in a colder region, consider heating under tile flooring.

Vinyl Flooring

It is also called resilient flooring and the most waterproof flooring that looks like wood. Laminate flooring is a multi-layered flooring made with plastic, fiberglass, and PVC. It has three types: Luxury vinyl plank (LVP), luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and vinyl sheets.

Like laminate it can have the image of any material you want like wood, stone, or ceramic. The topmost layer is the protective layer that makes it waterproof flooring.

Pros Of Vinyl Flooring

  • It is more durable than laminate flooring but less than hardwood and engineered wood.
  • Vinyl flooring is waterproof so you can use it in moist areas of the condo as well like condo kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.
  • Standing water doesn’t damage vinyl flooring.
  • The multiple layers of vinyl flooring give off a softer feeling underfoot compared to hardwood and stone.
  • The multiple layers of vinyl flooring provide insulation as well and help in maintaining a consistent temperature.
  • Vinyl floors have mild soundproofing qualities as well.
  • DIY-friendly installation.

Cons Of Vinyl Flooring

  • It scratches easily so if you drag or move heavy items on the flooring, the scratches will be visible.
  • Vinyl flooring can’t be refinished. If it fades or wears off, you will need to replace it.
  • There are many qualities of vinyl flooring. Every type doesn’t add resale value.
  • Vinyl flooring is not environmentally friendly. Toxic chemicals are used during the manufacturing process that may emit VOCs which can affect your indoor environment and health.
  • The cost of vinyl flooring varies. Low-cost vinyl is less durable whereas some high-quality vinyl flooring may reach the cost of inexpensive wood flooring. Therefore, compare prices of vinyl, hardwood, and engineered wood before making a purchase.

Conclusion

The flooring of your condo impacts its appearance and resale value. For durability and appearance, choose engineered wood flooring, and for moist areas, tile flooring is suggested for your condo remodel McLean. Hire a contractor for flooring installation to prevent mistakes.