Before picking out your new floor, you will want to take into consider your lifestyle while looking at styles and designs so you make the right choice for you and your family.
Many people are opting for hard wood floors these days, giving that crisp clean look throughout the house. Once just wooden planks to choose from, wood flooring options have evolved into a catalogue of choices for the home owner. Some people still choose to go with the traditional wood floor boards in oak, pine or even cherry. All wood floors will have their choice of sealants as well and your flooring professional can recommend the best one for the style you choose.
Some other people are more environmentally conscience with their flooring choice and want to go with a renewable resource such as cork or bamboo. These renewable sources pose a bit of a challenge when installed into homes with large dogs, for example, as both cork and bamboo are softer materials than oak or mahogany. A large dog and it’s claws easily leave marks on a new floor, as opposed to a harder wood like mahogany for instance that can withstand almost anything due to its strength. However, for small dog owners cork or bamboo would be a fine choice as once it is sealed it can typically withstand light use and wear and tear.
A good compromise for the environmentally concerned home owner is to go with a reclaimed wood source. Many older building like tobacco barns and older homes have had their wood floor boards, overhead beams and staircases reclaimed and repurposed for flooring in someone’s home. This avenue gives the home owner the peace of mind that no new trees or forests are being destroyed or disrupted by them getting a new floor installed, while they still get the harder wood that they may desire. Reclaimed wood tends to be more expensive than manufactured wood flooring, but the uniqueness of it makes it all worth it.
Carpeting is another route altogether for the home owner to consider. Carpet is still a great choice for many people, especially preferred for families with small children. Carpet, just like wood flooring, comes in a wide variety of grades and styles and the price will adjust according to what you end up choosing.
Whichever path you choose for your next flooring option, make sure to fully consider your home’s and family’s needs and use patterns to ensure you make the right choice for your lifestyle.