Choosing flooring options for a new home or during a home remodel can be one of the most stressful aspects of the design process. With options from carpeting and hardwood floor to ceramic tile, laminates, and vinyl, the possibilities are endless. Hardwood floors have long been a household staple, but when should you go for them and when should you try a different option? Start with this simple guide:
Buy:
You want to ensure a high resale value for your home.
Are you looking to move out soon or are you buying a new home as a resale investment? Hardwood flooring is the best bet for a good investment, as 54% of homebuyers say they would pay a higher price for a home with hardwood floors, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS. As people change career paths and locations more throughout their lifetime and the house-flipping trend becomes more popular, ensuring a high resale value is essential. Give the people what they want, and what they’ll pay more for – hardwood floors.
Pass:
You are concerned about allergies.
If you or someone in your household suffers from environmental allergies, you may want to skip the hardwood floors and opt for carpet installation. Carpet has been shown to be more likely to reduce allergens in the home. A study in Sweden demonstrated that when carpet use decreased by 70%, allergic reactions within the population increased by 30%. For some, allergies can be a debilitating health issue, making it valuable to have floor materials that lessen the effects of those allergies.
Buy:
You want an easy cleanup process.
Perhaps you have a house full of kids, a dog, or maybe just a particularly messy significant other. Especially compared to carpet, the color and floor texture of hardwood makes it much easier to clean. Cleaning hardwood floors usually requires light mopping, making sure to avoid using too much water and oil soaps or products containing citrus.
Pass:
You love the environment.
As the flooring industry becomes more and more innovative, there are new environmentally friendly options, especially with linoleum floor installation. Linoleum is made from all completely natural materials which come from renewable sources, including dried and milled flax seed mixed with other plant material (pine resins, wood flour, ground cork) with a jute backing. This makes it a 100% biodegradable flooring option. So if the environment is one of your top priorities, you may be able to rest easier with a linoleum floor in your kitchen or bathroom rather than hardwood.
