Categories
Most Read
- Public Records
- More signs of a housing revival
- REAL ESTATE: Local transactions
- Madoff's Montauk home: Meet the broker
- A roundup of real estate personnel items
- Fact or fiction? 'Pay or play' leaves some out
- Housing construction hits highest in 9 months
- Why No Real Estate Investor Can Live Without an Assistant
- 25 percent of area families are asset poor, study finds
- Mortgage rates dip, still above record lows
Good Sites
| Home Improvement: Picking the Proper Flooring |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Debbie Bresee |
|
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood floors have a look that never gets dated but they can have a serious impact on your budget. Like all hard surface floors, they will require daily maintenance. Hardwood flooring in bathrooms is definitely not advised. If you like the look of wood but not the price, consider laminate. The technology behind this flooring has improved greatly over the last decade. There are some brands that are indistinguishable from real wood unless they are examined very closely. Another advantage to laminate floors is that they are fairly easy to install. Handy homeowners can save money on installation by doing it themselves. There are a few brands that have good water resistance, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Ceramic Tile and Stone Flooring For the best combination of wear and beauty, tile and stone are hard to beat. Tile comes in every color of the rainbow and some mimics natural stone very well. Grout can be tedious to keep clean, so dark colors and regular sealing are highly recommended. Natural stone has a beauty that is unequaled by any other surface. Due to the fact that most stone is very porous, sealing is very important. Some stone is very soft (like marble), so get a professional opinion when choosing your flooring. Tile and stone can be installed DIY, but large areas, large sizes and vertical applications are best left to the pros. Vinyl Vinyl flooring is generally the most cost effective flooring available to the homeowner. Although it is less expensive, there are some brands and styles that look so much like wood, stone and tile that you have to touch it to tell the difference. Vinyl is an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms and high traffic areas due to ease of cleaning and water resistance. Like tile, vinyl installation can be a do-it-yourself project but large areas and seaming are better done by professionals. Start with the room, add in the use and lifestyle and then work towards your design goals guided by your budget. With all of the choices available to you, there is sure to be a flooring choice that scores high in almost every category. Do your research and get recommendations from friends and professionals. After that, happy shopping. Debbie Bresee |
Sponsored Links
Newest Updates
- Grow the Space You Have
- Elegant Contemporary Home With Minimalist Interiors in Iowa
- China's Property Market Starts to Cool
- Paul Allen's Malibu
- Hong Kong Land Auction Beats Forecasts
- Why No Real Estate Investor Can Live Without an Assistant
- Investing Full-Time is Overrated
- You’ll Never Sell Your Real Estate Business, So You Should Automate It
- More signs of a housing revival
- Housing construction hits highest in 9 months
- A roundup of real estate personnel items
- Mortgage rates dip, still above record lows
- 25 percent of area families are asset poor, study finds
- Fact or fiction? 'Pay or play' leaves some out
- Madoff's Montauk home: Meet the broker