What Type of Floor Should I Choose?
When you’re building a new home, it can be difficult to get all the details right. Choosing your flooring, for example, comes with so many pros and cons. How do you know if you’re choosing the right one? And where do you put what? To help you out, we’ve made a guide to each type of flooring we offer at Kept Classic Homes. Keep reading to find which one is best for you!
Engineered Hardwood
What is it?
Engineered hardwood is an extremely popular choice for flooring, giving you the look of a hardwood floor without the price tag. It is different than solid wood flooring because solid wood flooring is wood throughout the whole thing, while engineered hardwood is a thinner piece of hardwood bonded over an underlying piece of high-quality plywood. It looks and feels almost exactly like solid wood and gives a refined and polished look to any home.
Where should it go?
Engineered hardwood is great for living rooms, dining rooms, and common areas due to its style.
Pros
Less expensive than solid hardwood flooring
Good resistance to heat
More water resistant than solid hardwood because the plywood is less susceptible to warping
Lasts up to 30+ years with proper maintenance
Cons
Can only be sanded and refinished once or twice, due to the thin layer of wood
Most expensive flooring options
Somewhat porous
Kept Classic Homes uses engineered hardwood from Shaw Floors.
Ceramic Tile
What is it?
Ceramic tiles are made from clay, fired in a kiln, and then glazed for aesthetic and protection. They are adhered to an underlying cement board, and then the thin joints between tiles are filled with grout.
Where should it go?
Ceramic tile is a great choice for bathrooms and showers because it is waterproof and very durable. This also makes it great for kitchens, because it is easy to clean and will not be affected by spills. Ceramic tiles are great for areas where you need durability, water resistance, and scratch resistance.
Pros
Waterproof
Scratch proof
Easy to clean
Heat resistance
Affordable
Cons
Can be prone to cracking and chipping
Kept Classic Homes uses Ceramic Tile from Daltile.
Vinyl
What is it?
Vinyl tile is made to look and feel almost exactly like hardwood and ceramic tile. It’s made of heated and pressed layers of polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC), with a wear layer to help prevent scratches. It’s very durable and it can last 10-20 years!
Where should it go?
Vinyl is great for rooms that may need to be cleaned more often, such as the kitchen or bathrooms. It’s also great for entryways because it is water and scratch resistant, which is extremely important for areas with lots of foot traffic. The laundry room is also a great place for vinyl because spills will not warp the material.
Pros
Non-porous
Very resilient
Easy to clean and maintain
Easy to install, if you ever need to renovate
Affordable
Cons
Can be difficult to remove
Color can fade from excessive sunlight over a long period of time
Kept Classic Homes uses Vinyl from Shaw Floors.
Carpet
What is it?
Thick woven fabric attached to a backing and shaped to fit a room. Most are made up of synthetic fiber such as nylon or polyester, with a small amount of natural fiber, such as wool.
Where should it go?
Carpet is a great choice for bedrooms because it is soft, warm, and comforting. It can also be great for hallways that are not high traffic areas due to its sound absorption.
Pros
Ideal for soundproofing
Soft underneath your feet
No scratches if you move furniture
Warm
Cons
Absorbs odors
Can stain easily
Needs to be replaced every 10-15 years
Kept Classic Homes uses carpet from Shaw Floors.
At Kept Classic Homes, we love all our flooring options for different purposes, and we know you will too. We hope this has helped you gain a better understanding of all our flooring, and we are happy to help you figure out what works best for you in your new home!
Make sure to check out our floorplans HERE to find the perfect home for you to put your favorite flooring in.