Free Unbiased Flooring Guide For Homeowners
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(Information Provided by Consumer Advocate - No Flooring Sales)
How To Select Tile, Vinyl and Hardwood Flooring
Choosing the Right Flooring
Product
Flooring can make or break the look of a home. You want to make sure that you are choosing the best type of flooring for your needs. The following articles and free resources can help you determine what type & style of flooring might be a great choice to meet your needs, goals and lifestyle.
The first thing I consider when choosing new flooring is the type of lifestyle I have. This will help you determine whether or not hardwood, carpet, tile, vinyl, or laminate is right for you. For example if you have children and pets then hardwood might be a better choice because it doesn't show dirt and stains as easily as carpet does. If your home has a lot of traffic then carpet would be a better choice because it doesn't scratch like wood floors do and is more forgiving on your feet than ceramic tile would be.
The second thing I consider when choosing new flooring is how much time and money I want to spend on care and maintenance. Many homeowners are going with water resistant vinyl tiles or vinyl plank flooring, often referred to as VCT, LVT or LVP. These are easy to install, very durable and affordable. I also like the thought of just using a Swiffer to do regular maintenance. Like they say... Once and done!
Consider Flooring Cost
Another way to select new flooring is to take into account what makes you happy and what’s the best solution for your budget. There are many options available in the market today, so it is important that you do your research before deciding on one.
Whether your looking for all new hardwoods for your home or new carpet for just a room or two, selecting a suitable new flooring for your home can be a daunting task. Knowing how much to budget for different materials, labor costs, and preparing your subfloor could mean the difference between a pleasant surprise and sticker shock.
Analyzing the Total Cost of Installing New Flooring? Don’t let your dream floors break the bank! Here’s what to take into account when considering the total cost of installing new flooring.
The cost of installing new flooring can be intimidating, but understanding the variables involved and doing research can help you make an informed decision.
Measure to Calculate Material Costs
To get a basic idea about your total project cost, measure the room area so you can estimate the cost of material based on the square footage of the room. Just multiply the room length by the width. For example, A 10' x10' room is 100 square feet. Measuring will help you determine about how much material you’ll need to buy and how to properly budget for the project.
Most
locally owned Carpet Dealers sell many types of flooring products besides carpet and if you are in the market for a new floor of any type, may I suggest you take a look at my
free list of Recommended
Flooring Dealers to see who I recommend near you.
Discuss Installation Costs With a Qualified Installer
Most homeowners will require the help of a professional installer or flooring contractor. Ask several contractors for bids and compare their prices, labor guarantee, years of experience, project timeline, and any included materials. Factor all this into your overall cost. Hiring an experienced professional is essential to obtain quality workmanship, especially with high-end materials. Qualified installation also lowers the chance of having problems show up after installation.
There are so many factors to consider when choosing new flooring including color, style, durability, clean-ability and the total cost for materials and labor. So where do you start? Let's first see what your needs and goals are. For the moment, let's not be too concerned about the cost involved, let's take a look at some of your flooring options and maybe we can narrow it down to a few good choices.
Choosing new Carpet or Flooring has become so confusing that most homeowners don't know where to begin. The last thing you want to do is choose the wrong quality level and have your new flooring not be as durable as you expect. Rather than learning everything as you shop, lets go over a few important things before you begin shopping so you can save time and avoid making costly mistakes.
What type of flooring do you want to learn about?
Are You Considering Wall to Wall Carpet?
The key to selecting the right Carpet for your home is to select a product that is capable of tolerating your Level of Foot Traffic. Take my free test to get a good idea about your level of foot traffic in your home.
I have added a partial list of all the various flooring products I discuss in more detail. This is a continuous work in progress and this website will always be growing to keep up with the ever-changing floor covering industry. Learn more about What Grade of Carpet Should I Select?
Even after you buy new carpet or flooring there are many smart ways that will help make your floors maintain their like-new appearance as long as possible. In addition to that there are other things you might like to know such as... How to Make Your Carpet Last Longer!
I have a ton of free information about Carpet, Padding and Installation that can save you a lot more than just time and money, I will show you how to avoid common retail carpet scams.