Flooring for Your Home: Everything You Need to Know

Before diving in to select your new floors color or size, it’s important to think through some basic flooring considerations. These will be elements that play a big role in the selection process and can influence your flooring decision.

To aid you in your flooring journey, here is a quick home flooring checklist of questions to think through.

What is your budget?
Many homeowners have an idea of what they are willing to spend on new flooring in their home. However, some fail to calculate budget according to cost per square foot for materials, demolition, and installation, all of which affect the final overall costs. Establishing your square foot budget upfront will help you narrow down the range of materials to choose from.

The best way to accurately calculate the square footage for your project is to bring in a professional to measure and give you an estimate. When they measure, they account for all areas as well as waste factor. Most reputable companies will give you a complimentary estimate. This will include everything from materials to demo and installation. From there you can decide on the answer to our next question.

Will you install the flooring yourself or have it professionally installed?
While we always recommend having your flooring installed by a professional, we understand and respect the DIY drive to save on costs. Keep in mind, some flooring options are harder to install than others or may have specific manufacturer installation requirements, so it is important to discuss this with our professional team beforehand.

Will your flooring be installed in an area with high moisture (bathroom, basement, laundry room etc.)?
Over time, moisture/water can ruin certain flooring options. With this in mind, it’s important to know where exactly you need flooring in your home to ensure you select the right flooring for the job. For areas with high humidity, we recommend choosing one of the following options:

• Porcelain Tile
• Ceramic Tile
• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Is your home a high traffic home (children, pets, parties, etc.)?
Because durability varies significantly between flooring options, it is best to consider your lifestyle when deciding between materials. For areas needing higher durability, we recommend the following options:

• Tile Flooring
• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
• Hardwood Flooring
• Laminate

Do you want flooring that requires little maintenance?
Do you want to be able to clean your floors in 15 minutes or spend a couple hours keeping everything updated? Maintenance is always something to consider. If you’re looking for flooring with little time to clean and low maintenance, we recommend the following:

• Porcelain Tile
• Ceramic Tile
• Hardwood Flooring
• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
• Laminate

Is your new flooring a long term investment?
The time your family is going to spend in your home will impact what flooring you use. How long do you anticipate floors lasting before they need replacement?

If you are not wanting to revisit the issue for another 10 years or more, hardwood floors might be the best option. It can withstand the test of time because of its ability to be refinished down the road. Tile is another great option that is both attractive and can stand the test of time.

Are you considering this for resale value?
If you are planning to sell your home in the next few years, you may want to select flooring that will attract homebuyers. The best and most eye-catching option to ensure your home sells quickly and at a higher price is going to be hardwood or LVP flooring.

It is always good to consider what the most popular and practical option is going to be for new homeowners. Flip through a few architecture and design magazines, Pinterest, or ACo’s Project Gallery to see what flooring options are trending, then talk to an ACo Designer for guidance on what best suits your home’s style.

The three most common types of kitchen flooring options we install are:

Hardwood

• Benefits: Hardwood is a beautiful and long-lasting material that many new homebuyers seek out in their search. It comes in several types of wood and colors including walnut, cherry, and oak among others.
• Considerations: This lovely finished product may be highly coveted, but it can be slightly more expensive due to material and installation costs.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) or Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

• Benefits: Luxury Vinyl Plank is a smart choice for homes with high traffic areas located near water sources or homes with pets. It has become a popular option due to its inexpensive qualities, especially compared to hardwood. It can also be made to look like wood and stone and is water resistant and does not easily scratch.
• Considerations: While this is a nice choice, it does not offer the feeling of walking on wood flooring. It also cannot be sanded or refurbished.

Porcelain or Ceramic Tile

• Benefits: Tile is available in a versatile range of styles and colors that can be arranged in beautiful patterns to suit your style. It is also one of the most durable flooring options and can last a lifetime when properly cared for.
• Considerations: This is one of your most expensive options for both materials and labor, and installation can take longer than other types of flooring. Tile can also be a bit cold, especially during our Midwest winters. If you go with tile, consider adding radiant heat beneath your floors to keep your kitchen cozy year-round.

ACo offers many options for kitchen flooring that you may not have considered such as large format tile or custom wide plank hardwood. Your options truly are nearly endless.

Are you ready to tackle a home improvement project while practicing social distancing, but aren’t sure where to start? ACo is here to help. Using video conferencing, in home measuring apps, virtual reality, and even our flooring visualizer, our designers will guide you through design and installation of your project from afar.

If you want to explore and be inspired, you can also select from the app’s many sample rooms. Select a category (kitchen, living room, bathroom, shared spaces, etc.), choose a room, and play.