Wide array of choices when replacing floors

MOSES LAKE — Any home remodeling project, whatever its scope, is bound by certain rules. But within those parameters homeowners have all kinds of choices.

Replacing or adding flooring is no exception to the basic rules. Karen Escure of Skaug Brothers Carpet One Floor and Home, Moses Lake, said the budget will decide what is and isn’t doable. The other crucial component when making remodeling decisions, including flooring, is what’s happening in that space. “Your lifestyle,” Escure said. “Pets, kids, entertaining,” everything that goes on in a house.

There’s one more consideration when making design choices, and that’s whether the house is going to be resold. Homeowners have a little wider latitude if they’re decorating what Escure called a “forever home.”

A homeowner has a lot of choices when replacing flooring, whether the new floor is a stand alone project or part of a bigger remodel. Hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl planking (LVP) and tile, known as “hard surfaces,” are gaining in popularity, Escure said.

“Hard surfaces are cleaner,” she said. They trap fewer allergens than carpet, and are easier to clean. “And they last longer,” Escure said. “Carpet wears out and wears down. Mostly wears down.” Hard surface flooring will add value to a home, she said.

Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses. Laminate’s top layer is more durable than hardwood or LVP, and it’s softer underfoot. Luxury vinyl plank is waterproof, no matter what’s spilled or how long it stays on the floor. And hardwood – well, nothing looks like hardwood.

Flooring has benefited from technological advances just like most other areas of home remodeling and construction. “We have waterproof hardwoods,” Escure said. Well, not waterproof in the LVP sense, but much more water resistant. Some laminate flooring will remain resistant to moisture for up to 72 hours.

Materials also can mimic other materials – LVP can look like wood or stone, and tile can look like wood, Escure said.

And of course, the project budget will be a crucial part of the decision process. The homeowner may dream of Brazilian teak hardwood throughout the house, but the budget may say otherwise. When the budget says no, homeowners have options to get the same look but at a more affordable price. “There’s a huge price range,” Escure said.

Homeowners also need to consider how long they plan to stay in the current residence when deciding on flooring choices. Unusual choices – say, that LVP that looks like wood but has pink stripes – may reduce the resale value of a property.