Flooring is one of the most noticeable and enduring things that make up your home. Bad floors will make an impression on your guests, just as great floors will. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure you have all the facts straight about your choices. Below are some of the most common misconceptions you might believe about flooring.
“Laminate looks like grandma’s house, vinyl is too cheap, and wood is always nice”:
All three of these are examples of generalizations that are based on someone else’s experience. They’re also easy sound bites for realtors or contractors on selling a house or providing a service. Each of these things may be true in some circumstances, but they have their pros and cons just like any other choice of flooring.
Laminate, for example, can be made to look like wood and also be very durable and easy to repair. Or vinyl - it has come a long way and still serves a great purpose: It’s less expensive and easy to clean and maintain. Wood, while classic, can also be prone to scratching and require more maintenance. It all comes down to the quality and finish of what you pick.
“My neighbor got X flooring and it looks great/bad”:
Your neighbor may have had a different brand or different materials, or a different skill level of installation. They may be more prone to water damage or have animals that tear up their flooring. Before accepting what you see or hear as fact, consider whether you’re missing any information about the floor's history or the contractor they hired to install it.
“If it’s expensive, that means it’s good!”
As with most things, the price of flooring does not always relate directly to the quality. There are great options that are well-priced, and there are materials that are more readily available or easier to obtain. Depending on the needs of your home, you don’t always have to break the bank to find an option that’s a good fit.
Which brings us to the last point…
“I don’t need a consultant to help me pick my floors, I know what I want.”:
While it’s tempting in today’s age of YouTube and DIY, a consultant is going to have a lot of information about different kinds of flooring available to you and what may be in your budget. You could be pleasantly surprised by what you could afford.
They can also give you information on the long-term effects of your choices. For example, you may say you want a very soft carpet, which while comfortable, isn’t very durable. This may be okay if you’re a bachelor, but a parent with toddlers and a few dogs may find that to be an expensive problem down the road. A consultant can help you take all of these things into consideration and keep guesswork out of your choices.
Wilson’s Floor Coverings has a history of providing great service and expert consultants who will help you care for your home and consider all the factors needed to make a good decision. Your floors impact your ability to relax in your home or have guests, so rest assured you’re in capable hands.