FLOORING PART 1…

There is an overwhelming variety of flooring options available today.  Some are more suited and cost effective than others, depending on the intended function and space.  Here are some of the more common flooring options to assist you in your next renovation.

Stick back vinyl tiles are cheap and inexpensive.  Great for a quick cover up over an existing flooring surface, they are easy to install and great for immediate changes, perhaps for home staging when selling your residence.  Beware, however, that you get what you pay for and they are not best suited for long term wear and tear.

Porcelain tiles (most people call them ceramic) are great for kitchens and baths as well as entryways.  Pricing is very reasonable for a basic tile and can skyrocket for the imported showroom stuff.  Porcelain requires more time and cost for installation since it requires grouting.  If you are a brave do-it-yourselfer, study up and seek advice—otherwise, leave the installation to the pros!  I encourage people to get a darker grout because they mask stains and dirt better.  You can also be creative with contrasting grout to your tile as it is available in a lot more shades than most people realize.  If you expect your tile to get wet and be dirty often (bathroom perhaps), you can get different types of grout that have additives in them that make them more resilient to germs, mold, and all the nasties.  In high traffic areas avoid tiles with too much texture since they are harder to keep clean, while ultra smooth tiles can be very slippery when wet.

Check back soon for more flooring options!