Flooring Materials 101 | 12 Steps of Building a Home Series
Welcome back to our 12 Steps of Building a Home series! Today is all about Flooring. We are going to cover three main categories of flooring – hardwood, vinyl, and carpet.
types of wood
Wood flooring these days tends to fall into one of two groups – engineered hardwood or solid wood. There are definitely pros and cons to each style of wood, from price to longevity.
Solid Wood:
Milled wood that is nailed to the subfloor
Can last 100+ years, but is prone to warping in humidity
Costs an average of $8-15 per square foot
Engineered Wood:
Thin layer of hardwood is bonded to a premium-quality plywood layer. Can be nailed or glued
Lasts without warping for 40+ years
Costs an average of $3-14 per square foot
Aside from the cost and construction differences, there is a bit of a difference in plank sizes between solid wood and engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood boards tend to be narrower and shorter than engineered hardwoods. However, since solid hardwoods are available as both pre-finished and unfinished boards, there are more options for finishes.
We work more with engineered hardwoods, but we are willing to work with solid hardwood if that is your preference!
types of vinyl
Vinyl flooring has long been a top choice for areas of homes where water and stains can be an issue (think bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and kitchens). Today though vinyl has become a more popular choice throughout homes as it is much more affordable than other types of flooring.
Standard Vinyl
Felt or fiberglass backing bonded to a printed or solid vinyl upper
Prone to scratches; lasts 10-15 years
Costs an average of $0.50 to $2 per square foot
Luxury Vinyl (LVP)
Stronger layers of fiberglass, PVC, or even foam backings on vinyl upper
Scratch-resistant; lasts 25+ years
Costs an average of $2-7 per square foot
LVP is an excellent choice for people wanting the look of wood without actually paying for wood. Many LVP floors are styled with the same feel of solid or engineered wood, with the added benefit of being more waterproof than actual wood. Plus, luxury vinyl flooring these days come in planks, tiles, and even click-lock edge joints like many wood floors!
TYPES OF CARPET
Carpet is an excellent choice for bedrooms, as it provides an inherent coziness and softness underfoot. But did you know there are actually multiple kinds of carpet?! Here is our breakdown on the four most common types of carpet:
Saxony | When you think of carpet, you’re likely picturing Saxony. It is a medium pile height, can be plush or textured. This is truly a workhorse style and you’re sure to find any color or style you want in a Saxony carpet.
Berber | This is a looped style carpet, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a low pile. Small tight loops (like are found in most commercial buildings) are low pile, but there are large chunky looped berber carpets that work well throughout the home!
Frieze | This is grown up shag carpet. Frieze fibers are long and twisted and are extremely durable. Some people do like frieze carpeting in family rooms or basements, because it is so cozy and inviting. But it can look messy if the fibers are too long, so proceed with caution.
Cut and Loop | Just as the name suggests, some of these fibers are cut and others are looped. This carpet is patterned in every way you can imagine. This is an extremely popular carpet style for more modern homes since it looks sleek and adds design to a home without physical decor.
No matter what type of floor you’re interested in, we hope this guide has helped! Make sure you come back next month when we dig into our final favorite flooring type, tile!
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With love, Liz
