High-traffic areas in your home can be rough on your flooring over the years due to more significant wear and tear. When choosing flooring for your entire home, remember to consider durable flooring options for these areas. Doing so can save you money in the long run. In this article, we’ll explore different flooring types in more detail.
Examples of High-Traffic Areas
You may believe that the rooms you use the most in your home are the most trafficked areas of your house. However, this is not always the case. High-traffic areas are the rooms in your home that you travel through to get to common areas, such as your kitchen, dining room or den. Hallways, foyers and mudrooms are some of the highest-traffic rooms in your home and require more durable flooring options.
Qualities of Durable Flooring
When you’re considering flooring for high-traffic areas, the following features are important:
- Scratch and impact resistance
- How well the flooring lasts through regular wear and tear
- Stain resistance
- The ability to resist moisture and mould
While traditional wood flooring is a popular choice, it’s not as durable or scratch resistant as other materials. If you currently have wood flooring, consider alternatives for higher-traffic areas that complement the existing style.
1. Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is affordable and versatile. You can find laminate in just about any colour or style you can imagine, and it often does an excellent job of imitating the look of genuine hardwood. It’s also easier to install than some of the other flooring options available. The downsides to laminate are that it’s not as resistant to wear and tear as other choices.
2. Tile Flooring
Porcelain tile is impact, scratch and water resistant. It’s one of the most durable flooring materials you can buy, but it is also more expensive. Unless you’re an expert at flooring installation, you should leave installing tile to a professional, or you could notice unsightly cracks in your tiles.
Tile is also an excellent option for finishing your basement because it’s flood resistant. If you live in an area where flooding is a concern, this material can protect your home from water damage.
3. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is becoming more popular because it offers the versatility of laminate with added moisture resistance, scratch resistance and ultra-violet protection. Vinyl has a more authentic appearance and can be used to mimic wood, stone or slate. You can also install vinyl flooring in place of tile.
Vinyl flooring often comes in a tongue-and-groove design, so you can snap the pieces together during installation. This can significantly reduce installation costs because less labour is required. When compared with tile flooring, vinyl is much more affordable as well.
4. Prefinished Wood Flooring
If you’re set on wood flooring, prefinished wood or bamboo offers greater scratch and dent resistance. However, if you’re installing wood flooring in a high-traffic area of your home, expect higher maintenance costs. As your wood floors begin to show signs of wear due to scratches and scuffs, there are things you can do to restore them to their original appearance, like refinishing.
Ready to Make a Choice?
When shopping for the right flooring, there are some things you should keep in mind. Aside from your budget, consider durable flooring options that cost less to install and maintain. Rome Flooring can help you select affordable flooring that meets all your needs. Contact us to learn more.