Beautiful flooring adds to the look and feel of every home. When preparing to sell your home, installing new floors can be done in just a few days, and new floors will maximize the selling price of your home. Yet, not all flooring is the same price, quality, look, and feel. In this post, we’ll take a look at the options so you can decide what type of flooring works best for you.
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring is the first entrant on our list and a standard replacement that is becoming popular. It is one of the most cost-effective. Note that this material is often called “laminate hardwood” only because it looks like actual, beautiful hardwood flooring but is entirely synthetic.
Laminate flooring is made of resin and other fibers and is quite durable against nicks and scratches. It is straightforward to install, usually coming with an interlocking system similar to putting a puzzle board together. You can complete it in a day, and sometimes in just a couple of hours.
If your flooring is in desperate need of repair and replacement, this is a good option. Keep in mind that if you’re attempting to improve your home value, this type of flooring really does not add much value. Since laminate flooring is synthetic, any damage, scuffs, and scratch marks cannot be buffed out and sanded as you could do with real hardwood flooring.
Luxury Vinyl flooring
Usually referred to as LVP or Luxury Vinyl Planks, this is another low-cost alternative with prices as low as $2 per square foot in some cases and styles. It’s a style that also is waterproof but is inconsistent throughout the industry.
The flexible layers of vinyl that are combined to make the flooring create a range of quality, and sometimes that quality is not up to par with other styles. That means, in some cases, this is a great option, and in others, a complete disaster. This type of flooring is also weaker than hardwood options and can get denied. LVF is easy to install, but can be challenging to remove after the glue sets in.
In addition, LVP might actually start to fade in direct sunlight, so repositioning some furniture from time to time or having some spare planks around as a replacement might be a good idea.
Engineered hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring is created by pressing wood fragments together to create as close a match as possible to what a single piece of actual hardwood flooring might be like. The entire process is done at a factory or shop, from cutting and staining to coating it there, then it’s shipped to the site and installed. It’s a premium option with a limited variety. It’s a high-quality choice and can be nailed down or glued. It can also come in bigger pieces and last up to 40 years with the proper maintenance. There is a chance that the core/center of the wood is not the best quality, so sanding and maintenance could be an issue.
At the same time, because it’s not pure hardwood and due to its processed nature, it stands a better chance against water and chemicals than hardwood does. It’s a good selection, but keep in mind it can be priced near to the price of natural hardwood floors. Based on quality and other factors, engineered hardwood can go up to around $14 per square foot on the high end.
Real Hardwood flooring
This option results in premium sale pricing and is a huge benefit for potential home buyers. The craftsmanship and overall look of hardwood flooring is a real bonus for anyone looking to purchase a home.
The hardwood is brought raw on-site to the home and then installed only with blind nail installation. They are treated and stained with the selected color. Hardwood flooring is meant to last. It can usually last up to 30 years, but with the right kind of maintenance, such as periodically sanding it down and re-varnishing it, they can last even up to 100 years before needing to be replaced.
Due to real hardwood’s enduring qualities, it is one of the best options when looking to maximize the ROI with a flooring restoration. Hardwood floors fetch a premium and will always be more expensive than engineered wood and other wood-type floor options.
In the end, make sure to weigh your options and determine what is within your budget and range of feasibility. With so many choices, you will be able to decide what product works best for you.
