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Before
you proceed with your floor project, be sure to define
your needs. Once you know your lifestyle requirements,
the rest of the decision-making process will be easier.
If you plan to stay in your home more than five years,
go ahead and be creative. Choose flooring that matches
your personality and color schemes. On the other hand,
if you plan on moving within five years, stay neutral to
make selling your home easier.
Also,
consider whether you may be redecorating anytime soon.
Neutrals will make it easier to match new furnishings
and window treatments if you decide to change color
schemes.
If you've
got high traffic, look for style with durability.
Ceramic tile or multi-colored Berber carpet can give you
great look that will last.
Keep in mind
that current trends are large tiles (13- to 18- inch),
and the same holds true for surface and wall tiles in
the living and bath area. If you've been to a home show
lately, or have walked through some of the new model
homes (which, incidentally, is a great way to get ideas)
you'll see that larger tiles are the rage, even in
showers and tub surrounds.
Although
Berber or loop carpets are definitely "in" and offer
lots of great style options, cut pile carpets will
remain in style much longer. The 1960's and 1970's
brought in the shag and sculptured pile carpets, but cut
pile has been in style for more than 40 years, so it's
fairly safe to put it in the timeless category. If you
do choose a Berber or looped carpet, be prepared to
replace it in six or seven years if trends
shift. |
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Hardwood and
manufactured woods also have made a comeback, and are
frequently replacing parquet or laminate floors. With a
variety of styles and compositions, wood flooring may be
the ideal complement to your style.
One of the
newest flooring looks is stained or stamped concrete,
however, it is used primarily in new construction. The
stain used is acid-based and reacts to the surface it is
applied to. Any glue, paint, chalk marks of residue on
the concrete will cause discoloration in those areas.
For instance, if the concrete were marked with paint to
indicate specifications during the building process,
those words would show through so as a replacement floor
during remodeling, it may not be an option.
Grout lines
are simulated, requiring very little maintenance. It's
easy to clean once a sealant is applied and the cost is
about $2 less than ceramic for new construction. Coupled
with the unique style, the benefits of this type of
flooring make it well worth considering when building a
new home.
When making
your final decision, keep in mind, that trends are
always changing. If you stick with basic colors and
styles and choose quality materials, your floors will
last, beautifully, for many years to come. |
