Rosie on the House: Weigh your flooring choices

A: Hardwood floors are absolutely beautiful but luxury vinyl is trending because customers get the look they want in a wood floor for a substantial savings, the product is easy to maintain and wears well.

Luxury vinyl is also easier to replace.

• Installation of luxury vinyl planking (LVP) takes a day to a day and a half (not a week or so as compared to solid wood), and it can be walked on immediately after installation.
• Wear and Tear: solid wood, engineered wood and luxury vinyl planking are about equal in their ability to withstand scratching and damage from dropping things. Foot traffic, over time, is more likely to affect the wood products.
• Easier repair of damaged flooring: With LVP, you can easily replace a damaged plank where the tongue-and-groove connection between wood pieces is more difficult to work around.

The challenges of wood flooring:

• Maintenance: Wood floors are easily damaged by dropped items that can cause dents and scratches caused by moving furniture, pet claws, etc.
• Cost: The cost of a solid wood floor stretches the pocketbooks of many homeowners. Solid wood flooring can start at about $11 per square foot and go up from there. Quality luxury vinyl planking will give the appearance of a beautiful wood floor for an average price of about $7 to $9 per square foot. That can add up to substantial savings over the other floor alternatives.
• Storage: Per the manufacturer’s installation requirements, the wood flooring must be stored in a space that maintains 30 to 55% humidity. This step must be done several days up to several weeks before it is installed. The house must keep that humidity level for the life of the floor to maintain the quality and the warranty. In our desert climates, this is often a challenge.
• Installation: Solid wood flooring requires several initial applications of a sealant product and several days of drying before it can be walked on.

Cleaning and regular maintenance are similar on each floor style — a vacuum or damp mop keeps the flooring looking fresh.

Q: What should homeowners look for when purchasing luxury vinyl planking?

A: Pay attention to details:

• Finish thickness: The finish on the surface of LVPs varies between manufacturers. A quality finish should be 20 mils thick at a minimum. Some cheaper products only have a 4-mil finish, which is thinner than a contact lens. A thicker finish means you won’t have to be concerned about scratching the surface with the everyday things we bring in on the bottoms of our shoes.
• Watch for consistency, which refers to the consistency of colors from lot to lot and pattern changes from different manufacturing lots. You may experience these differences from box to box.
• Quality LVP will have a pattern that repeats less and therefore looks more like real wood.

When purchasing products on your own, always buy an extra box in case you need to replace any damaged pieces. And don’t compromise quality for cost, ever. If you can’t afford to do it right the first time, you may end up with a floor that doesn’t last, and it will have to be replaced again.

Q: Is flooring a DIY project?

A: Yes. There are a few tips for those DIYers who want to tackle an LVP flooring project.

• Start with a solid, consistent subfloor free of bumps, debris or gouges. Also, remove baseboards and door casings.
• Install a manufacturer-approved moisture barrier. Document this underlayment and save your receipts. Manufacturers may require proof of the barrier if you need to file a warranty complaint later.
• Maintain a gap of about a quarter inch around the perimeter of the new flooring as it abuts walls and cabinets.
• Aligning the planking is critical if you install it from room to room or space to space. Take time to plan the layout of the individual planks.
• If you are putting flooring on your stairs, it is better to have a flush finish at the front of the stair rather than a lip. It is safer and easier to clean. (Note: It is a important to light stairs well and make sure that the handrail is securely mounted.)

Q: What’s new in other flooring products?

A: Tile has been leaning toward a wood floor look. Porcelain tiles are popular, as well. Tile sizes have been trending to large individual tiles, such as 12-by-24 inches or larger, with very thin grout lines of one-eighth of an inch or spaces between tiles

Carpet has also experienced some improvements. Solution-dyed yarn is a newer and quite popular yarn. It is almost entirely impervious to permanent stains from food, pets and some bleach cleaners.

While knap (the length and thickness of the carpet’s fibers) has not changed much, colors certainly have. Von tells us that strong grays are fading in popularity and are being replaced by more natural colors with a mix of gray and beige.

What is new and quite popular is the introduction of flecks into the carpet’s color schemes. Flecks are randomly distributed across the carpet and do not develop any particular pattern. Fleck patterned carpet is very popular with active homes with pets, children (or grandchildren).

Engineered wood has the look we seek with a more stable product. However, the cost is still relatively high, at $8 to $13 per square foot.

When you are ready to shop, shop at a reputable showroom where you can find guidance on the best choice for your floor. A knowledgeable representative will ask you questions like:

• How will the room be used?
• Will it have heavy or light traffic?
• Will the room be the center of activity for family life and entertainment?
• Is there direct access from outside?

Armed with the answers to these questions, the rep will be able to guide you to choices that will be best for the room you are flooring. You will also be able to learn the warranty conditions and the proper care.

Replacing flooring is a big job and an investment in the beauty and comfort of your home. Choosing the right flooring is challenging but pays big rewards.