Housing continues to be one of the best places to invest money, as the Return On Investment (ROI) is generally quite high, and has more guaranteed value than other forms of investment. On top of this, any improvements you make while living in the house can have profound effects on your Quality of Life (QoL). While most people will go straight for a bathroom or kitchen remodel, there are other aspects of the house with which improvements can go a long way in both ROI and QoL. Here at Howell Contracting we like to consider flooring for your home to be a top priority.
Why is Finding The Right Flooring Important?
One of the most undervalued parts of our houses, yet something we are in close contact with constantly while we’re at home is flooring. As the walls and roof of our house, we often take for granted what our flooring provides us, which goes beyond keeping us off the wet cold ground outside. As a provider of flooring contractors Pittsburgh PA, we know that flooring can serve a number of purposes in our home, and exploring these can help us to find the right flooring for our home.
Here is a look at the criteria you should consider when looking for the right flooring in your home.
Is The Flooring for Your Home Located in a High Moisture Area?
This should be the first question that will guide your decision in finding the right flooring for you and your family. The moisture density in an area can impact different kinds of flooring in different ways, so if you’re in an area that is typically humid, you’ll need to consider this when looking at flooring.
The best kinds of flooring for high-moisture areas are:
- Concrete
- Ceramic or porcelain tile
- Vinyl tile
These are flooring materials that are resistant to high-moisture environments and can ensure you get the desired longevity out of them. Thankfully according to our flooring contractors in Pittsburgh, PA is not a high moisture area, meaning you can consider other options.
Do You Need a Pet-Friendly Floor?
Whether you already have a dog or are expecting to get one at some point, you will need to factor this into your decision. Dogs generally have long nails which they use to scratch and dig, and these nails can cause damage to some softer-wearing types of flooring.
Instead of investing in expensive hardwood flooring which can easily be damaged by your dog, you should consider one of the following pet-friendly flooring options:
- Carpet
- Ceramic or porcelain tile
- Laminate flooring
- Plank vinyl flooring
These are also much easier to repair or replace than other options like hardwood, and may also be suitable in homes with children.
Do You Want Low-Maintenance Flooring?
When it comes to installing certain elements in our houses, we have the choice of whether we want it to be low maintenance or not. Regular maintenance is often necessary with much cheaper and much more expensive elements, so often people will prefer the middle ground. Although when it comes to the beauty of natural hardwood flooring, many people will argue that it’s always worth it.
The lowest maintenance flooring options are generally vinyl tiles, sheets, or planks, as they are resilient and don’t require any specific cleaning method. Laminate flooring is a close second, although it does need special cleaning methods as a wet mop can ruin it.
Do You Prioritize Aesthetics?
If you aren’t bothered by maintenance requirements, have no plans of getting pets, and your house isn’t located in a high moisture area, then you may want to prioritize aesthetics. The most beautiful flooring is undoubtedly hardwood flooring, which can come in a range of colors and styles depending on the wood used. While these hardwood floors are generally considered high maintenance, there are tricks to limiting how much cleaning or polishing they need.
The use of throw rugs and runners on the highest-trafficked areas of the house can cut down on maintenance needs. Alternatively, you could hire someone to regularly clean and maintain your hardwood floors for you.
Why You Shouldn’t DIY Flooring
While it may be tempting, especially when DIY flooring providers claim you can save up to 50% of the cost on not hiring installers, unless you’re experienced in doing so, you may find yourself facing expensive replacements or repairs sooner than expected.
Another common problem our flooring contractors in Pittsburgh, PA have noticed in DIY jobs is the low-quality adhesive and flooring materials used. These will generally come from mass-manufacturing methods which utilize a range of volatile compounds to create their products, some of which will remain in the product even after you’ve installed it in your home.
Do You Need Flooring For Your Home in Pittsburgh PA?
Whether you’re looking for flooring contractors, or flooring services, or help with any kind of renovation work in your home, you should contact the experts. If you’re in Pittsburgh PA or nearby then you’re in luck, check out our website to see how we can help or contact us today.
