Choosing Quality Flooring

Whether you are bored of your homes current flooring, are just moving into a new home, or are simply looking to update the theme of the house, it is important that you consider your lifestyle when choosing quality flooring. Not all carpets are created equal. Not all stone is as durable as the next. Not all wood has the same level of natural scratch resistance. Let us help you when it comes time to choosing quality flooring that will stand the test of time in your home.

Choosing Quality Flooring – Carpet

For the purposes of this article, we will discuss the importance of where to put the carpet, not what kind of carpet to purchase. If you are interested in finding out the ‘what kind’ of it, please check out our article ‘Choosing the right Carpet’.Choosing the right Carpet

If you want your carpet to last as long as it can, it is important to keep the areas of high traffic to a minimum. Where tile and stone can take a significant amount of Arizona dust abuse, carpet cannot. Entries, hallways, stairs, and offices are all bad ideas for carpet. In order to insure your carpet will last, it is vital to place it strategically.

Choosing Quality Flooring- WoodChoosing Quality Flooring

Choosing Quality FlooringWhen deciding on going for a wood flooring, you really have two important things to consider, thickness of the wood and cost. Wood comes 3/4 inch thick in most higher quality cases, 5/16 inch thick in others. Or you can get engineered wood or locking wood. These are more affordable, but only offer a millimeter thin amount of actual wood.

If you are looking for the look of wood without the expense, engineered is a decent option. The downside is in the long term. 3/4 inch and 5/16 inch solid wood floor can be sanded and restored when it gets worn or damaged. Most engineered wood cannot. This is important to keep in mind if you have pets or animals. Animal claws can scratch and dent the softer engineered wood flooring. A thicker wood would hold up better and stand up to a restoration years down the road.

Choosing Quality Flooring – Stone

Natural Stone is the top choice flooring in many higher end homes in Arizona. It is a solid option to withstand the abuse that the Valley of the Sun has to offer. While it is true that grit can damage the polish of a natural stone, many types of stone do not take a polish well and look better with a lower grit shine. Travertine is a good example of this.

Another bonus with this flooring style is the unique design and patterns you are guaranteed to get. It was cut from the side of a mountain in a quarry. It took thousands, if not millions of years to form. Every tile in a stone floor installation is unique from any other in the world.

stone_cleaning_scottsdaleThis randomness in pattern also does an exceptional job at hiding soiling. Often, the flooring can get dinge and wear without you ever realizing. Many times, we have cleaned stone floors and revealed colors that our client had forgotten about. These floors can last for the longest time if they are well maintained.

Choosing Quality Flooring – Tile
choosing quality flooringchoosing quality flooringChoosing quality flooring

Tile can be a fantastic option. It can be very durable, some of the most resilient to high heels, high traffic, and damage. The other plus for it is that over the last few years, tile has received quite the makeover. Once, years ago, tile was always the same, and you always could tell that it was tile. It felt cheap and dated. Now, you can get it in a large variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. It has been made to look like natural stone with none of the inherent weaknesses. It has even been made to look like wood, and quite convincingly, I might add.