Choosing new flooring as part of an upcoming redesign or remodeling project in Wichita is a crucial step of the process. There are few elements of a room that can offer such a dramatic makeover of the space all on its own. There’s no shortage of options, and here we’ll help sort through the clutter to find solid ground to stand on.
Hardwood:
Hardwood is a durable, popular choice. It’s versatile and able to work in a number of areas of the home and with many different color schemes and styling choices. Beyond the mainstay of oak, Brazilian hardwoods and other exotic choices are becoming increasingly popular as well. Further, while planks are standard, parquet is another renewed trend as of late.
Carpet:
On the other end of the spectrum is carpet. The range of choices here is endless, as is the range of cost. Carpet is used most often in bedrooms, family rooms, and finished basements. It’s a great option for creating a cozy, homey mood in a space.
Tile:
Tile is a bit of a catchall, because there’s such a wide variety. From mosaic and stone, to marble and granite, to ceramic and porcelain. Different variations have assorted applications, from bathrooms to laundry rooms, kitchens, foyers, hallways, and more.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring:
Vinyl is a budget-friendly choice for home flooring, but as with many such options in the home today, there have been great advancements over the years so that vinyl can closely mimic the look of more expensive materials. Easy to clean and maintain, and perfect for basements, laundry rooms, and even kitchens or other living spaces in place of hardwood.
Laminate:
Laminate is somewhat of an intermediary between a hardwood and vinyl flooring, offering some of the best of both worlds in terms of style and cost. Durable and easy to install, with a huge spectrum of style choices. A variation of laminate is engineered wood, which is a laminate-hardwood hybrid with a layer of real hardwood atop a bulk of plywood layers.
Additional Flooring Options:
There are more choices beyond these as well. From concrete to bamboo to cork, so there’s always a fun new choice to consider based on the goals of a particular project.
Flooring Factors to Consider:
With all of these options, there are several key factors to help you make your selection. The first, of course, is which room or area of the home is being considered. Luxurious stone tile may work in the master bathroom but be unnecessary in other bathrooms of the home. Carpet, for instance, only works well in certain areas. Consider expected wear and tear and the potential usage of a space when selecting its flooring.
Another key factor is budget. Consider the priority level of new flooring in a kitchen remodel, versus the appliances being purchased, cabinets, lighting, and other design features. Certain flooring choices will match particular budget ranges, and it comes down to personal preference and priorities for how to divvy that budget.
Be sure to speak with an experienced remodeling contractor in Wichita who can help further guide this process. They should be able to provide you with a reliable upfront estimate breaking down costs for different components, while explaining potential options and alternatives, enabling any homeowner to make a wise decision when it comes to nailing down the perfect new flooring.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in September 2016 and was updated in October 2020 for accuracy.