There are a lot of choices to be made when building your own home. Just one of those choices will be what type of floor material you want to use in each area of your home. At Visionary Homes, you can meet with our expert staff to learn about the vast options that exist when trying to make the best selections for your home. Our Design Center features samples to touch and feel as well as compare with alternatives. As Cache Valley’s most trusted new home builder, we take pride guiding you as you make these exciting decisions.

While there are many options, here is a basic guide to what flooring options are available and how to choose which is right for you and your needs.
3 Things to Consider
There are 3 things to keep in mind as you browse different materials:

1. Longevity
It’s important to realize that any material you choose will most likely have a long lifespan – up to 50 years or more. This means you’ll want to be absolutely sure of your decision before having anything installed. It also means that you may not want to make your choices based solely on current trends because they tend to fade quickly and you may be left with something outdated that you no longer like. Instead, go with an option that you’re sure you’ll still be happy with 10 or 15 years down the road.

2. Wear and Tear
When selecting a flooring material, you’ll want to consider how the area will be used and what effects that will have on the material. For instance, if the area has a lot of potential for moisture (kitchen, entryways, bathrooms) hardwood flooring would not be the best choice as it can be heavily damaged by water. When selecting material for a bedroom or living room, comfort should be one of the main focuses. Stone materials that are cold and hard may not be the best choice. For the kitchen, you’ll want durability but also something that isn’t uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time.

3. Budget
Perhaps the most obvious consideration when choosing floor materials is your budget. Some materials, such as hardwood or marble, come with a hefty price tag, so you may not want to use them throughout your whole house or even use them at all – it just depends on how much you want to spend and what your goals are with your flooring.

Flooring Options
Here is a brief list of different flooring options you have to choose from:
Carpet
Advantages: Carpet is a great insulator which can help you save on energy in your home. It’s also good at soundproofing. Carpet comes in a variety of colors, textures, styles and designs, making it easy to pair with the rest of a room’s design.

Disadvantages: Carpet can be a very high maintenance material. Odors, allergens and stains can cling to carpet fibers along with bacteria. It is also one of the least durable materials on this list.
Hardwood
Advantages: Hardwood is timeless; it never goes out of style and it pairs well with just about any type of design. It can be a good investment for your home because of its widespread popularity. Hardwood is also easy to clean and can improve indoor air quality.

Disadvantages: Although it is easy to clean, hardwood is very susceptible to scratches and staining. As mentioned earlier, it can also sustain water damage, causing the wood to warp or rot without careful attention. The material itself is expensive and its installation can also be pricey.
Laminate
Advantages: Laminate is one of the more durable options on this list. It resists staining and won’t fade easily. It can mimic other materials such as wood or stone quite well, making it a good alternative. Both the material and the installation are relatively inexpensive.

Disadvantages: When some flooring materials wear out, you can just replace a specific section, but with laminate, the whole floor must be replaced. Laminate can also be noisy and cold to the touch.
Ceramic Tiles
Like hardwood flooring, tile can add value to your home because of its luxurious look and appeal. It also has the benefit of being durable and low maintenance. If the material gets damaged, you can replace individual tiles instead of the whole floor.

Disadvantages: Tile doesn’t provide very much cushioning for areas where you might be standing for long periods of time. It can also be slippery. The biggest maintenance issue with tile is that the grout lines in between can stain easily. The installation can also be quite expensive.
Stone Tiles
Advantages: Stone tiling is similar to ceramic tiling in its durability and ability to add value to the home. Unlike ceramic tile which can be very cold, stone tiling is a great option for radiant heat application.

Disadvantages: Like ceramic tiling, stone doesn’t provide much cushioning for long periods of standing and can be expensive to install. It is more prone to staining and will need frequent treatment in order to prevent it.
Concrete
Advantages: Concrete can be a very versatile option. It can be made to look like aged brick, ceramic tiling, or marble, making it a great inexpensive alternative. It is the most durable material on the list and can be easily fixed if damaged.

Disadvantages: Concrete is a porous material and will need to be protected with regular sealings. It is another hard, solid material that can be cold and unforgiving to stand on.
Vinyl
Advantages: Vinyl is a good option for areas you’ll be standing on for long periods of time. It is the least expensive option with very easy installation and a wide variety of styles to choose from.

Disadvantages: Although installation is simple, vinyl can start to peel if it isn’t installed just right. It will require frequent treatment and care in order to prevent staining and has one of the lowest lifespans of any material on the list.
Linoleum
Advantages: Linoleum is resistant to bacteria and allergens and won’t scuff or mark as easily as vinyl.

Disadvantages: Linoleum will require regular waxing and polishing. Once it’s been installed, it can be very difficult to remove. It also doesn’t come in as big a variety of colors or designs as vinyl.

We hope this guide helps you make more informed decisions about your new home. We want your home to be the best it can be! Be sure to visit our new home plans to start finding ideas.

Now building across Northern Utah in Weber and Davis County.

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