My Affordable Floors

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Best Kitchen Flooring Options For Your Home

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Before deciding to renovate your kitchen, it’s important to consider what types of kitchen floors you’re going to use. While it’s fun to pick out cabinets, hardware, and countertops, your kitchen flooring is important, too! When you think about it, the floors are the one thing that stands out the most in a kitchen. 

There are many types of kitchen floors, from budget-friendly vinyl to natural hardwood floors, there are plenty of affordable kitchen flooring options for you to choose from! It’s all about what the best kitchen flooring options for your home.

Here’s our list of kitchen flooring options to get you started:

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is timeless and classic. It’s by far the most sought-after flooring. It brings an immediate sense of elegance and unmatched beauty to not only just your kitchen but your entire home. 

Due to their gorgeous, warm aesthetic, hardwood floors are an incredibly desirable flooring material, and this is no exception for homebuyers. Installing hardwood in your kitchen can skyrocket the value of your home. Other kinds of flooring products come close but they can never completely replicate their glowing natural beauty. They’re also durable and guaranteed to last for centuries.

On the downside, hardwood floors require a good bit of maintenance. They’re more difficult to clean and susceptible to scratches. These types of floors are also incredibly porous, so when they’re exposed to water or moisture over the long term, they can warp. Lastly, there’s the cost of hardwood. High-quality hardwood flooring runs from $ 4 – $12 a sq. ft., so expect this material to be a bit harsher on the wallet.

If you’re thinking of installing hardwood in your home but feel it may be out of your budget,  engineered hardwood is an option rather than solid natural hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood is more water-resistant, friendlier on your wallet, and better for the planet. Plus, it looks pretty close to the real thing!

Laminate

Laminate has been a go-to in the flooring world for quite some time now. Nowadays, there are tons of laminate designs to choose from, and they’ve become the perfect cost-efficient alternative to hardwood flooring. 

While laminate flooring is not an exact match to wood, with the help of modern technology, it can look pretty close to the real thing. It’s also easy to install and takes no time at all to do as a quick DIY project, since laminate floors are made to lock together, making it consumer-friendly. 

Laminate flooring is very affordable and will usually cost around $2 – $5 per sq. foot. That comes in significantly cheaper than other flooring types, and especially hardwood. It’s also a good investment as laminate flooring is typically pretty durable and very easy to replace.

Some of laminate flooring’s lesser qualities can be justified by its affordability. Of all the downsides of laminate flooring, installing it in your kitchen could result in it having to be replaced sooner rather than later. This is because laminate is not very moisture-resistant, so spills or any sort of contact with water over time can be detrimental to your laminate floors. Unfortunately, the lifespan of laminate and the risk of exposure to too much moisture can make it undesirable for a lot of homebuyers, which means it wouldn’t add a lot of value to your home. 

In conclusion, laminate flooring is an amazing choice for someone who just wants flooring to get the job done. It’s affordable, it looks great, and it’s easy to install. However, because of its lack of durability and how prone it is to being damaged by moisture, it isn’t the most ideal material for a kitchen.

Vinyl 

Vinyl is the most popular form of residential kitchen flooring. This is primarily because it’s very low-maintenance, moisture-resistant, budget-friendly, and long-lasting. It’s also pleasant to walk on due to the ability to insulate under the material. Even better, vinyl flooring is able to look better than ever these days due to advanced technology, giving you a seemingly limitless amount of options to choose from.

That being said, vinyl flooring does have its downsides. It’s a little easier to scratch than the alternatives such as tile. It’s also vulnerable to water penetrating the top layer of the flooring (the top of vinyl is water-resistant, underneath is not), so being rough with your floors or overcleaning could produce some unfortunate results. On top of this, vinyl flooring is rather difficult to repair.

To sum it up simply, vinyl flooring is an incredibly cost-efficient option for your kitchen and it doesn’t look too bad either! On the other hand, if you have pets or you’re in general a bit rough with your floors, it may not be the right choice for your kitchen.

Tile

Tile is a great flooring option for the kitchen. It not only looks elegant and clean, but it’s also a breeze to maintain and incredibly durable. There’s a vast selection of tile options to choose from-including quarry, marble, porcelain, and ceramic. To make matters even better, modern printing technology can generate pretty much any design you can think of on your tile floor! Tile is incredibly versatile, so it’s sure to fit the ideas you may have for your kitchen.

Tile flooring has a nearly impenetrable surface that’s extremely tough and durable. Tile flooring will last for an extremely long time, is water-resistance, and cannot easily be scratched. A tile floor needs very little cleaning unless something is spilled on it, making it the perfect material for kitchens. Perhaps the best part of this is that tile flooring is also cost-efficient; making it possible to get a quality porcelain tile for $4 per square feet or less!

Nothing is perfect, so there are of course a few cons that come with tile flooring. The biggest downside to tile is that it can get especially slick when wet, creating safety hazards in your kitchen, especially if your tile is glazed. Tile flooring is also susceptible to cracks and chips if heavier items are dropped on them. Lastly, older homeowners and those that suffer from knee or foot problems might have some difficulty standing tile, as they’re solid and rough surface and provide no support, unlike hardwood or vinyl flooring.

In all, tile is the ultimate option for kitchen floors. Though it has its flaws, it is still to this day the kitchen flooring option that offers the most durability, aesthetic value, and it can save you a lot of money compared to the other options!

My Affordable Floors is Here to Help Find The Right Kitchen Flooring Option For You

There are a lot of different flooring options and making a decision can be difficult, so if you’re looking to have new floors installed for your kitchen, we would love to help! Our ultimate goal is to meet your budget needs and providing you with the best kitchen flooring options for your home. If there is anything we can do to help you, please feel free to contact us!

Hardwood Scratch Repair: A Guide for Homeowners

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What if you could renovate your home while saving thousands of dollars?

Over the years, your beautiful hardwood floors are going to get scratched and scuffed. And many homeowners think the best solution is to replace the floors entirely. However, replacement is a costly and frustrating process. Meanwhile, hardwood scratch repair is both easier and more affordable.

Keep reading to learn more about how to fix scratches on wood floor!

old piece of scratched hardwood that needs repair

Clean Beforehand

If you’re interested in how to fix scratches on wood floor, we know you’re eager to get started. First, though, you must thoroughly clean the floor area.

With a sturdy rug and specialized hardwood floor cleaner, you can easily scrub the affected areas. You’ll want to ensure the entire area looks clean, though your primary focus will be the cracks themselves.

After scrubbing, use a simple rag and water to rinse the area. Be sure to let it dry before you proceed to the next step.

Fill It In

The next step is to fill in any cracks in the wood. All you need to do this is a stick of wax.

Start by rubbing the stick of wax over the cracks until they are properly filled in. If the wax isn’t going into the cracks on its own, you may need to use a putty knife in order to shape the wax into place.

The wood wax you’ll need for this process is available in a variety of colors, including a clear coat. Be sure to select the color that is best for your wooden floor.

Get Buff and Stuff

The final step in the traditional hardwood scratch repair process is to buff the scratch. To begin, get a soft cloth and start rubbing it over the affected area.

This repetitive motion accomplishes two specific tasks. First, it helps to further clean the area and ensure that the repaired wood looks better than ever. Second, it helps to buff the wax you’ve put down, further helping your hardwood stand out in the eyes of anyone who visits.

Your ultimate goal with this process is to have a floor that looks shiny and new. Don’t stop buffing until you have a floor you can be proud of once more!

For Small Scratches

The process detailed above assumes that you have scratches large enough or deep enough to require this level of restoration. For smaller scratches, you may be able to use simpler solutions.

For instance, some small scratches can be filled in with a blending pencil. This is a one-step restoration process, and the only tricky part is finding the pencil shade that perfectly matches your floor.

If you have small scratches caused by a family pet, then you may want to use this homebrew solution: Mix olive oil and apple cider vinegar in a cup in equal measure and then place small amounts in the affected area. Leave it there for a day and then rub the area out. Your hardwood should look good as new!

Hardwood Scratch Repair: The Bottom Line

Now you know why hardwood scratch repair is so easy and affordable. But what if the floor damage is more severe?

At My Affordable Floors, we are devoted to restoring your hardwood without robbing your wallet. To see how affordable we can be, contact us for a free quote!

5 Bedroom Flooring Ideas that Aren’t Carpet

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The carpet boom of the 1950s and 60s still lingers in many bedrooms around America. Soft underfoot and warmer than wood or tile, stepping on a fluffy carpet first thing in the morning seems like the height of comfort.

But did you know that carpet can irritate allergies and trap pathogens like E. coli and staph? In fact, carpets are so good at harboring nasty things that they’re 4,000 times germier than a toilet seat!

Do you want a fresher start every day? Consider these great bedroom flooring ideas to get inspired.

modern bedroom with vinyl flooring

1. Hardwood

Hardwoods are the ultimate in high-end flooring. They’re so long-wearing that wood floors from the 1800s can be refinished and restored to their centuries-old glory.

They also provide a depth of natural beauty that you’d be hard-pressed to find with any other flooring. The variations in wood-tone and grain pattern add interest and class to your bedroom. There’s such variety with hardwoods that you’ll be able to customize yours to your exact tastes.

2. Luxury Vinyl Tile

Vinyl has come a long way from linoleum. Luxury vinyl tiles—LVT if you’re in the know—can mimic the look of about any style you’re going for. There are wood-look planks, marblelike square tiles, ceramic, slate, and even travertine.

Its three-layered composition makes it durable and water-resistant. If you’re looking for the best flooring for a bedroom in the basement, you can’t go wrong with LVT.

3. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile, like vinyl tile, can be made to look like wood planks. Or you can go bold with a geometric or Moroccan tile. Your bedroom is your private haven, so make it what you want.

Even a simple tile laid in a chevron or herringbone pattern adds visual interest and elevates your bedroom style.

Tile is colder than wood or vinyl. If you’re down South, that’s a good thing. If you live up North—like in Milwaukee or northern Illinois—you’ll want to position a rug under your bed to lessen the morning chill. You’ll still get your fluffy, warm comfort that way.

4. Cork

Though cork floor tiles are nothing new, they are often overlooked. The Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, built in the 1920s, has a cork floor.

The natural substance is warm, springy, and soft. It offers insulation from noise and heat. Cork is anti-microbial and doesn’t stain if properly sealed. The nice thing about cork is that individual tiles are replaceable as they become damaged.

5. Painted Subfloor

If you’re looking for cheap flooring ideas for your bedroom, consider painting your subfloor. For real! After you remove the carpet and tack strips, give the subfloor a deep clean, sand the rough spots, and paint.

You can tape down a design or use stencils for more impact. The nice thing is, you can paint over it again or install a whole new floor when you’re ready to make that change.

Get Inspired by Bedroom Flooring Ideas

The alternative to carpet doesn’t have to be something cold and uninviting. There are bedroom flooring ideas that offer warmth and personality without sacrificing style and cleanliness. Are you ready to rip out your carpet yet?

If your bedroom needs a refresh, we can help! As flooring installation experts, we have a large selection of hardwoods, vinyl, and tile to offer, and the expertise to install them correctly. Call us for an in-home consultation.

Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? A Guide to Installing New Floors

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If your home or business has outdated tile flooring that you’ve considered replacing, you’ve probably wondered if you can you put laminate over tile. After all, tearing up tile takes time, and time is money.

The short answer to this question is yes, you can put laminate over ceramic or porcelain tile. But, of course, there are caveats—and to do it right, you’ll need to weigh a variety of factors.

Here’s a quick guide to help you determine whether you can have new laminate installed over existing tile.

Black and White Marble Floor

Consider the Condition of Your Existing Tile

You can rule out putting laminate over tile if your tile is in poor condition.

Think about it: Your new laminate flooring needs something solid and level in order to properly adhere and lay correctly.

If your old tile is cracked or loose, you will need to remedy this. If it’s just a few loose tiles, you can pull them up and reset or replace. Same for if you have just a few cracked tiles. However, if the majority of tiles need repair, it might worth pulling them all up and starting from scratch.

If your tile floor isn’t level due to an issue with failing tile or poor subflooring, you’ll need to remove it before you install laminate. Your new laminate will only be as level as the floor below it.

Be aware: Even if you feel your tile is level, there are probably slight dips around the grout. You’ll need to sand these areas level or fill them prior to laying your new laminate.

Think About the Height of the Floor

Your floor will gain some height if you put the new laminate over existing tile.

Depending on the room, this may not be an issue. However, it’s important to not overlook this factor. Gaining even a small amount of height can affect the movement of doors and height of appliances.

The Need for Baseboard

Laminate flooring needs about a 1/4″ gap between it and your walls to allow for normal expansion and contraction. This means you need a baseboard or quarter-round molding (attached to the walls, not the floor) to hide this gap.

You might currently have baseboard or trim that you can remove and raise. If not, you’ll need to add it.

So, Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? It Depends

This guide touched on just a few important factors to weigh when considering if you can you put laminate over tile on your floor.

If you are looking to replace your flooring, the best option is to call an expert. They can come to your business or residence and take a good look at your existing flooring. A professional or company who has experience working with different types can also help advise you on which will work best for you.

If you are in the Racine, Milwaukee, or northern Illinois area, get in touch with us today and schedule a free in-home estimate. With our flooring experts, you can feel confident that you’re choosing the best, most cost-effective, and lasting solution for your flooring needs!

The 5 Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas in Your Home

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Most Durable Flooring Options

There’s something special and exciting about customizing your home to the exact way you want it. But before you start fawning over every flooring sample you can find, you need to make a list of must-haves.

For low-traffic areas of your home, aesthetics can be the deciding factor. When it comes to high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms, though, you also need to look for the most durable flooring options. That is, unless you want to go through the whole process again in a few years.

In the long run, choosing one of the more durable types of flooring for your home can end up saving you considerable time and money.

Various decorative tiles samples

Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas

Whether your floors will face kids, pets, high heels, work boots, or a little of everything, your best bet is to go with one of these options:

Natural Stone Tile

Tile floors are known for their clean look and long-lasting quality. Keep in mind that some materials are harder than others, though, so your best bet is to look for natural stone tile floors like travertine.

Bamboo Hardwood

As beautiful as hardwood is, most types are best suited for low-traffic rooms. Bamboo, however, is a wonderful exception. The adhesives and coatings manufacturers use make bamboo a force to be reckoned with when it comes to scratches.

For the most durable bamboo hardwood flooring, look for options that are strand-woven. Stick to high-end, high-quality varieties as well.

Laminate Hardwood

If you love the look of hardwood floors, another durable option is laminate flooring. It’s more scratch-resistant than natural hardwood, so it will stand up against paws and claws. However, keep in mind that laminate is susceptible to moisture damage. So, it’s not often a good choice for bathrooms and other high-moisture areas.

High-Quality Vinyl

Before you dismiss it as an outdated choice, today’s vinyl flooring is nothing like your grandmother’s kitchen floors from the 1970s.

Modern vinyl comes in higher-quality options. It’s also available in a nearly endless array of styles. For instance, some of the most popular choices are made to mimic hardwood flooring and tile floors.

Berber Carpet

It should come as no surprise that carpet isn’t as durable as its harder counterparts. Still, we recognize that some homeowners love the comfort and warmth they get from a carpeted floor.

If you have your heart set on carpeting but you want durability, go for Berber carpet. This style uses short loops for a clean and flat look. It’s easier to clean and holds up better against high traffic than high-pile carpets too.

Choosing Your Flooring With the Future in Mind

In an ideal world, you’d be able to choose your favorite flooring options based on looks alone. The reality of homeownership, however, is that unless you have an unlimited budget, you need to find options that will hold up against the wear and tear of daily life.

The good news is that today there are plenty of great-looking options available in durable and low-maintenance materials. With the ideas above, you can get started finding the most durable flooring for your home.

For more guidance in your flooring design, contact our home flooring experts, who can recommend the ideal options for each room of your house. We have a long history of creating gorgeous, durable floors in Wisconsin and Illinois.

How to Brighten Up a Room in 5 Simple Ways

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It drives you crazy: That one room in your home that has so much potential to be a cozy spot, but it’s just too dim or too bland to draw your family to spend much time in it.

So, how do you take a could-be-cozy spot and turn it into the family’s favorite room? Try these five simple steps to brighten up a room, and see what happens!

Bright living space with modern look and hardwood flooring

1. Paint Purposefully

Did you know that colors can literally affect your mood? It’s scientifically proven!

Even hospital and prison architects are aware of this, so they choose paint colors that promote healing, wellness, and calm. That’s why painting purposefully is one of the top ways to brighten a room and entice your family to enter.

It may be helpful to first think of what type of mood you want friends or family to feel when they spend time in that particular room. For instance, do you want them to feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable? Try painting a wall a soft blue. If you’d rather it be a lively room for laughing and fun, however, choose a paint shade of creamy yellow or mustard.

Whatever you choose, freshening up a room with a new coat of paint is a surefire way to brighten it fast.

2. Jazz up the Floor

Surprised by this one? Don’t be.

Just think about it: Would the Siena Cathedral be quite as remarkable without the stunning inlaid marble under your feet?

Customizing your floor is a fun way to make a room unique and to give it a little extra something. Distinctive patterns, decorative inlays, and varying types of hardwood are all ways to draw the eye and create interest in a room.

Especially when it comes to hardwood, having unique and beautiful flooring will set the tone of a room and make it a more lively place to enjoy.

3. Add Mirrors

This may seem obvious, but what do mirrors do? They reflect light!

There’s no doubt that adding a few tastefully placed mirrors to a wall brightens up a room quickly. Not only do mirrors brighten a room for you, but they also have the added benefit of making rooms seem larger.

By helping to expand the space, mirrors can make a room more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

4. Update Your Decor

Sometimes adding something as simple as a colorful rug or throw pillow can work miracles for a space.

If the room you’re worried about needs some brightening, bring in some lamps to add class, interest, and (literal!) brightness to a room.

A carefully selected accent piece like a chair can do wonders for adding appeal to a less-than-charming room. It’s also a cheap and easy way to brighten a room that requires much less labor on your part.

5. Tidy Up

Less can truly be more when it comes to making a room bright and refreshing. For instance, getting rid of unneeded clutter helps a room feel more spacious and calming. And de-cluttering serves to make a room feel larger.

It’s helpful to do a truly thorough tidying by getting your carpets cleaned. Sometimes a room’s dinginess is merely the result of too much foot-traffic dirtying up the floors.

Final Thoughts on Brightening up a Room

Now that you’ve got some killer ideas on how to brighten the rooms in your home, why not start with the kitchen?  Kitchens are often focal rooms homes and families in southeastern Wisconsin and Illinois, so starting there makes great sense. Begin by choosing the flooring that is best for your lifestyle, tastes, and needs, and keep going from there.

And if you’re long on inspiration but short on ideas, check out our blog. We’ve got some great ideas on making your kitchen a dream space too.

Everything You Need to Know About Marble vs. Granite Tile

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It may seem like a trivial matter, but choosing the correct tile for your home is often a loaded and overwhelming decision. What color do you want your tiles to be? How much wear and tear will it have to endure? How will they set the tone for the rest of your home?

As two of the best file flooring options out there, marble and granite tile flooring each have their differences, their positives, and their negatives. And to make the right choice, you need to know those differences.

To help you make the best decision for you and your home, here’s a lowdown on everything you need to know about marble vs. granite tile flooring.

close up shot of a granite background

Durability

As solid, natural stone materials, both granite and marble offer great durability and are heat resistant. However, one does prevail.

Granite is an igneous rock made up of grains of compressed quartz, feldspar, mica, and similar materials. This makes it harder and more durable than marble. Granite can endure scratching and intense cleaning better than other tiles.

Marble, on the other hand, is a metamorphic rock created from limestone that has endured intense pressure and heat due to tectonic shifting in the Earth’s crust. Since marble is made of calcite crystals (which is a salt of calcium), marble is prone to fading, scratching, and staining.

This is something to consider in terms of how much wear and tear your tiles will face, especially if you are trying to choose tile flooring that best suits your kitchen.

Cost

In terms of the cost of marble vs. granite, granite slabs are generally slightly cheaper than marble. However, this depends on the quality of the stone and the size of the tiles.

Keep in mind that due to the heaviness of both stones, you will have to factor in costs for tile floor installation.

Appearance

When it comes to the difference in appearance between marble and granite, deciding which looks better is subjective. After all, beauty is in the eye of the tile holder.

Granite includes specks of different colors, so granite tiles can include a variety of different shades. The color variation comes across as freckling throughout the stone because granite has melded flecks of stones in it like feldspar, mica, and amphibole. In contrast, marble has a consistent appearance in terms of color. The different shades of color give the impression of veins running through the tiles.

While they may vary in look, both marble and granite are gorgeous options for tiles in your home.

Choosing Between Marble vs. Granite Tiles

Choosing between granite and marble tiles depends on your personal preference. Each stone has unique qualities that make each ideal for different parts of your home. And, luckily, both tiles are suitable for Southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois aesthetics.

If you’re still undecided, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We’d love to hear from you and give you our personal opinion. And know that no matter which option you go for, you’re going to have rock-hard tiles that are a great investment for your home.

3 Carpet Cleaning Tips for New Dog Owners

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You’ve gained a new canine friend, congratulations! Now comes the part where you learn how to take care of him. And more than that, you’ve got to learn how to take care of your house now that a dog has joined the family.

Whether they live outside most of the time or not, dogs can leave messes wherever they go. Dog hair alone can make your carpets messier.

Carpet cleaning with a dog in the home doesn’t have to be a hassle, though. To help you adjust quicker, here are three tips for new dog owners.

Someone holding cute puppy.

1. Use Masking Tape

Masking tape is great for all sorts of crafts, but did you know it’s great for cleaning, too? Depending on the type of dog you own, you may end up with lots of hair on your carpet. Large amounts of carpet can clog your vacuum like nothing else.

To save your vacuum the extra strain, go over your carpeting with masking tape first. All you’ll need is a paint roller and a lot of tape.

Wrap the tape around the roller with the sticky side facing out. Then roll your new tool all over the carpet to pick up hair before you vacuum! If you’ve ever used a lint roller for clothing, this works essentially the same way.

2. Clean Stains Quickly

If you’ve purchased a puppy, there’s a good chance he’ll have some accidents. Before your dog is potty trained, be prepared to clean urine from your carpet.

Urine left too long can permanently change the color of your carpet, so act as quickly as you can. First, absorb as much moisture as you can. Once you’ve done that, use a solution to help clean your carpet. This can be a urine remover purchased from your local store or you can use soap and water.

To use the soap and water method, mix 1/4 teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with one cup of tepid water. Apply to the affected area, then dry with a clean towel and rinse with tepid water. You may need to go through this process more than once.

3. Scoop Up Solids

There’s more to picking up solids than you may think. Don’t just use a paper towel or rag to pick them up. When using that method you apply a squeezing motion, which may force the substance into the carpet.

Instead, use something solid, like a putty knife or other dull knife. Scrape the solid into a dustpan or onto something else, then lift it from the carpet.

To clean stains where solids were left, try using an oxygenated bio-enzymatic cleaner. It will take time for the cleaner to do its job, but it will help remove the stain.

Try These Tips for New Dog Owners

Having a dog is tons of fun, but it’s important to know how to clean up after them properly. When bringing a new dog home, your carpets are one part of your house that will take the biggest beating. Luckily, there doesn’t have to be any lasting stains or damage.

These carpet cleaning tips for new dog owners will help you keep your carpets in tip-top shape. Keep them in mind when bringing Fido home. You’ll be happy that you did!

Followed these carpet cleaning tips for new dog owners but your carpets still need a good, deep clean? Contact us for a free estimate! We offer professional carpet cleaning in Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois.

Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Flooring: What’s Best for Your Home?

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New flooring offers you a way to reinvigorate a room or a new home. But even if you settle on hardwood, it’s not quite a done deal yet. That’s because when it comes to wood, solid hardwood flooring used to be your only choice. Now, you can choose between solid hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring.

It’s not an obvious choice either. Each offers some benefits but also brings some pitfalls. So, let’s jump in and take a look at some key considerations that will inform your choice.

Engineered hardwood flooring planks laid out to be installed

Cost

Cost is a major factor in most remodeling projects. In many cases, it means choosing between what you want and what you can afford.

That isn’t the situation with solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. All other things being equal, they cost about the same amount per square foot.

You can, of course, get less expensive versions of either kind of flooring. The catch is that you’ll probably end up with floors you don’t like. The hardwood won’t look as nice as you hoped or the engineered flooring won’t hold up well.

Refinishing

Diamonds might be forever, but the finish on hardwood flooring isn’t. If you live in the same house for a long time, you’ll start to see the wear and tear on the finish. Here’s how the two compare:

  • Sanding is a key step in refinishing wood floors, which gives solid hardwood the advantage. You can sand and apply finish to solid hardwood over and over again without trouble.
  • By design, only the top layer of engineered hardwood flooring is actual hardwood. It typically runs around 1/8 of an inch thick, though high-end versions offer somewhat thicker top layers. That means you can only sand it down once or twice before you replace it.

Installation Limitations

For all its longevity, you can only install hardwood in low-moisture areas of your home. That means areas like bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms.

Put it in a high-moisture area—like a kitchen or bathroom—and the wood soaks up the moisture and expands. In the best case scenario, the floor buckles. In the worse case scenario, the wood rots and damages the underlayment and joists.

This is where engineered hardwood wins: Engineered hardwood flooring stands up better to moisture because most of the layers in the flooring consist of plywood. Plywood doesn’t absorb water as readily, so it doesn’t expand or rot the same way.

While not ideal, you can install engineered flooring in kitchens and basements.

Solid or Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Deciding between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring depends on several factors. Ironically, for once,  cost isn’t one of them.

A factor that does matter is how long you expect to live in the home, however. For instance:

  • If you plan on living there for the foreseeable future, solid hardwood flooring is the right move. This is because you can refinish it again and again without concern.
  • If you expect to sell the house within 5-10 years, engineered hardwood flooring offers more benefits. This is because you get the look and feel you want for now. And engineered flooring generally proves easier to remove. That can serve as a selling point for future buyers.

My Affordable Floors specializes in flooring solutions in the Milwaukee area. For more information about a flooring type or a free estimate, contact us today.

The Different Types of Wood Flooring Explained

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If you’re thinking of installing hardwood floors in your home, you’ve made a great choice. Hardwood flooring not only looks great in just about any room, but it also adds value to your home. There’s a reason it’s one of the most coveted flooring materials out there!

There are, however, many types of wood flooring, so if you’re interested in installing it, you’ll want to do some research. Follow along to learn all about the different types of wood flooring, so you can find the one best for you and your home!

mixed species wood flooring pattern sample

Types Of Wood Flooring

Unfinished Hardwood

If you’ve ever watched a home improvement episode on HGTV, you’ve probably heard this term being thrown around. Unfinished hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like: it’s beautiful hardwood floors that are not yet finished. This means you can apply custom stains to create the perfect color for any room or to match any existing hardwood floors.

Unfinished hardwood floors are a great option for kitchens, since the protective finish that’s applied after staining seals the seams between the boards, preventing any water from seeping in.

Finished Hardwood

On the other hand, prefinished hardwood is more convenient in terms of timing and ease of installation.

It comes pre-stained, pre-cut, and ready to go from a factory, so it only needs to be installed. With finished hardwood, there are no harsh odors from stains or sealants, and you can begin using your new floor right away!

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood refers to pure, natural wooden floors. They have beautiful kinks, knots, flecking, and grain variations that are indicative of their natural state. This type of hardwood floor can change over time, making it a top-grade material.

This type of flooring comes in 5/8 to 3/4 inches thick. And, since it’s a solid block of wood, it can be sanded and re-stained many times. (Seven times for the 3/4 inch slabs, to be exact.)

Keep in mind, however, that solid wood is affected by humidity, so it’s not recommended for basements or extremely humid environments.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is a veneer of organic wood glued to several layers of other types of wood, like plywood.

This type of flooring is becoming more and more popular due to its lower price point. It’s very stable over time and is appropriate for any area of your home, including your basement!

Parquet Flooring

Originating in 17th-century France, parquet flooring consists of handmade geometric pieces of hardwood combined into beautiful designs.

They are cut, glued, sanded, and finished to create sophisticated mosaics of durable flooring. They are easy to care for, like any other type of hardwood floor. You may not believe it, but parquet flooring is also pretty easy to install!

Finding the Right Wood Flooring for Your Home

It’s no wonder people covet hardwood floors! If you’re interested in installing beautiful wood flooring in your home but have questions, don’t hesitate to check us out. We are here to help you choose the best type of flooring for your home.

And don’t forget: We offer flooring services as well! So, if you’re ready for new floors, give us a call. Our hardwood flooring services are available in Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois!

Contact Us

Address
2226 Douglas Avenue
Racine, WI  53402

Contact Information
262.653.1120

When it comes to beautiful and ornate hardwood floors in Wisconsin, there is only one answer — My Affordable Floors.For more than 20 years now, Kim Hammel, founder of My Affordable Floors, has been personally installing and refinishing some of the Milwaukee areas most beautiful wood floors.Providing wood floor refinishing services that are some of the best quality in the nation.