Home Improvements That Pay

Have you considered a new home improvement project? Whether it’s minor or major, updated space can do wonders for your home’s return on investment.

Home improvements have been shown to add value to your home and appeal to potential buyers. Brand new features, from modern flooring to state of the art countertops are guaranteed to stand out on the housing market.

For maximizing your home’s value, new kitchen flooring is a great place to start.

But how do you choose between traditional hardwood and tile flooring?

This month, we looked at the many benefits of tile and hardwood kitchen floors to help with your decision. Here’s what we discovered:

Tile Vs. Hardwood Floors

Why Choose Tile Flooring?

Tile flooring is all about versatility. Perfect for all climates and spaces within the home, new tile floors are ideal for homeowners looking to increase the value of their kitchen area.

Tile floors are water-resistant and provide a smooth surface that repels moisture for easy maintenance. Tile is typically very easy to clean, and any method of floor cleaning will work for tile flooring.

The options to customize tile floors are endless. Whether you’re looking for ceramic, vinyl, or wood-look tile kitchen floors, you can mix and match patterns, colors, textures, and sizes for a unique design all your own.

Tile flooring is also a great cost-effective option for homeowners who don’t want to spend a small fortune on real wooden floors. Little details such as grain, knots, and differences in shade are easy to replicate on tile floors.

That means you can get the exact same look as a costly, exotic wood floor at a more affordable price that works for your budget.

Wood-look flooring is easy to clean so you don’t have to worry about the stains, scratches, chips, and dents that can result from poorly maintained hardwood floors.

Tile flooring is easy to replace and doesn’t require extensive renovation for days or weeks at a time. If damages occur, you can easily replace a single tile (or multiple tiles) without ripping up a section of your kitchen floor.

While tile is very easy to clean, homeowners often forget about tile grout. Grout lines are typically much harder to keep clean, which can clog stubborn dirt and discolor over time.

Always make sure to add a grout sealant after installation, along with periodic replacements every 3-5 years to prevent moisture from leaking into the tile or grout.

The Hardwood Advantage

Is Hardwood Flooring Right for You?

Solid hardwood flooring is perfect for homeowners looking to add a timeless touch to their kitchen space.

Not only does wood look elegant and authentic, but hardwood flooring can also provide the best ROI for homeowners. In fact, studies have shown that kitchens are one of the most popular spaces to upgrade and typically provide a 70% return on your investment.

One of the key benefits of hardwood flooring is that it will never go out of style.

With the right craftsmanship, a classic wooden floor can add natural beauty and warmth to your kitchen. High-quality hardwood floors that are manufactured, installed, and finished offer strength and durability for an excellent long-term investment.

Wooden floors will provide a comfortable space to stand in your kitchen. Hardwood provides you with a softer, more resilient surface to stand on than most tile and hard surface flooring options.

Hardwood floors can help make your kitchen space look larger, especially if it’s the same type and color as the hardwood flooring in surrounding rooms.

By using the same surface and color, you can give the illusion of space for potential buyers. This is great for open kitchen areas where your new hardwood floor will blend seamlessly throughout your home.

The kitchen is a high-traffic area in the home, therefore your hardwood floor will require more upkeep and timely care.

Thankfully, hardwood is generally very easy to clean as it does not accumulate a lot of dirt, dust, and debris. A weekly routine of vacuuming and mopping should keep your kitchen floors looking good as new.

You can choose from a wide variety of styles and surface finishes that help prolong the life of your floor. Hardwood is available in a wide range of styles, colors, stains, and surfaces.

Engineered hardwood is a great choice for homeowners. This type of wood floor has a veneer of real wood reinforced by layers of less expensive plywood.

Its construction provides dimensional stability that makes it less susceptible to movement caused by changes in humidity and temperate in the kitchen.

Most flooring companies will let you choose between pre-finished and unfinished flooring. Hardwood flooring can be customized to fit even the most complex dimensions of your kitchen.

Regardless of the type of surface finish you choose, remember to regularly sweep or vacuum your hardwood floors and promptly clean up any spills to avoid stains and costly damages.

For minor damages, solid hardwood can be lightly sanded or screened down.

With proper maintenance, hardwood floors can last a lifetime.

Avoid potential damage to your wooden floors by keeping your kitchen appliances well-maintained and free of spills. Beware of pet’s claws, high heels scrapings, and remember to never leave standing water. Limited sunlight is recommended for prolonging the life of wood flooring.

If your kitchen is located in a sunny part of your home, you may want to take extra precautions when selecting flooring, as sun bleaching may occur. Avoid dark stains and sun bleaching by using runners and throw rugs to help protect your hardwood kitchen floor from direct sunlight.

Hardwood floors can dent and scratch over time, so it’s important to consider refinishing your kitchen floor every ten years or so.

Professional Flooring in Palm Beach and Broward County

Replacing and installing new kitchen floors isn’t an easy, one-man job. New floors are a long-term investment, and you deserve a professional flooring company designed with your home in mind.

At Foundation Flooring, we provide our clients with the best name brands in the industry.

We offer professional floor installation and replacement services customized to meet the specific needs and concerns of your home, from ceramic tiles to hardwood floors, to everything in between.

If you’re looking to up the selling point of your home, let Foundation Flooring be your solution.

We guarantee the highest quality flooring materials at affordable rates that work for you.

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are readily available to help you every step of the way, from planning the floor design to the fast and efficient installation and replacement services you can depend on.

Let us help you add value, style, and a strong foundation to your next home improvement project. For custom flooring services in Palm Beach and Broward County, trust Foundation Flooring.

Be sure to check out our Blowout Deals page for more information on our latest specials, or visit our showroom to learn more about our custom flooring services.

Discover the Foundation Flooring difference when you call (954) 637-0732 today!

 

Selecting the proper flooring for your home office is important, particularly if you spend a great deal of time there. While it should be comfortable, you don’t want to clutter it as the purpose of office space is to increase your productivity.

The flooring you choose should be strong and flexible, and you should also consider the amount of foot traffic it will receive as well as its required maintenance.

No flooring material is perfect, and each will have its pros and cons so let’s take a look at these popular options for home offices:

Hardwood Flooring

Those looking for a touch of style won’t go wrong with hardwood. It is classic and sophisticated, simple to maintain and will impress guests and business partners.

The downside to this type of flooring is that exotic woods can be costly and difficult to acquire, and they can be vulnerable to scratching and damage.

Tile Flooring

Tile has become very popular in recent years, and for a good reason. It offers a stylish appearance combined with affordability and feels good to walk on. However, these advantages come with a number of downsides.

Tile is difficult to install and this should only be done by an expert. It can be noisy when people walk or roll things along with it, and those who will be working with lots of electronic equipment in their home office will need to invest in mats that have antistatic properties.

Carpet Flooring

Carpet appears in many home offices worldwide because it provides multiple benefits. It absorbs heat well which means it is an ideal solution for home offices that are located in places that receive cold winters.

Because carpet is the softest flooring material this means that objects which fall on it have a reduced likelihood of breaking or sustaining damage. It is also highly affordable and widely available.

However, carpets are vulnerable to the buildup of pollen and dirt when not cleaned regularly, and they are also vulnerable to stains or odors if objects are spilled on them.

It may also be more difficult to pull, push or roll objects across carpet flooring when compared to other flooring materials.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is used in many home offices due to its stylish appearance and reasonable price. It also provides great ease of maintenance and can be purchased in a wide array of styles. Unlike carpet and hardwood, it is not vulnerable to moisture.

However, laminate can be time-consuming to install, and the planks will typically need the protection of a vapor barrier which must be placed beneath them.

Each person will differ when it comes to their tastes and needs regarding home office flooring. What works for one person may be completely incompatible with the needs of another.

Above all, the option you choose should boost your productivity, and it should feel as comfortable as the flooring you use in the bedroom.

After all, you will want a material that is aesthetically pleasing and yet which will allow you to perform the tasks you need to get done in the most timely and efficient manner possible.