Buying and furnishing a house and making it a home is not only expensive and time consuming, but also a very personal decision. From new doors and windows to kitchen and bath renovations, the number of improvements you can make are nearly endless. One of equal importance is the purchase of new flooring. At Budget Construction Company, we have been one of Chicagoland’s premier flooring installers for almost 40 years, and can help beauty your home with tile, hardwood, laminate, or any other flooring material that fits your style and budget.
The Best Material for Your New Floor
The kind of flooring you choose is a matter of personal choice – what you need and what you can afford. Our team of flooring specialists is here to offer advice on style and flooring materials best suited to your situation, and give you the tools necessary for making an informed decision.
Which rooms or areas need new flooring?
Before buying new flooring, there are many questions worth asking:
- How large is your family?
- How active is your household – in other words, how much foot traffic do you expect to have on any given day?
- Do you have children?
- Do you have pets?
- Does any member of your household use a walker, cane, wheelchair, or other mobility-assist devices that wear on carpeting or other flooring?
- Will the flooring in any room or area be subjected to water or other moisture?
- How often do you expect to clean the carpeting, tile, or other flooring surface?
- Finally, how long do you need the floor to last?
Flooring Options
There are many kinds of flooring materials to choose from, some more expensive and durable than others, while some are very stylish but not advisable depending on foot traffic. The most popular choices for flooring include:
- Hardwood. Strong, durable, and stylish, wood flooring is easy to clean and maintain and can be refinished if necessary. Many top brands can be had for $3 – $4 per square foot, but some exotic species of wood cost $50 or more per square foot and take highly skilled professionals to cut and install it. The ideal area for installation is a living room or family room.
- Tile has its own allure thanks to the hundreds of styles and textures to choose from. Perfect for a kitchen or bathroom, glazed ceramic tile is resistant to scratches and minor impacts, resists water, and is easy to clean. Top choices include slate, porcelain, marble, travertine, and granite.
- Laminate re-invents itself year after year. Inexpensive and very durable, it has numerous styles and colors that can mimic the appearance and texture of wood or tile. Perfect for high-traffic areas because of its strength, laminate does have one weakness – standing water.
- Carpeting. From shag to Berber to many other styles, carpeting lends itself to many rooms throughout your home, but is best in low-traffic rooms. Depending on the style and thickness, carpeting will attract its share of dirt and pet dander, and needs to be vacuumed regularly. With the right padding, carpeting is very soft and comforting on the feet.
- Vinyl may be the least expensive flooring material to choose from, and while it comes in many styles and colors, it is not very durable and can scratch or tear easily. It is not recommended for truly high traffic areas or rooms where the floor is subjected to heavy objects.
- Cork is the new celebrity among flooring materials because it is soft, warm, and acts as a sound insulator. Environmentally friendly, it is moisture resistant. The main drawbacks are it fades over time when exposed to sunlight, and may get damaged by heavy furniture or other sitting objects. Choose the room wisely, but cork may be ideal for a child’s bedroom.
For more information or to schedule and in-home consultation, call Budget Construction Company today at 773-283-9200 for the most affordable flooring options in Chicago.
