When to Replace Flooring
When to Replace Flooring
You’ve bought your dream home and are loving every minute in your house with your family. Thankfully, there are many updates and projects that won’t delay moving in, such as painting, updating fixtures, and replacing flooring. You might already know you are going to have to replace the carpet or flooring or maybe you hope that it will suffice for a few more years while you save up funds to do the update. Did you know that there are less obvious symptoms of floor decay that require attention? The Vevano Home Team provides excellent advice on the lifespan of flooring and provide some signs that it is past its prime. Because we walk tirelessly through our daily routines, it may be easy to miss the beginnings signs that extend beyond the normal wear and tear of flooring.
Carpet
Some carpet wear and tear may be a bit more evident as there are noticeable signs such as carpet staining, matting, and rips. Over time, or quickly due to heavy use, these blemishes lead to carpeting that requires complete replacing. Carpeting lasts anywhere from 3-10 years, but the timeline is dependent on many factors. Shoes worn in the home, high traffic locations, and the presence of pets or children can affect how quickly the flooring deteriorates. Palmetto Carpet & Floor Coverings provides an excellent guide on how to know when your carpet has lived its life. They also discuss the effect of stains, pests, and allergen issues that can worsen over time and require fresh flooring.
Hardwood, Laminate and Tile
Other types of flooring such as hardwood, laminate, and tile provide other telltale signs that they need replacing. Accent on Floors discusses different flooring types and how to know when each one needs replacing. Carpet should be replaced every 10 years (or sooner) because allergens and dirt will naturally build up in the carpet pad. Ceramic tile might start to crack, laminate might peel or tear, and hardwood can often be repaired instead of replaced. Accent on Floors also provides advice on how to extend the life of your new flooring.
Durability and Wear
If you are curious about which types of flooring are best and for which room, Home Advisor put together a nifty guide that will help you navigate the different floor types and which are best suited for each room of your home. It does boil down to personal preference, but some flooring types can provide benefits that go beyond aesthetics. Consider factors like durability (scratch proof and spill proof), cleanliness, cost, and style when selecting which flooring to install.
Climate Based Recommendations
According to 50 Floor, specific floor types such as vinyl are better suited for colder climates. They also state that excessive heating can cause wooden floors to expand or potentially warp, so considering your climate should be factored into the decision-making process. For warm humid climates, consider flooring that will keep cooler in those hot months like ceramic tile. For further advice on how to choose, check out Home Depot’s book “Flooring 1-2-3: Expert Advice on Design, Installation, and Repair.” This guide will help you decide how to choose the flooring that works best for your family, how to get started, and what to buy.
Floors are an important part of your home that is often easily overlooked when budgeting for home repairs. Hopefully, this guide will help you decide if it is time for an update and how to make a choice that suits your needs. Floors have more potential than being a thoroughfare toward life’s most significant moments, but they are also an investment in your family’s future.