By Regina P. Brown
When you walk into a home with a prospective buyer, their eyes are often drawn up and they never notice the floor — unless it’s exceptional. But wouldn’t you agree that whether fabulous or lackluster, flooring sets the tone for a house’s interior design. Subliminally, the floor can make or break a buyer’s first showing.
The floor is the basic building frame of a home and insulates from the ground or the story underneath. It provides a comfortable surface for residents to walk upon, as well as aesthetic value. Whether hardwood planks or wall-to-wall carpet, floor coverings can provide a décor base that compliments the ambiance.
In today’s topic we will explore the primary types of residential flooring: wood and natural materials, laminate and reconstructed wood, vinyl, carpet, and others. Plus, find out about trends and hacks for eco-conscious flooring. (Tile flooring is covered in our topic, “Tile” which is quite extensive, so it won’t be covered here.)
Planks
Whether the house boasts handsome solid wood, durable engineered hardwood, or wood-look laminate, good installation is the key to longevity. Professional installation ensures wood flooring will stay in good condition for many years. Homeowners can expect the flooring to adjust to the house, expanding and contracting after installation. “It takes a full year, all four seasons of weather, for a wood floor to get acclimated to the home and surroundings,” says flooring expert Bob Chamberlain from A1 Factory Direct Flooring.
Solid Wood
Character and charm exude from original solid wood floors hand-crafted from local timber a century ago. Admired for their natural beauty, solid woods are tough and resilient. Many an older home’s original wood floors are discovered in near-perfect condition after being covered with carpet for many years. Even those floors with nicks, scratches, and dents are showcased as “distressed” flooring.
Wood flooring is usually installed on top of a plywood sub-floor or concrete foundation, but in some houses the wood flooring was the foundation also. Planks are created from solid pieces of wood, milled to either a narrow or wide board size. Wide board planks create a clean, modern look while narrow planks reflect a more traditional, historic elegance.
A wood floor can enhance a house significantly and reward the sellers with a higher sales price depending on the timber species, the plank thickness, and the finish craftsmanship quality. Home owners enjoy wood floors because they are known to be hypoallergenic and simple to clean. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) conducted a flooring study and discovered that 96% of interior designers consider wood floors one of their best options for matching a variety of design styles professionally.
Downsides include the cost, which can be expensive, and the expanding/contracting function of natural wood depending on the weather and humidity. Because wood is porous and absorbs water, they are not installed in kitchens, bathrooms, or basements. Wood floors are subject to water damage such as mold and termites, unless treated and maintained. Buyers inspecting a home for purchase may want to check hardwood floors for squeaks, buckling, and fading / discoloration.
Parquet wood flooring is formed with patterned blocks or strips of wood, and perhaps wood or other material inlays. Parquet is usually laid in squares rather than planks.
Wood Types
Popular solid woods include native species such as maple, pine, ash, walnut, and oak. Imported timber from acacia and teak trees have spawned a hue of colors and wood flairs. Varieties such as black walnut, hickory pecan, mahogany, and bubinga (African rosewood) have gained popularity. Exquisite Ipe hardwood and rare timber from Belize are now highly desirable for flooring.
Surface Finish Options
Depending on how the edges are finished, the seam joints can create a stylish look for the flooring.
SmoothBasic flat top surface with gloss finish (low, high, or medium) |
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DistressedHand-stained and hammered to achieve a rustic, naturally aged style |
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Hand ScrapedAppears to be hand-milled with a pocket knife |
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StainedShades of color can impart light hues or dark tones |
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Wood planks can be finished either before or after installing. Most hardwood flooring kits are pre-finished at the factory rather than finished on site.
Pre-Finished SolidPlanks are sanded, stained, and finished with urethane when they arrive from the factory, ready to install. The installation is quicker and easier. |
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Site-Finished SolidFor custom flooring, staining unfinished planks onsite is the solution. Sanding at the job site means uneven floors will be completely smooth across the entire surface. Colors and stains can be personalized to match other household flooring. |
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Janka Hardness Test
Harder woods stand up to foot traffic better and resist wear and tear from furniture, children, and pets. On the other hand, harder wood is difficult to saw through. Janka Hardness scale rates a wood’s hardness between 0 and 4,000 points. A higher number means a harder wood, but not necessarily more expensive pricing (wood cost is based on species availability). Appearance and life length are also determined by traffic and maintenance.
Douglas Fir is one of the softest woods at 660 points, which means it dents and scratches easily so it may need to be repaired or replaced sooner. American Cherry, a soft wood, ranks 950, whereas Brazilian Cherry tops the chart at 2,820 points. White and Red Oaks garnered middle rankings. Note: hardness is not equivalent to strength or foot comfort.
Installation
Conventional wood flooring is designed with the tongue-and-groove assembly. The sides click into place and create a “floating” floor because it’s not affixed to the foundation. But, for additional strength, the planks can also be nailed into the foundation using blind nailing (which hides the nails driven in from an angle). Wood floors should be installed with a sub-floor protective mat between the foundation and finished flooring.
Care and Maintenance
The life of a hardwood floor can be extended by preventing wear and tear and protecting high traffic areas. For example: carpet runners in hallways, felt pads on furniture legs, de-clawing pets, and removing shoes in the house (especially high heels or spiked shoes). Sweeping regularly helps to prevent sand from scraping the glossy finish, and mopping up water spills immediately will reduce staining.
Engineered Hardwood
Wood floors expand with heat and contract with cold weather — so for basements or houses in extreme climates, engineered hardwood is the perfect solution. Several sheets of different types of wood are laminated on top of each other to form cross-ply strength.
“Most California homeowners install engineered hardwood floors, rather than solid wood, because of the concrete slab foundations,” says Chamberlain. Solid wood floors perform best in homes on a raised foundation. But homes built on concrete, or below grade (basements), perform best with engineered hardwood.
Engineered floors are installed by floating over a sub-floor or by nailing, stapling, or gluing down. Compared to hardwood, it costs slightly less and installation is quicker. Because of the resins and adhesives, planks will off-gas over time. Home owners appreciate that engineered flooring planks can be sanded and refinished (minimally), just like regular wood.
Laminate
Is it real wood or is it laminate? With modern manufacturing, it can be difficult to distinguish! “Faux wood” laminate planks simulate a natural wood look and are an affordable alternative for homeowners. To achieve a realistic look, laminate planks are embossed with HD photos of wood planks. Laminate is durable, resistant to rotting, and low maintenance. It doesn’t fade or dent, and it holds up to weather changes better than solid wood.
However, laminate is sensitive to water (moisture will bloat the edges) and deep scratches cannot be sanded out. With a floating floor, removing and replacing a plank is a difficult and tedious process. Pergo is a popular name brand of laminate flooring.
Composition
Produced with natural, recycled, and synthetic materials, the core is covered with a decorative applique that mimics wood or stone. Laminate planks are manufactured with layers of material bonded together with resin, pressure, and heat.
Products vary by brand, most consisting of 4 or 5 layers:
- Top layer 1: Clear overlay of melamine or cellulose that protects against minor surface wear and imparts sheen
- Top layer 2: Decorative wood-look high res photo
- Middle layer 3: HDF (High Density Fiberboard) core made from wood composite which uses all parts of the tree
- Bottom layer 4: Moisture barrier to resist water and vapors
- Bottom layer 5: Balancing film for dimensional stability
Surface Texture
Because laminate floors imitate natural wood, sophisticated modern technology copy timber in both the look of wood grain and the texture. A few replica textures in laminate include:
SmoothFlat, even surface with gloss finish (low, high, or medium) |
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Embossed (Textured)Wood grain grooves rise out of the surface giving a slight 3D effect |
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Embossed in RegistrationAccurate reproduction of the natural grain grooves |
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DistressedAppears antique and used (a hot trend in real wood floors) |
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Hand ScrapedAnother new trend is wood that looks as if it was hand-crafted, where long bumps stick up out of the surface |
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Edge Seams
Each plank has a slight cut on the edges, which create the following:
SquareEdges not cut; no space between planks |
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PillowEdges round down gently and only slightly |
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BevelEdges are cut at a 45 degree angle |
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VEdges are cut downward at a sharp angle |
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AC Rating
Photo from Pinterest
Laminate flooring durability is rated based on an AC (Abrasion Class) scale. It should be able to resist stress and withstand the foot traffic of a house. Flooring with higher AC rating is typically more expensive.
• AC1 = Moderate Residential (best for low traffic areas like closets & bedrooms)
• AC2 = General Residential (moderate traffic such as a dining / living rooms)
• AC3 = Heavy Residential (high traffic rooms such as kitchens and hallways)
• AC4 and AC5 are for commercial buildings.
Installation
Laminate flooring “floating floor” planks are installed by snapping the pieces together with the grooves in the middle of each panel. Referred to as a “click in” system or a “glueless click”, most laminate flooring is floating. This installation is preferred because as the foundation of a house shifts, the flooring doesn’t break apart. Other installation types include glued joints and pre-glued — the seams are stronger but installation is more extensive. Laminate should be installed with a vinyl mat underlay.
Natural Materials
Bamboo
Although bamboo plank flooring looks and functions just like wood plank flooring, there’s a huge difference: bamboo is a grass, not a timber. Grass is sustainable because it naturally re-grows new shoots after harvesting. Mature bamboo can be harvested in only 6 years (compared to hardwood trees that take 60 – 80 years). Even though it’s a grass, bamboo is actually harder than wood — up to 25% tougher than oak! And strand (compressed) bamboo is even more durable.
Similar to wood, bamboo floor surface variations can include distressed, hand-scraped, and antique look. This eco-friendly flooring can be installed using tongue and groove or click-lock assembly. It may be a bit more costly than wood, but lasts longer.
Cork
Think of cork bulletin boards, then imagine how cushiony that would feel underfoot. Cork floors are collected naturally from trees, but unlike bulletin boards they are durable and spill-resistant. Homeowners can select from a variety of colors and designs much more elegant than bulletin boards.
Residents enjoy the comfortable “give” of cork flooring. It’s also practical because it insulates heat and provides a sound barrier. Environmentally conscious homeowners clamor for cork because it is harvested by peeling away the bark layer while keeping the tree intact.
Man-Made Materials
Concrete
Considered a man-made material, concrete is actually produced from rocks and other natural sources. A dry mix consisting of aggregate (sand, ground-up rocks, and/or gravel) is combined with water and a cement paste that hardens into a thick, solid, indestructible surface. Most often seen in driveways, patios, and garages, concrete is becoming a popular flooring for basements, main living spaces, and busy household thoroughfares such as hallways. When the house foundation is a concrete slab, home owners desiring a concrete floor merely need to remove the flooring and use the foundation as a floor. Low maintenance and ease of cleaning are a plus with polished floors.
Usually built with rebar reinforcements to add flexibility, concrete is porous so it needs to be sealed with an overlay finish — urethane or acrylic are common. Colorful surface applications include: paint, stain, acid stain, and epoxy topcoat. Concrete can also be dyed before pouring it. Striking designs can be created by scoring patterns and varying borders, colors, stains, and finishes. Faux wood or ceramic tile patterns on concrete can look realistic and give “contemporary” a new meaning.
Rubber
Yes, rubber is not just for tires — Europeans have been installing rubber floors for years. From square tiles for the garage or basement, to puzzle-shaped pieces for a playroom or studio, to soft rolls for the office or workout room, rubber flooring has a variety of layouts. Liquid latex is tapped from rubber trees, and then refined. Rubber floors in a main living area give an industrial look that’s intriguing yet sensible — it is low maintenance, non-slip, and long-lasting. Most importantly, it’s indulgent for the feet. Consumers who install re-ground rubber (post industrial recycled materials) help the environment too! Foam rubber is another softer variation, AKA “foam”.
3-D Murals
For a mind-blowing dramatic effect, floors capture attention with realistic (and sometimes scary) 3-D murals. Puzzle tiles and self-leveling floors are the base for spectacular designs in bathrooms, kids’ rooms, and even main living areas. Real-life photos are printed extra large, glued to a concrete floor, covered with epoxy, and finished with a protective lacquer coat.For a novel approach to flooring, check out the artistic paint designs that feel like walking on water and other optical illusions at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/16/3-d-illusion-flooring_n_7594432.html
Carpet
Carpet adds texture, warmth, and hues to a home. Thick carpet, along with dense padding, provide sound-proofing and energy efficiency. It’s soft and cushiony for the feet and covers imperfections in the floor foundation. On the other hand, carpet collects dander and dust, leading to allergies and asthma. Deep vacuuming is required to remove the dirt attracted from shoes, and when moist it may harbor mildew.
Carpet from a roll is quick to install, and less expensive than other flooring types. Wall-to-wall carpet is easily installed across tack strips glued to the edges of the floor (along the bottom of each wall) for permanent and complete room coverage.
Berger carpet, cherished for its low loop pile, were originally hand-woven by North African Berber tribe using hand-spun knots. They are known to be inexpensive and durable, but a pulled-up yard can “run”, pulling up an entire line across the carpet.
Area rugs, often made from carpet, are small rectangles or circles placed on top of flooring, and used for design accents or catching dirt in high traffic areas. Rugs are personal possessions, whereas carpets are attached to the real property.
Loops and Piles
Carpet is created when yard strands are sewn into a backing, producing loops. The loops form a “loop” carpet. Loops with varied heights produce a “patterned loop” carpet. Cutting the yarn loops on top creates a “cut pile” (AKA texture or plush). Loops and cuts can even be combined to fashion a sophisticated pattern.
Padding
A roll of padding is installed on top of the foundation, underneath the carpet layer. Pads are graded by thickness, quality, and material composition. The biggest challenge with pads is that once they are wet (from carpet spills) they can mildew. Once deteriorated, the pads must be replaced.
Tack Strips
Long, thin wood strips lined with carpet tacks are installed along the edges of the floor. The tacks face upward to grab and keep the carpet in place. Tack strips are installed by nailing and gluing onto the foundation. Fastened leaving a small gap between the wall, they allow wall-to-wall carpet have a neat, finished look once installed.
Sheeting
Vinyl
Wide vinyl sheets of flooring are produced in rolls, ready for quick installation. Vinyl is an artificial material made from plasticizers and polyvinyl chloride, with color pigments. Because it resists water, vinyl is most effectively used in rooms with water — the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room. With low cost and quick installation, it is the least expensive flooring type. On the other hand, vinyl often scuffs or tears when appliances are moved across it — and it can’t be restored completely.
When renovating houses it’s typical to find several layers of vinyl flooring laid on top of each other because new layers can easily be installed on top of old layers. Vinyl may also be installed with self-stick adhesive tile squares so it’s easier to replace damaged pieces — the downside is the seams are prone to water damage. Vinyl floors have more “give” than tile so they are ideal for children’s playrooms.
Inlaid vinyl is thick and durable because it has a “wear layer” on top of inlaid color chips with a felt backing. Printed vinyl is less expensive because the paper-printed top coat only has a thin vinyl sheet underneath.
Linoleum
Remember those 1950’s homes with industrial-looking linoleum floors? High quality inlaid linoleum floors can last for decades. The original linoleum flooring was manufactured from natural products, primarily linseed oil, with the addition of pine rosin, wood flour, cork dust, and mineral fillers. Unlike vinyl flooring, the color goes all the way through the linoleum because the color pigment is in the material.
Now, polyvinyl chloride floors are often referred to as “linoleum”. They are flexible and long-lasting, and newer flooring is brighter colored and also fire-retardant. Some avoid it because they consider the toxic manufacturing materials harmful. They prefer the original non-allergenic linoleum produced from organic materials.
Floor Components
Sub-Floors
A sub-floor is an underlying material that protects the flooring. They also reduce noise and provide heat/cold insulation. Some sub-floors provide a layer of cushioning too. To shield the home further, a plywood sub-floor can be nailed over the foundation, and then the underlayment material secured on top. Sub-floor types include poly membrane, foam underlayment, foil advanced underlayment, DRIcore®, cement backer board, and cork.
A membrane is an underlayment sheet of material that protects both foundation and flooring. It prevents moisture damage from leaking through either way. Polyethylene uncoupling membrane is a flexible rubberized rolled sheet with small square grids or round pockets. It provides a stable base for tile, and prevents cracking by minimizing movement.
Foam Underlayment for Laminate Flooring preps the surface with a roll of foam matting. Soundbloc is a popular brand for builders.
Advanced Flooring Underlayment from FloorComfort is a mat encased in thermos foil that unrolls or unfolds for installation under laminate floors. It smooths the foundation surface and preps for leveled laminate installation.
DRIcore® is a moisture barrier for basement concrete foundations that allows concrete to breathe while protecting the flooring. Banish cold, damp concrete floors and the mildew that breeds in humid basements with sub-floors under the flooring.
Cement backer board is used for tile in bathrooms; HardieBacker is a popular recognizable brand. Backer board is specially designed for moisture resistance in wet areas.
Natural sub-floor option cork insulates against noise and weather. This environmentally friendly material can underlay hardwood, laminate, or tile.
Radiant Heat
During the winter, heating systems are ideal under floors for cozy feet on cold mornings. Electric radiant coil mats, or hydronic systems (tubes for heated water), are installed on top of the foundation. Flat flooring, such as wood planks or tile, is laid on top. In-floor radiant heat systems are known to be robust and dependable. Since heat rises to the top of a room, home owners save energy costs by reducing furnace usage. Although expensive, heated floors are quiet and reduce air pollution compared to a forced-air system.
Floor Register
A metal vent cover in the floor that connects with the house’s forced air vent system to pull in fresh air, or exhaust heated air. Rectangular or square-shaped registers often have “fins” that open or close the vent. They can be custom painted to match floor colors.
Baseboard
Trim, or molding, installed against the wall and rests along the edge of the floor. It provides an airtight envelope for the house, but its main function is aesthetic value. Baseboard can be made from wood or vinyl. It may match (or contrast) with the floor color and walls. “Baseboard covers the expansion gap next to the wall, which allows contraction and expansion of wood flooring,” states Chamberlain. Lastly, baseboard gives the décor a finished look while hiding corner gaps and imperfections.
Conclusion
With your advanced knowledge of flooring options, you can shine as a buyer’s agent. You know what a buyer may discover when they peek under the corner of a house listed for sale. Now you can advise your sellers about their flooring, enter it in the MLS correctly, and create an attractive ad to get your listing sold quickly.
Article is also published in The San Diego Realtor® magazine, pages 28-30.
Read more in our "Learn the Lingo" series:
1) Backyard & Outdoor Structures: Learn the Lingo
2) View From the Windows: Learn the Lingo
3) Architectural Styles: Learn the Lingo - Part 1
4) Architectural Styles: Learn the Lingo - Part 2
5) Learn the Lingo: Luxury Bathrooms
6) Learn the Lingo: Fences & Gates
7) Learn the Lingo: Vintage Features of Historic Homes
8) The Kitchen: The Heart of the Home Can Be Gourmet
9) The Gourmet Kitchen: Everything and the Kitchen Sink
10) Open the Door of Possibilities (Exterior Doors)
11) The Difference a Good Door Makes (Interior Doors)
12) Tiles
13) Sustainable and Eco-Conscious Home Features (Part 1)
14) Sustainable and Eco-Conscious Home Features (Part 2)
15) Sustainable and Eco-Conscious Home Features (Part 3)
16) Roof Architecture – Don’t Let it Go ‘Over Your Head’
17) Let There Be Light Fixtures ... And There Are Many!
18) A Discussion of Ceilings Will Have You Looking Up
19) Fireplaces: Literally the Hearth of the Home
20) Learn the Lingo of Walls
21) Apply Your Knowledge to Major Appliances
22) Don't Be Floored By this Topic: It's Right Under Your Feet
23) HVAC / Mechanical Lingo
24) Rural Properties - A Sustainable Life "Off the Grid"
25) Land Usage, and Showing & Selling Rural Properties
26) The Dramatic Effect of Stairs and Staircases - A Flight of Fancy?
27) Electrical Components - Get Wired for Understanding
28) Learn the Lingo: Plumbing Fixtures (Part 1 of 2)
29) Learn the Lingo: Plumbing Fixtures (Part 2 of 2)
30) Swimming Pool and Spa Lingo
