Best Flooring Styles for Selling My Home
It’s no secret that a home with beautiful flooring makes an impression on potential home buyers. My clients will tell me “I love this floor but I’m worried someone won’t like this floor when I try and sell the house”. Flooring trends are changing rapidly with advancing technology in textures, structures, and a race to wider-longer planks. It can be difficult for even flooring professionals to keep up with all the changes. So what’s the right answer for balancing a flooring you love with flooring which will hold the highest long-term value?
Time Frame
Before considering what other people might like about your home, you have to first ask yourself the most important question. “When do I plan to sell my home?” Be realistic about this one; the answer might be within the next year or after my kids are off to college. If your answer is within the next year, this will put more importance on selecting a flooring which is trendy and stylish. Trendy colors and styles can breathe new life into an old home, giving the home more appeal to buyers who are exposed to changing design trends in magazines and online. For tips on trendy home designs, Houzz.com is a great resource.
On the other hand, if you do not plan to sell your home for 3+ years, it is nearly impossible to predict where new flooring technology and design trends will take us. It might be best to aim for a more conservative approach and select timeless classics and natural colors. Whatever style you select, it will be important to consider all the other aspects of your space.
Fitting Together
I always say any floor can look good in the right context. The difficult part is finding the right pieces for the puzzle. The number one most important aspect of selecting the right floor is to consider other woodwork such as baseboards, cabinets, and irreplaceable furniture. These things are costly to change and directly touching your flooring. Next, you may want to consider countertops, paint, and backsplash. While some of these are still costly to change, they offer a degree of separation with other materials in between.
Should I match my cabinets or not? The flooring does not always have to match the woodwork. In fact, designers often aim to provide a stark contrast between the flooring and woodwork to give the area more defining features. Remember color is not the only thing that can have contrast, nowadays you often see minimalist designs with clean lines mixed with rustic high texture high character hardwood flooring. The combination of these aspects produces amazing results. Work with your designer to achieve the perfect look for your needs.
Buyer Persona
When selling your home it’s important to visualize a potential buyer. Is it an urban, suburban, or rural location? Are you targeting newlyweds or retirees? A young couple looking to buy a condo downtown has very different taste than empty nesters looking to retire on a farmhouse ranch. Young urban home buyers are interested in wider planks, neutral tones, and high durability. Older home buyers may take a more conservative route with traditional timeless beauties such as Black Walnut, Brazilian Cherry, or Hickory. After you have a clear vision of your target audience, this will help you select the right floor for maximizing resale.
Have a question for coming up with a Buyer Persona? Abita Wood Floors is a flooring company specializing in flooring options, give us a call today or tell us about your project online.
Choosing the Right Rug Pads for Hardwood Floors
Area rugs are one of the essentials after the installation of hardwood flooring. One thing often debated is the use of rug pads underneath an area rug. Professionals have warned against the use of certain pads which might smudge the finish on wood flooring. In this article, we will examine the best type of pad for air quality, discoloration, and rug preservation.
The reality is almost all pads on the market today are imported. Many are high in VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), made from petroleum-based chemicals like PVC which can chemically bond to the polyurethane finishes of your floor. If an inferior pad is left under a rug too long residue can be left behind leading to permanent damage to the floor. Some lower cost latex or synthetic rubber pads are made with clay fillers which work well initially then break down and turn to dust. Selecting a quality rug pad is essential and can prevent potential problems in the future. Here are some of the top reasons for rug pads:
Safety – the most important purpose of a pad is for safety. Rug pads will keep the rug flat and stationary, preventing any slips or falls from rug movement.
Protection – a pad will prevent the rug from damaging the surface of the floor. Some rugs and carpet are woven on an abrasive secondary backing material which can wear through the finish on your floor if left unchecked. A pad can also prevent any dye-transfer from the rug to the floor finish.
Rug preservation – A pad can extend the life of your rug substantially because they will prevent the rug fibers from being flattened or compressed. The rug pad also prevents excessive wear to the back of the rug that can occur when the rug rubs against the hard floor surface. This is especially important with hand-knotted rugs, as the knots are on the back of the rug and need to be protected.
Comfort – Adding a pad increases the thickness of the rug giving a plush underfoot.
Types of Rug Pad
Polyvinyl-based (PVC) – Most lower cost pads have a PVC composition and have not been analyzed for non-toxic content or VOC emissions. These budget pads can react with the polyurethane finish which can potentially permanently discolor the floor.
Synthetic Latex – Performs well in the short term. Clay fillers are often blended with the latex which reduces manufacturing costs; however, Clay has a tendency to dry out leaving behind a pile of rubber flakes.
100% Natural Rubber – At a medium price range, 100% rubber pads are made from rubber tree sap which is eco-friendly and a safer alternative to the petro-based PVC for indoor air quality. True rubber pads offer non-stick grip to the flooring surface.
100% Felt Pads – Excellent option for adding cushion to your rug. This pad will work best on larger rugs which would anchor the pad as it lacks the grip of rubber. This material offers the highest density and best underfoot comfort. Often made from recycled materials these can also be an eco-friendly option.
Felt/ Rubber Hybrid Pad– This is the premium rug pad offering the best of both worlds. You are getting the benefit of the cushioned protection of the felt with the gripping attributes of the rubber.
In conclusion, PVC pads are not recommended for use over hardwood floors. Synthetic Latex is a satisfactory option for short-term use but will cost more in the long term due to replacements. Natural Rubber is a great eco-friendly choice with great performance and suitable for any size rugs. Felt Pads offers additional comfort but is only suitable for larger area rugs due to the lack of grip. The Hybrid Felt/Rubber will offer the best performance at the highest cost for those looking to match high-end rugs with an equally high-end padding.
5 Top Hardwood Flooring Trends for 2020
Hardwood flooring is always an elegant choice for a home. It’s timeless yet trendy, and if you invest in a higher-quality variant for 2020, it can last a lifetime. If you’re looking to renovate your home’s flooring, follow these hardwood flooring trends to create a beautiful look that will add value to your home.
Wider Planks
The last decade saw an increase in width for flooring trends. Wide hardwood can go up to twelve inches wide. The final look of it can make a room feel grand in scale. The reason wide planks are becoming more popular is that it makes the room look much more spacious and opens up opportunities to appreciate natural grain patterns.
Earth Tones
For a timeless look, the earth tones will be the best bet. This is one of the more popular color choices for hardwood this year because of its simplicity and elegance. Adding whitewash to wood grains of a natural earth tone is a great way to introduce more neutral colors. Enhanced color treatments are typically offered at a higher price tag. However, the final look of it is stunning and can be worth the investment.
Environmentally Friendly
Many more manufacturers are adopting eco-conscious and greener options for creating their planks since the demand for environmentally friendly flooring options is rising. Luckily, there are plenty of options! Natural sealants are becoming more common than traditional polyurethane. There are also variants of wood that are quickly renewable such as cork and bamboo.
Air Quality
While many think of eco-friendly as good for the world, consumers are becoming much more informed on the effects of formaldehyde and VOCs in homes. Look for Green Guard certification, Carb 2 compliance, and even special air-purifying finishes. Healthy choices for families with pets are young children are especially important.
Distressed Wood
Right now, the weather and distressed look aren’t just for clothes–it is a trend for hardwood floors! Some distressed wood techniques are a little “out there”, but don’t let that stray you away from this type of flooring, as it can give a room a total vintage and beachy look to it. Common distressing techniques include saw marks, wirebrushing, and lye treatment. Over time, the wood will conceal the damage so that you will end up with a beautifully aged hardwood flooring.
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