Help with flooring decision please

8 years ago

I'm trying to decide on whether to replace carpet for carpet or replace the carpet with engineered wood flooring. I'm looking at Hallmark Alta Vista possibly in the color Del Mar. My dilemma is that our main walkway from the garage to the living area/kitchen/dining room is currently carpet and you can see how grungy it gets with traffic. We are not strict "take off your shoes" kind of people.

If we went with engineered wood, I would replace the tile in the dining room with that same flooring. But do I leave the tile in the entryway or carry the engineered wood there as well?

We also have three hallways that will be this same flooring choice.

(PS - the walls will be painted SW Accessible Beige, but mixed with BM Regal Matte)

Thanks for your input.

Here are some pictures of some of the areas:

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

8 years ago

Go ahead and push the wood throughout the home and use area rugs where you feel the most amount of traffic is going to give you problems (entranceways).

Just make sure you have the appropriate HVAC system that is capable of keeping hardwood floors (solid or engineered...it doesn't matter) happy with the correct level of humidity throughout the year (a 10% range found somewhere between 35% - 60% humidity).

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Comments (12)

PRO
Uptown Floors
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
"But do I leave the tile in the entryway or carry the engineered wood there as well?"

I would remove the tile, unless you get a lot of traffic there, or snow melt if you live up north.
D D thanked Uptown Floors
D D
Original Author
8 years ago
Uptown Floors. Thanks for your input. I live in NM. We have a larger than normal covered entryway outside the front door with a big outdoor rug, but I have grandkids that come over all the time and like to drop their stuff inside the entryway...backpacks, shoes, etc.
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12358w
8 years ago
If you,frequently wear shoes in the house, tile might be more durable for you than hardwood.
D D thanked 12358w
PRO
JAN MOYER
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hardwood all and add walk off rug at foyer and area rug to living space. No matter what kind of "people" you are. : )

Shoes are not a culprit for any issue, any floor. Wipe your FEET. Your carpet is most likely grungy from bare feet and their oils which attract more soil...........and infrequent vacuuming allows dust to get ground into that oily residue via more foot traffic...
D D thanked JAN MOYER
D D
Original Author
8 years ago
Sigh :/ I do feel like I'm constantly vacuuming this carpet and shampooing it for that matter. This house was a foreclosure and the cheapest carpet was put in to sell it...so I've been told by all the flooring bids I've received. I don't think I want tile in the living area...too cold and hard. And the way the hallway walls are, It's been a challenge to try to find a point in the floor to separate a carpeted living area with a tiled main walkway. Thanks for all your input, it is truly appreciated.
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
All engineered wood is great choice. A few runners in high traffic areas and that is all you need. Easier on your back and joints than tile. Easy to clean. Select med to lighter color to help with dust showing.
D D thanked Flo Mangan
D D
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, a lighter color wood would hide the dust better I agree. We went to an open house today to see the floors which were Brazilian cherry and they were pretty scratched up so now I'm really leery about the wood floors :(
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
Engineered woods have factory finished surfaces that are really durable. Brazilian cherry was popular 20 years ago and if the surface of any wood isn’t finished properly or taken care of any floor will show results like you saw. So check out durability of engineered woods. Look on YouTube for videos. You can learn a lot and get more comfortable with your choices.
D D thanked Flo Mangan
D D
Original Author
8 years ago
Flo - I will sure look into that. The house we saw today was built in 2008...a 1.4 million dollar home.
J Kay
8 years ago
Definitely put in the engineered hardwood. I would remove the tile.
D D thanked J Kay
PRO
Aayers Flooring
8 years ago
Engineered wood flooring would be a better choice.
D D thanked Aayers Flooring