Flooring-Smooth versus textured

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Most flooring seems to be textured. Wondering why? Smooth seems much nicer to me. Looks nicer, feels nicer. Why do people like textured so much?

Just curious.

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

5 years ago

A lot of people are looking for 'wood look' or 'stone look' products in an artificial product like vinyl or laminate. Because vinyl is so HEAVILY used, the producers are trying their best to give the petroleum product (PVC = vinyl) a 'natural' look (instead of looking like...well....vinyl). The 'natural' wood look = the 'look' of grain and swirls and knots. But someone said it looks 'fake' if it is a flat/smooth finish. So the producers upped their game and produced a wood-grain texture. Then someone else said the wood TEXTURE does NOT match the wood photograph. So they upped their game again and called it embossed in register (ie. the photograph 'grain' now matches the SURFACE TEXTURE grain).

Now that this has been perfected people are starting to realize their socks keep getting shredded and are now complaining about their 'textured' floors that they used to like SOOO much (because they looked 'natural' instead of like vinyl).

Sigh....and here we are. Wood floors are traditionally smooth with a bit of a gloss on them. But someone decided to make a vinyl that looked like wood (smooth with some texture). But that looked fake. Now the wood flooring producers are trying to keep up with the vinyl producers and are making 'textured' wood floors (hand scraped or wire brushed) because the vinyl floors were heavily textured and matte looking.

The circle continues. Each chases the other. Looking for 'authentic' without being authentic looking.

Stick with traditional hardwood finish = smooth and with some gloss and you will be fine. It will outlive the trends. It always has.

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Comments (11)

Donald
5 years ago
Probably because the source material in its natural state is textured...stone and wood have ridges and knots and pits, so flooring made from or made to resemble includes these.
PRO
G & S Floor Service
5 years ago
Greys, whites and naturals is associated with the aged look (texture). Which is still trending.
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PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
What has been said so far. In addition, any scratches will not show as much, as the floor already has texture, ridges, etc.
John Lane
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you!
annecyle
5 years ago
Are the textured floors less slippery? trying to decide on hardwood or tile for aging in place
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
More texture = greater force of friction. Slips are a concern in bathrooms, kitchens and entrances. Any place that can get wet will get slick.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Yes, texture is good for aging in place.

Tile: where are you considering this? For the entire house? For a bathroom it is fine. But know that tile is hard and cold. So, great for southern climates, but hard on the feet and back to stand on all day.

If you are considering luxury vinyl plank, look at ones with a cork underlayment. That provides a nice cushioning.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
Install a white smooth tile floor and see first hand every single footprint left behind by a sneaker. It's amazing. Texture doesn't allow the transfer.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
IMO tile would be my last choice for flooring as I age . It is horrible on feet, legs, knees and backs not to mention a fall will for sure lead to a broken hip. I am 74 and I love my vinyl plank it is easy on the body, a bit of a softer landing and looks great. As for thexture you can get lots of vinyl plank that is smooth.
JagBlue Mally
3 years ago
I have seen traffic paths of dirt always show up on even high end textured flooring no matter what your use to scrub them. Not good.