Choosing Hardwood Flooring

12 years ago

After living the past 6 months with red carpet, emerald green carpet, and terra cotta colored tile floors we are FINALLY to the point of choosing new flooring for our main floor. I have spent hours researching what kind of flooring is best suited for our country home- 2 active kids, an outdoorsman, 70lb bull dog, and a cat- and have concluded we need something very hard with a very durable finish (oak or maple?), and probably a hadscaped and character grade to blend in with out "oops" moments. I want them to look beautiful but function is everything. We LIVE in our home... it is not a showroom. I have to keep reminding myself that:).
Anyone have recomendations for types of flooring? Brands? Retailers? It is so easy to find horror stories of people installing beautiful flooring only to have it detroyed by day to day life. I'd really prefer not to be one of those people!
Any and all input is greatly appreciated:)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Cynthia Taylor-Luce
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I would seriously recommend Karndean brand luxury vinyl planks. They are individual planks that are laid out just like hardwood and are glued down (although they have a new premium line that is loose-lay). The quality is so good that you can use them in any room, even living rooms and bathrooms. You have the beauty of hardwood but the easy-care mop-ability of vinyl. The surface is textured so it really looks like wood. There are many different "wood species" available so you can have whatever colour you like and whatever wood grain pattern. If you don't have a retailer near you who has this product, I believe you can order samples online. These are much more beautiful and practical than laminates.

Google 'Karndean vinyl plank reviews' for more feedback and look at this link for lots of images of their floors: https://www.google.ca/search?q=karndean+vinyl+plank+reviews&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AlD-UpucJeOT2QWGs4HACA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg&biw=1680&bih=916
PRO
Oak & Broad
12 years ago
My suggestion would be a character grade hickory floor with a medium stain and poly finish like Bona Traffic. That would stand up to most anything and would also be very beautiful. I've completed several Hickory projects recently. Let me know if you have any questions :-)
Related Professionals
Charlottesville Interior Designers & Decorators · Burlington Interior Designers & Decorators · Marquette Interior Designers & Decorators · Grand Rapids Interior Designers & Decorators · Cornwall Interior Designers & Decorators · Fayetteville Architects & Building Designers · Marietta Architects & Building Designers · Zanesville Architects & Building Designers · Dubuque Architects & Building Designers · Aurora Architects & Building Designers · Champaign Architects & Building Designers · Omaha Architects & Building Designers · New York City Architects & Building Designers · Oneonta Architects & Building Designers · Chula Vista Architects & Building Designers
hme75
12 years ago
We have character grade* maple with a natural finish and it's been great with two kids and a 70 lb lab. There are scratches, but you don't see them. We went with a water based finish to prevent yellowing, but water based is less durable and we will have to refinish sooner. I like the hand scraped look, but wonder about refinishing that 20 years from now. It can't be easy.

*character grade in our case was grade 3, a lower grade with more knots and color variation.
hme75
12 years ago
Here is a picture of our floor discussed above. Just the floor, as the counter and table are littered with grade school valentines and candy wrappers. :)
PRO
Nancy Sanford Interiors
12 years ago
Have you considered tile in the main traffic areas?