Looking to redo your floors? You’ve come to the right place. Boulevard Home Flooring has all the answers and materials to make your floors look perfect. Let’s dive into your options and see what fits your needs and budget.
Carpet
Different types of carpets possess different qualities and perks. We will go over the 5 most popular choices of carpet: nylon, olefin, polyester, wool, and triexta.
Nylon: Nylon is the most popular type of carpet due to its durability. It resists staining, crushing, and mildew. Nylon is generally very affordable. It’s very popular in homes with pets because of its durability and stain-resistant qualities. Nylon comes in a variety of designs and patterns.
Olefin: Olefin is very popular because it is one of the cheapest options for carpeting and it is extremely durable. It is a good option for high traffic areas in your home, such as hallways, entryways, and living rooms. It’s also very popular for basements because of its mold-resisting qualities. It’s nearly stain-proof, but not very soil-resistant.
Polyester: Polyester is hydrophobic (meaning it repels moisture damage) and stain-resistant. Polyester carpets are very easy to clean and maintain. Unfortunately, polyester is not quite as durable as nylon. It is easily indented by furniture and pushed down by heavy foot traffic. Polyester carpets come in bright colors but their fibers can easily fade in the sun. It’s very soft and usually less expensive than nylon or wool carpet. Polyester is a very popular carpet choice for bedrooms.
Wool: Wool can be very durable and long-lasting if cared for properly. It resists water-based stains and is generally easy to clean if the stain is dealt with immediately. It resists crushing and springs back quickly from foot traffic and furniture indentation. Due to its soft texture and spring-back qualities, it’s a great option for living rooms with lots of foot traffic. Something unique about wool carpet is its natural flame-resistance to dropped matches, cigarettes, and more. Many airports and casinos use wool carpet for this reason. It’s biodegradable and an earth-conscious choice of carpet.
Triexta: Triexta is one of the newest types of carpet. One of the many pros of this carpet is its incredible softness. Many claim that it is stronger and more durable than nylon, but since it is so new, it’s hard to compare the two. But one thing is for sure: it’s super stain-resistant. Some even say it can withstand coffee and wine stains. Overall, it’s a great carpet for anyone with kids and pets, but it does come with a price. Triexta tends to be the most expensive type of carpet.
Key Points:
- Nylon is the most popular carpet for homes.
- Olefin is best for outdoor and basement carpeting.
- Polyester has saturated colors and is very soft.
- Wool is usually the most stain-resistant and long-lasting.
- Triexta is super soft and stain-resistant, but pricey.
To learn more about carpeting options, watch our video.
Tile
A huge benefit of having tile is its easy maintenance. Tile is nearly water-proof which makes it nearly stain-proof. It’s easy to clean by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. Tile is best utilized in kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms. Tile is also very durable. Most tile floors can last up to 20+ years without cracking or scratching. Even if one tile gets cracked, it can be easily replaced.
Unfortunately, tile is very heavy so it is not the best option for upper-level rooms. Tile is also very cold and does not absorb or hold heat very well.
While tile is more expensive than carpet, but it is generally cheaper than wood flooring and is more scratch-resistant.
If you are a fan of tile’s durability but love the way wood floors look, you might be interested in “wood look tile”. It’s exactly what it sounds like, tile that looks like wood. This tile is just as hardy as regular tile, just with more texture. Wood-look tile comes in different colors, styles, and more.
Wood
Wood has always been a very popular flooring option. It tends to be the most expensive, but it will last the longest. There are wood floors in great condition that are 100 years old. There are many color, material, thickness, and grade options when it comes to buying wood floors. Bonus: Having real wood floors can increase the value of your home.
In areas with heavy foot traffic, it is best to use a harder type of wood like maple or oak. In areas with less foot traffic, it is okay to use a softer wood like pine.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
A popular wood-floor alternative is luxury vinyl plank or LVP. At Boulevard Home Flooring and Design Center, we have many LVP options. LVP is 100% waterproof and easy to install. Luxury vinyl plank is either wood or stone polymer over synthetic or cork padding. On top of the wood or polymer is a photo of wood covered by a wear layer. Different thicknesses of wear layers can withstand different amounts of pressure and scratching. Boulevard Home offers 4 thicknesses of wear layers: 6, 8, 12, and 20 mil. 20 mil wear layers are best for families with kids, pets, or who have lots of foot traffic. 6 mil. is not as durable, but better for rooms that don’t see much foot traffic. On top of the mil layer, is an embossed finish. The embossed finish makes the vinyl look and feel like real wood.
The only difference between stone and wood-polymer is their PSI (pounds per square inch). Wood can withstand 400 PSI, which means that if you place heavy furniture on it, it could potentially dimple. Stone can withstand up to 2000 PSI, meaning it can withstand 2000lbs. per square inch. The chances of stone LVP dimpling are very low.
One of the greatest benefits of having LVP floors is that they are easily replaceable. If one plank gets scratched, that one plank can be cut out and replaced! Another awesome benefit is its easy installation. Most people can install it themselves. LVP is a floating floor which means there is no need for glue, staples, or nails.
To learn more about LVP, watch our video.
We hope you’ve learned something new! If you have more questions or would like a quote on new flooring, come visit the Boulevard Home Flooring center!