Lets start by saying this is my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own. No judgements!
I believe in practicality. There's no point in me recommending a beautuful marble floor to a client who tells me they want a mantenance free floor or that there are small kids in the house. I want my projects to look good when I just finalize them, but also to last for a long time!
I'll break it down by main focus, so here it is:
You don't have pets or small kids in the house and wants a more classic floor to last you a long time? I'd recommend a natural stone- marble, limestrone, etc. You'll have to seal it every year or two depending on foot traffic and usage, but you can always polish it to remove some of the scratches and it adds nice value to the property.
You want a more cozy floor, because let's face it, some of us love walking barefoot! You've got a couple of choices:
Hardwood floor is a great option, since it can be sanded and refinished but it can be expensive and it might not work in some climates. Here in Florida with high humidity levels, the boards move a lot and it can be very tricky to keep them looking good. Its easier to make them work for condos but really hard for houses. Also, I don't reccoment it for the kitchen.
Engineered wood is a great option- more reliable then hardwood because it has a mdf layer underneath the wood veneer, and it can be sanded a couple of times if needed. Its middle range in price. Cost benefit, a great option!
Laminate floor can be tricky. Its a great budget friendly option, but you have to be careful with the thickness. They tend to be inexpensive, but I wouldn't recommend a plank that is under 6mm. The truth is, I've used it personally and chose a 12mm plank. Its equivalent to an engeneer board in my opinion, but there's a catch- it cannot be sanded. I would recommend using a distressed or more rustic option.
Then you have Porcelain tiles. My newest obsession! I love them. There are so many options to choose from! From classic looking ones (such as marble, limestrone) to edgier options (concrete and patterns), to wood looking ones! You can recreate your favorate look with a good upside: No maintenance, long lasting results!
Often times I'll recommend usign a couple of these options, especially for two story houses, and as I mentioned in the beggining, It all depends in the unique nature of my clients needs.
Until next post.....
Tammy Gammerman