Question: Hey Robert, my wife and I are ready to replace flooring in our entire home. It’s been a long road of enduring what was here when we bought the home five years ago so that we could cash flow the project. Here we are ready to go and have no idea what the best option would be. Obviously, it will be a ton of money and we are ready, but it’s extra nerve-wracking because this is our first home and we’ve not tackled this decision before. Can you give us some insight please, as the best type of flooring for busy people with three dogs? Thank you.
— Dale B.
Answer: Dale, what a fun project, especially when you are not going into debt over it. My best recommendation, from years of experience, is to have a solid surface floor everywhere but the bedrooms.
I like carpet in the bedrooms for comfort and warmth, but every other area I prefer tile, especially with the dogs. I’d for sure go with a non-slip tile. There are many out there that look like wood flooring but have a nice texture so even when they’re wet, they are non-slip. Older dogs, especially, can have issues with slick surfaces.
You are going to spend more money on something like this but certainly stay away from the least expensive options at the big box stores. If you set a tile plank of low quality next to one of high quality, you will immediately see a difference just in thickness. This comes into play both during installation as well as durability over time. A thin tile is more likely to break when something is dropped such as a pot or pan. A lower-quality tile may not be cut straight or even, so an installer is going to have much more trouble getting straight lines.
One recommendation is to seal your tile, if possible, based on tile type and manufacturer recommendations. Today’s grout usually will already have sealer in it, but if your tile is not “sealed” by its own finish, consider doing this so that cleaning is easier, especially with textured tile. It isn’t a necessity, just a recommendation.
Lastly, regarding tile: If you are on a concrete slab, I recommend an anti-fracture membrane. This is installed below the tile so that if the slab cracks, that crack doesn’t transfer to the tile/grout. Additionally, have the installer check with a moisture meter for any moisture in the concrete. If it is found to have moisture, have them install a moisture barrier. More costly but worth it to prevent water intrusion issues over time.
For the bedrooms, as I said, I’d go with carpet. You don’t have to go high-end on this. Make your choice based on what you like – but do all you can to keep shoes off of it. It’ll save the condition over time. I hope this helps — best of luck to you.
Robert Lamoureux has more than 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at [email protected].
