Could your flooring add value to your property? The reality is that the right flooring could add thousands of dollars to your home’s resale value. Conversely, the wrong flooring material can be all that’s needed to put buyers off.
For example: carpet in the bathroom is a well-known deterrent to would-be buyers!
Here we take a look at seven different types of flooring, considering which options are going to have the optimal impact on your home value, and which to use in moderation or avoid altogether.
1. Concrete
Advantages of concrete flooring
Highly durable and a joy to look at, concrete is a floor surface that’s growing in popularity for domestic and commercial properties. Once the mainstay of outdoor spaces such as patios and garages, concrete is now a popular option for ground floor interior spaces.
Modern sealants and coatings allow concrete floors to withstand changes in temperature and wear and tear while requiring minimal maintenance.
Available in a stunning range of colors and patterns, concrete’s cool surface makes it perfect for properties located in hotter climates. It’s also a great hard flooring option for people who suffer from various indoor allergies like pet dander and dust. And it is extremely easy to keep clean.
Disadvantages of concrete flooring
Concrete can be slippery when wet and is an unforgiving surface for falls.
Concrete flooring resale value
A stained or stamped concrete floor generally adds to your home’s value on resale.
2. Laminate
Advantages of laminate flooring
Economical, attractive, and lightweight enough to work in multi-story dwellings, laminate is a versatile flooring that works well in a range of locations. Laminate consists of planks made from composite, overlaid by a slim layer of real timber, or, in cheaper products, by a picture of real timber.
Once laid, laminate is easy to maintain and simple to clean. When properly maintained, it can be beautiful. And it’s a good choice for families with indoor allergies.
Disadvantages of laminate flooring
Compared with other floorings (such as stone or concrete), it’s not particularly durable. It tends to warp or swell if it gets wet. And it is easy to scratch.
Laminate flooring resale
For resale, laminate doesn’t generally add to your ROI (return on investment), particularly in the luxury market.
3. Ceramic
Advantages of ceramic flooring
Upgrading your kitchen and bathroom flooring is an excellent way to increase property value – and ceramic tiles are a perfect choice. Adding beauty to almost any type of kitchen decor, ceramic tiles offer timeless style and an enormous range of choices.
Cool underfoot, ceramic flooring lends itself well to spacious, airy interiors. Provided it’s sealed correctly, ceramic is straightforward to maintain and highly durable. Individual tiles are easy to replace if they get damaged. This type of flooring is a good choice for families with dust or pet dander allergies.
Disadvantages of ceramic flooring
In the winter in cold climates, this flooring can be chilly unless you use in-floor heating. It’s also not very forgiving for falls.
Ceramic flooring resale
Ceramic isn’t a cheap option, but it does deliver premium results that can be enough to tempt a buyer to increase their offer!
4. Carpet
Advantages of carpet
The beauty of carpet is the wide range of different options available. Commercial premises can utilize durable, low-allergy carpet tiles. These combine aesthetic appeal with excellent longevity and economy.
An expanse of carefully chosen carpet can showcase a living space wonderfully well. Wool carpets are a luxury addition to any property, whilst a polypropylene product resists stains and is relatively easy to clean.
Disadvantages of carpet
Carpet can be difficult to keep stain-free and tends to hold a lot of dust.
Carpet and resale value
Research shows that new carpet isn’t usually sufficient to improve property value, but it can be a quick fix for unsightly flooring surfaces that might otherwise detract from the look of your home.
5. Hardwood Flooring
Advantages of hardwood flooring
Hardwood flooring has achieved plenty of positive publicity regarding its ability to enhance property value. With studies indicating that many realtors believe anything from a 1-10% increase in home value can be achieved through fitting hardwood flooring, it’s definitely worth considering as an investment.
Beautiful to look at and with excellent green credentials (recycled hardwood flooring is an amazing addition to any home), hardwood flooring works well in rooms where humidity and temperature are fairly constant.
Disadvantages of hardwood flooring
Fitting is tricky, with the result that installing hardwood flooring is an expensive option in comparison with other flooring types. It also requires regular sealing, can warp or crack if incorrectly installed, and can be easily stained or scratched.
Hardwoods are not the best option for damp basements or poorly ventilated full bathrooms.
Hardwood flooring and resale value
Hardwoods are the gold standard of improving home resale value if your floors are in good condition. It is the flooring that the majority of home buyers want to see in a potential home.
6. Stone
Advantages of stone flooring
Natural materials are one of the most popular additions to any home. It’s fair to say that custom homes that contain a high proportion of stone and timber look amazing and provide a soothing, nurturing ambiance which is always appealing.
Obviously stone is extremely long-lasting — a well-installed stone floor will last a lifetime. It’s also very attractive, and its cool feel makes it perfect for homes in a warmer climate.
Disadvantages of stone flooring
The downsides of stone primarily relate to its weight, porosity, and unyielding nature. Whilst it can be a good choice for dog owners, it can only be realistically used in ground-floor spaces. Stone also requires regular resealing to keep it in good shape.
Families with children need to be aware that stone can be a very hard surface for little knees in the event of a trip or fall. It’s also an unforgiving surface for elderly loved ones if they fall, as well.
Stone flooring and resale value
In the right home and market, stone’s beauty and longevity result in flooring that adds to the property value.
7. Vinyl
Advantages of vinyl flooring
Don’t underestimate vinyl! Vinyl has come a long way in recent years – contemporary vinyl is hard-wearing, versatile, surprisingly environmentally friendly, and suitable for spaces that aren’t suitable for other floorings.
If you have an uneven sub-surface, wish to cover small or awkwardly shaped areas, or need a fast makeover solution, vinyl ticks all the right boxes. It’s also warm underfoot, offers good acoustic insulation, and is ideal for homes where there are younger children, due to its yielding nature and easy cleanability.
In a commercial environment, high-grade vinyl can be a good investment choice – it’s extremely hygienic (so perfect for catering or medical environments), non-slip, and easy to repair if necessary. Some versions are even waterproof.
Disadvantages of vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring can get scratched, which is very difficult to repair. It is also not quite as beautiful as real hardwood flooring, although it can come close aesthetically.
Vinyl flooring and resale value
Whilst vinyl doesn’t always spring to mind as a good investment choice, in the right property (particularly in the commercial sector), it’s an excellent flooring option.
For many luxury home markets, vinyl flooring may not offer a large return on investment at this time.
Consider Getting Expert Advice
If you’re considering changing the flooring in your home or business in order to increase its value or want to invest in durable products that deliver a good ROI, professional advice is often a good idea.
An architect, custom builder, interior designer, local realtor, or drafting expert that knows both their materials and the market can provide advice on matters such as:
The best flooring for your property
A skilled developer will know the surface that’s going to work for you and your particular needs and market.
The best flooring for your budget
Whilst the most expensive flooring often delivers the best ROI, it may not be the most appropriate for your needs. An expert will provide a customized solution.
The best floor surface for particular spaces
High-traffic areas may need a different floor surface to low-traffic areas. Interiors where hygiene is a priority, or space occupied by vulnerable people, may need a different approach to other areas. A tailored flooring option can deliver greater value than simply opting for the most expensive flooring.
Guest post by Onfloor.com
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