Q: What "look" do you want?
The first step in choosing a floor is deciding what look you want in individual rooms and throughout your home.
A: The floor is a key design element that influences a space's overall character. With a seemingly endless array of exciting wood species, and resilient colors, patterns, textures and shapes, there's bound to be many floor design options that will enhance your home's decor. Once you have determined the look you want, there is a good chance you'll find it at Armstrong. Wood, stone and ceramic designs are available on natural products as well as on laminate and vinyl. Thanks to today's state-of-the-art printing and embossing technology, it's hard to tell genuine material from the manufactured look-alike. So, how do you choose? Your final decision will depend on a combination of factors including: personal preference; where the floor is being installed; your budget, including installation; and your lifestyle.
Wood: If wood flooring conjures images of traditional oak and pine species and colors, you haven't seen today's wood! There's a global forest of options to choose from, including exotics. Coupled with a spectrum of stains, gloss levels, widths, surface textures and edge details, there's a myriad of options to complement any interior décor.
Hardwood Buyer's Guide
Hardwood Design Tips
Laminate: Even experts sometimes can't tell the difference! Laminate has the uncanny ability to visually replicate the look and feel of wood, stone, brick and ceramic. The ultra-realistic image is actually a highly detailed, high-resolution photograph of the genuine material. The design is protected by an easy to clean surface that resists spills and protects the floor from stains, fading or wear. Realistic embossing creates surface textures that enhance the design. The result is a floor that looks like the original design inspiration, with a different construction that gives you options in budget, installation, performance and maintenance.
Laminate Buyer's Guide
Laminate
Design Tips
Vinyl: One category: thousands of designs! Thanks to state-of-the-art printing and embossing, today's vinyl looks and feels like natural materials such as hardwood, limestone, slate and ceramic. Vinyl is a perfect canvas for a wide range of looks —from traditional florals, geometrics and pavers to vinyl-for-vinyl's-sake images featuring original graphic designs.
Vinyl Sheet Buyer's Guide
Vinyl Sheet Design Tips
Vinyl Tile Buyer's Guide
Vinyl Tile Design Tips
Ceramic: An age-old classic that never grows old! Modular ceramic tile can be used indoors and out, on floors and on walls, to create a variety of looks. Glazed ceramic, quarry, porcelain and terracotta tiles provide options in surface gloss, design and durability. Ceramic can create a variety of looks, from fairly monolithic, one-color installations, to elaborate designs using painted designs and multiple colors to create mosaics, borders and custom insets.
Ceramic Buyer's Guide
Ceramic Design Tips
Linoleum: The original resilient floor! Genuine linoleum is made from natural ingredients including linseed oil, mineral pigments, limestone and ground cork or wood. Its vivid, saturated colors create designs that range from traditional marbleized images to more contemporary flecked patterns and solid colors. In an older home, linoleum can complement the original interior design. In a modern setting, linoleum can be custom-cut to create beautiful and creative patterns on the floor.
Linoleum Buyer's Guide
Linoleum Design Tips
For a floor that stays good-looking and lasts for many years, it's important to ask yourself some basics about where the floor is being installed.
Q: Are you installing a floor in the bathroom?
Full baths and half baths have different floor requirements.
A: A floor for a full bathroom with a shower and/or tub needs to withstand pooling water and humidity fluctuations. Hardwood, which can buckle, gap or warp when subjected to standing water and/or moisture, is not the best choice for a full bathroom. Better options include ceramic tile and vinyl sheet, which are practically impervious to water. Laminate, linoleum and vinyl tile are good options, however, special waterproofing precautions should be taken around perimeters and seams. Half-baths, on the other hand, which have just a toilet and sink, don't have the same water and humidity issues as full baths. Any floor can be used in a half-bath.
Q: On what level of your home will the floor be installed?
On grade (ground level), above grade (above ground level) and below grade (basements and below ground level) locations will affect your floor choice.
A:
Q: Is the room exposed to a lot of direct sunlight?
Natural sunlight, or ultra violet (UV) light, can change a floor's color.
A: Light can change the color of some floors. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you know what to expect. Some species of hardwood, such as Brazilian cherry, take on a darker, richer color over time, when exposed to direct sunlight. This is a desirable, natural design trait. Today's vinyl floors do not yellow like their predecessors did when exposed to light, so their colors remain true over time. New linoleum can have a yellow cast, called a "drying room film," when first installed. This is from the floor's linseed oil content. The bloom will disappear after the floor is exposed to UV light. Because of this natural characteristic, it's important to let linoleum samples sit in a sunny location in your home for a several hours before selecting your floor.
The floor itself is only part of the total cost equation. To understand the total cost of the installed floor over its lifetime, you need to factor installation costs for do-it-yourself (DIY) compared to professionally installed; how long the floor can last; if you plan to renovate and change the floor down the road; plus maintenance costs. To calculate costs, consider the following:
Q: How long do you expect the floors to last?
The least expensive option may be the most expensive if it needs to be replaced down the road.
A: Different types of floors have different "life expectancies." Lower quality floors may start to show wear and tear after only a few years, while higher quality products may look terrific for a lifetime. Some types of floors are inherently more durable, notably some species of hardwood and ceramic tile. What at first may seem like an expensive flooring option might be a good value when you divide the cost of the floor by the number of years you can expect it to last.
Q: Do you plan to sell your home in the foreseeable future?
Some floors add more value to a home than others.
A: While any new floor will add value to your home, some types of floors add more value than others. This is due partly to perception and partly to reality. Natural hardwood and ceramic are perceived to be more valuable than other types of floors by many homebuyers. So, if you're looking at your floor as an investment in the resale price of your home, consider what the real estate market values.
Q: Have you considered all the costs involved with a new floor?
The floor product can be just the tip of the cost iceberg.
A: In addition to the flooring, you should factor the cost of:
Every type of floor has unique installation requirements. Whether you hire a professional installer or you're a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer), you should have an understanding of the installation methods prior to purchasing and installing the floor.
Q: What are the most important subfloor considerations I need to think about before installing the floor?
A: If your new floor can be installed directly on top of your old floor, it will save you time and expense. Interlocking floating floors including some laminates and engineered hardwood for example, can be installed over almost any existing flooring without subfloor preparation. (Except thick pile carpet.) Resilient flooring can be installed over a variety of existing floors, but requires a very flat surface. Prepping the subfloor might be as complex as leveling the existing floor with special coatings and patches, or as simple as rolling out a new underlayment. Even within floor types, such as hardwood, the requirements vary greatly. For example, 3/4" thick, solid hardwood cannot be installed directly over concrete because it needs to be nailed to a plywood subfloor. However, 5/16" thick, solid hardwood can be glued to concrete. Be sure to educate yourself about installation requirements before making your floor purchase.
Q: Will the new floor adjoin an existing floor?
Different floors have different thicknesses.
A: You need to think about room-to-room transitions before you select and install your new floor. For example, 3/4" thick hardwood and some types of ceramic tile are thicker than most other types of flooring found in a typical home. If the new floor isn't the same height as the floor next to it, installation accessories such as transition strips and threshold strips can equalize the difference. The new floor can be connected to the old using a transition strip, but there will be a difference in levels. If a variance in height levels is a concern, thinner floors, such as engineered hardwood, thinner profile solid hardwood, laminate, vinyl sheet and vinyl tile, may be the same height, or very close to the same height, as the surrounding floored areas.
Q: Will your appliances, cabinets and doors have enough clearance over the new floor?
You may need to adjust the height of other items in the room to accommodate the new floor.
A: If your new floor is thicker than the one it is replacing, or, if your new floor is being installed directly over the existing floor, you may run into problems with spacing under doors, appliances and cabinets. Plan ahead of time to solve these issues. Doors can be planed or rehung to allow more clearance. Many appliances have adjustable feet that can be raised or lowered. Cabinets can sometimes be removed and replaced over the old floor, or, they may have kickboards that can be removed and resized, or, you may be able to butt the new floor directly to cabinetry and fixtures. If the new floor-to-cabinet joint is unsightly, color and design coordinated moldings will give your project a beautiful finished look.
Q: Do you plan to install the floor yourself?
Installing any floor requires patience, and some demand a great deal of skill.
A: If you want to install the floor yourself, consider floating interlocking floors including engineered hardwood and laminate. They're relatively easy for do-it-yourselfers (DIYers). Other easy-to-install options are glueless (adhesive tabs or spray adhesive) or peel ‘n stick self adhesive (no glue needed) vinyl tile. Many floors require skill, or at the least, an experienced DIYer. These include: solid and engineered hardwood that installs via glue or staples, and vinyl sheet floors that install via full-spread adhesive. Some floors are best left to professional installers, including wood that needs to be nailed to a subfloor, linoleum with heat-welded seams, and ceramic tile.
Q: What qualities should I look for in a professional installer and installation?
Experience, knowledge, professionalism and an installation guarantee.
A: Proper installation is critical to creating the look you want, and to assure your floor will look great for years to come. "Armstrong Certified Installers" will give you peace-of-mind that your floor will be installed exactly as it should be.
Every Armstrong Certified Installer is:
Experienced - Installers are specially trained and certified to expertly install any Armstrong flooring product.
Tested - Installers must pass a rigorous hands-on and written exam.
Informed - Installers receive ongoing product information and support from Armstrong.
Supported - Installers have access to the Armstrong Installation Training Network, which gives them access to additional experts located in your area.
Trusted - Installers stand behind their work, and Armstrong stands behind them.
Choosing a floor that you will love to live with is not just a matter of looks. The floor must suit your family's lifestyle. Here are some questions to help you make a smart decision.
Q: Are there children in your household?
Floors need to take a little more abuse in active households.
A: Spills, stains and damage are facts of life when kids act like, well, kids! In a bathroom, for example, puddles of water may sit on the floor longer than in an adults-only household. A particularly good choice for households with children is vinyl sheet or vinyl tile. Water won't soak through and damage vinyl's surface, plus, the protective top coat resists stains, scratches and scuffs. It's also softer on little knees than other types of flooring. Laminate and linoleum are workhorses that can stand up to a fair amount of abuse. Ceramic tile is very durable, but its hard surface can be brutal on small knees. Hardwood can be child-friendly too, but will scratch more easily than other products and may need to be refinished more frequently in a home with high traffic.
Q: Do you have pets now, or plan on adding them to your household?
Pet "accidents" and nails can take a toll on a floor.
A: If animals are part of your family, you need to factor their impact on the household when selecting a new floor. If you want a worry-free floor, especially for multiple pet households and households with larger pets, you might want to select a floor that is extra durable, such as laminate or ceramic. If housetraining younger, pets, or the bladder control on geriatric pets is a concern, think about resilient floors such as vinyl sheet or vinyl tile or linoleum. Your poodle's puddle won't cause moisture damage or stains, even if it isn't mopped up immediately. Hardwood can be pet-friendly too, but will scratch more easily than other products and may need to be refinished more frequently. Keeping your pet's nails trimmed can go a long way towards protecting your hardwood floor from scratches. If you choose a hardwood floor, avoid softer species of wood such as pine, cherry, teak or walnut.
Q: Is slipping and falling a concern?
Some floors are more naturally slip-retardant, and some are easier on joints when accidents happen.
A: Flooring that has some texture is inherently more slip-retardant than a totally smooth floor. Some hardwood boards have a hand-scraped texture that adds dimension. Many laminate and vinyl floors have realistic embossing that texturizes the surface. Some ceramic tiles, especially those made for outside use, have a bumpy profile that helps channel water away from the walking surface. If you're looking to add cushion to your floor in the event a fall does occur, vinyl sheet and linoleum are resilient, and therefore more forgiving to knees and other parts of the body.
Q: How much time do you want to spend maintaining your floor?
Some floors are practically maintenance-free, while others need more intensive maintenance.
A: Nowadays, the everyday upkeep of most floors is more or less the same, regardless of floor type. The easy maintenance routine includes sweeping on a regular basis to remove dirt, and mopping as needed using a floor cleaner recommended for your type of floor. Easy maintenance is a large selling point for vinyl sheet, vinyl tile, laminate and coated linoleum floors. Uncoated linoleum requires more maintenance, including occasional polishing and stripping. Natural hardwood needs to be refinished every 15 to 25 years or so, depending upon the room's activity level. Resanding and refinishing hardwood removes scratches and restores the floor to a like-new look.
Q: Do you like to redecorate often?
Some floors are easier to remove and replace than others.
A: Change is good! In the case of flooring, change is better if you plan for it in advance. If you anticipate changing the look of your floor within ten years or so, consider the new glueless (adhesive tabs or spray adhesive) vinyl tiles. They're very easy to put down and to pull up when you're ready for a new look. Also consider interlocking floating laminate floors and engineered hardwood floors. The interlocking floating installation method doesn't require the floor to be glued or nailed to the subfloor below. Vinyl sheet and tile are also smart choices, both for low price and because many types of flooring can be installed directly over existing vinyl (without removing the floor) when you're ready to install a new floor. If you want to change your floor's look, but not the floor itself, keep in mind that solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished with a different color stain.
Q: Are you concerned about indoor air quality, allergens and/or odors?
Resilient and hard-surfaced flooring are healthy alternatives to carpet.
A: Carpet fibers can harbor dirt, dust mites and other allergens. Damp carpets can precipitate mold issues if moisture is trapped underneath. But, resilient and hard surface floors have no place for dirt, allergens or moisture to hide. Vinyl and linoleum are used in hospitals and schools because of this performance hallmark. Linoleum is also naturally non-toxic and antimicrobial. Many materials used in the construction of a home release volatile organic compounds (VOC's), which are gasses that can trigger allergic reactions, including asthma and upper respiratory infections. Look for flooring with FloorScore™ certification, guaranteeing that it meets or exceeds low emission standards and will not adversely affect human life.
