Best Flooring For Florida Home – Choosing flooring for your home can be a challenging task. There are many factors such as style, price, availability and climate that make it one of the most important and difficult design decisions you will make. If you happen to live in Florida, that decision is even more difficult. Because of the heat, humidity, and beaches that Florida is famous for, there are very few types of flooring that will work in your Florida home. So, what makes Florida different? Extreme weather means most traditional flooring just won’t cut it in sunlight. What makes Florida’s flooring needs unique? Most of Florida is considered subtropical, but its southern regions experience a tropical climate. The state is covered by water on three sides and the interior parts of the state have a large amount of water. Basically, Florida weather is always hot and humid. Although visitors love the heat and beaches and we residents enjoy our tropical climate, there is one major drawback – extreme weather. Florida has the highest number of 80+ thunderstorm days per year. Additionally, tornadoes and hurricanes touch down regularly. Those weather systems and the frequency with which they exist in Florida significantly affect construction, housing and landscaping. Therefore, building materials in Florida must be designed to handle extreme weather systems. If you are replacing your floors or installing floors in new construction, what should you choose, what should you avoid and why? Best Wood Flooring in Florida: Engineered Wood What is engineered wood? Engineered hardwood floors are boards made from different recycled layers of wood. Typically, each board consists of five to seven layers, which are compressed and glued together to create a stronger and more moisture resistant board. The top layer is made of a more durable wood, -oak, maple, hickory- that resists wear and tear and can be sanded. Because of the top layer, engineered wood floors look like solid hardwood. It gives Floridians the opportunity to own elegant, refined and classy flooring, while also adding more value to a home that has to endure Florida’s harsh climate. Installing hardwood in your home can reflect an 80% ROI in your home’s value. This makes hardwood valuable to Florida homeowners in more ways than one.
Where is engineered wood best used? Originally, engineered wood floors were developed for uses where hard hardwoods could not be installed. On the first floor of a house built on concrete slab or basement or radiant floor systems. But engineered wood flooring technology has grown tremendously in the past 15 years, and the products can be used anywhere you’d expect to find plank floors, and sometimes even in kitchens.
Best Flooring For Florida Home
Why does engineered wood work so well in Florida? Engineered hardwoods are a great choice for Florida residences as they are specifically designed to resist moisture and extreme temperatures, two of the biggest issues you’ll face when choosing flooring. They don’t expand and contract like solid hardwood, meaning they won’t buckle or crack in a typical Florida summer. They are relatively easy to install, and they come in a variety of styles. That’s why engineered wood flooring is highly recommended for Florida environments. Chateau Bistro 1/2″x 5″ Pacific Pecan Mocha European Oak Toulouse Casa Villa Hickory 1/2″ x 7″ Oyster Southland Floor Catalina Monterrey American Journey 510 Maple Natural CL5500 Woodbridge Maple Cappuccino 9/16”x5” European Oak Ardesia Country Estates 3/8″x 5″ Fawn Most Popular Florida Flooring: Ceramic or Porcelain Tile What is Ceramic and Porcelain Flooring? Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are man-made clay tiles that are manufactured by firing at high temperatures to reduce the clay’s water content and allow it to form. Porcelain is made from white clay, sand and feldspar, which is slightly more resistant to water. This makes a harder, more dense tile. This makes porcelain more durable than other tiles, which are brittle and difficult to cut. Unfortunately, porcelain comes in limited colors and styles. Ceramic tiles are made from red, brown or white clay. This tile is soft, easy to work with and less expensive than porcelain. Ceramic tile comes in hundreds of new and classic styles.
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Where are ceramic and porcelain tiles best used? Tile is very water resistant, which is why it was historically used in kitchens, restrooms, laundry rooms, and other wet or messy spaces. In Florida, tile can be found throughout the entire home. There are a variety of styles and colors and finishes; Tile can be used on concrete slabs, bedrooms, basements or upper levels and terraces. There’s even a type of tile designed to look like wood planks—if you like the look of wood and the practicality of tile.
Why are tile and porcelain so popular in Florida? Tile flooring repels water exceptionally well. When water or condensation hits a ceramic or porcelain tile, instead of soaking into it, the water just beads up. This means that these floors do not absorb any moisture on days of high humidity or frequent waterlogging. Florida Tile – Nexa Copper Roma Stone Nero 20″x 20″ Happy Floors – Italia Polished Venezia Beige Natural 20″ x 20″ Sonoma Valley 20″x 20″ Florida Tile – Relieve Oregon Berkshire Maple 6″x 24″ Happy Floors – Phoenix Rainbow Second Best Option: Laminate Flooring What is laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is a synthetic material, often made of melamine resin and fiberboard, with a top “wear” layer to mimic the look of natural wood that makes it very durable. Laminates look like they are made of plastic because the materials are cheap and the process is untreated. However, today laminate is the best flooring option because it is cheap, durable and more advanced than when it was first introduced in the market.
Where is laminate flooring best used? Laminate is made to look like real wood, so it’s made to go where real wood goes. You can find laminate flooring in:
Because it’s durable, easy to install, easy to clean, and often moisture resistant, this flooring is the go-to for Florida home flooring.
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Why Is Laminate Flooring Best For Florida Homes? Here is a little discussion. Due to the laminating and shrinking process this product is made, it is quite resistant to moisture. The problem is, that resistance depends on how the ground is installed. If your laminate is installed with a proper vapor barrier, underlayment, tight seams, and a dry, sealed subfloor, it can actually be waterproof. However, since it is a floating floor there is a gap between the subfloor and the laminate and moisture can get trapped there, especially if you live in a high humidity climate. If the floor is not installed properly, moisture from the floor and building up under the laminate can seep through the floor seams and cause the sub-floor layers to swell and ruin the floor. A new, high pressure laminate has been developed for high humidity environments. It is made with a special adhesive that helps reduce water moisture absorption. This product is perfect for a Florida residence. Tip: Laminate works best in homes with efficient HVAC systems that efficiently and consistently remove moisture from the air. 6 1/4 x 54 1/4 Hickory Varena Meritage Reserve Wide Oak Umbria CB-6076 Hickory Butternut Do types of flooring affect the temperature of my home? It’s no surprise that summer heat is a problem for Floridians. AC units go down, blinds close and you dread the electricity bills. However, tile flooring can help reduce heat in your home. As heat is not retained, tile flooring stays cool. Your feet will be cold when you walk on it and in turn, you won’t get warm. The result? Your AC unit breaks. Laminate flooring is known to not retain heat. Hardwood, on the other hand, is a mix of both, holding warmth in the cooler months and keeping cool in the hotter months. What maintenance is required t
o care for these floor types? Your new flooring comes with maintenance requirements. Whether it’s mopping or refinishing, maintenance depends on the type of floors installed in your home. Engineered wood is cared for just like you would hardwood flooring.
Laminate flooring should not be exposed to large amounts of water while cleaning to avoid buckling in the flooring.
How long can I expect these flooring types to last in Florida? New flooring is an investment
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