We've compiled a list of the questions we get asked most often. Hopefully this can help answer any questions and make your buying decision smoother so you will be happy for years to come.
This is a question that is easy for us to answer. The real answer would be anything but hardwood or carpet. Bathrooms are a haven for moisture and are often messy and covered with fluids. Hardwood floors and carpets do not go well with water. Water seeps into Hardwood which then causes the wood to swell or even crack. This is unsightly, unsafe, and could even cause structural damage. Carpets do not like water either. When water is exposed to carpet it can cause mold and mildew, smells, and discoloration. They can also damage the carpet fibers and the padding underneath. This makes carpet a bad choice for bathrooms.
The good news is you can still get the look of hardwood for your bathroom. We have a large selection of waterproof laminate or vinyl flooring that looks a lot like Hardwood. It even feels like hardwood! Your picky mother-in-law will never know the difference. Another option is wood look tile which is easy to clean and good in a high moisture environment.
Kitchens are more versatile when it comes to flooring choices. Many people love hardwood floors in their kitchens. A clean and modern look is to bring the hardwood out of the kitchen into the rest of your home for a uniform feel. The only thing is, if you would like hardwood in your kitchen there are a couple of extra steps. Kitchens can be prone to messes and moisture. But that shouldn't stop you. We do suggest you take extra steps to protect the areas most likely to get wet. For example a dishwasher can leak if opened during a cycle or when unloading dishes. A sink may splatter. A stove-top can cause food-based spills as well. So put extra big (and beautiful) cotton area rugs in those areas to protect from spills. This also adds to the decor, so thats a great bonus! Make sure you remove the rugs immediately after any moisture and wipe up the floor. This should help to eliminate any damage from water that may occur. However, you may want to choose laminate or vinyl for your kitchen as they are much easier to care for and far more durable in the event of a spill.
Basements are another area of the home that may experience exposure to water and/or flooding. Since a basement is below grade (below ground level), there are a few factors to consider. Since unfinished basements usually use the concrete foundation as a bottom surface you must make a choice that works well with concrete. Your choice needs to be resistant to moisture as concrete lets out water vapor and it needs to get through the floor. Our favorite choice for basements is engineered hardwood flooring, specifically designed to be moisture resistant. If your basement does flood, the engineered hardwood can tolerate more water then a hardwood floor. If you live at the top of the hill or are 100% certain your basement will not flood then hardwood flooring might be a good choice. Otherwise we would go with vinyl, tile, laminate, or engineered hardwood flooring for a basement.
For a bedroom, the sky's the limit! We say do what makes you happy in your bedroom. No pun intended. Since bedrooms are meant to be comfortable, there really isn't any limit to what you can do. Traditionally wall-to-wall carpet or hardwood flooring are typical bedroom options. Carpet is soft, insulating, and creates a very warm and cozy atmosphere. Hardwood can be topped with an area rug to create a new look every year. Hardwood is also very calm and resistant to harboring allergens. Carpet may be a better choice for child's room as it is safer to play on and more durable. We do not recommend ceramic or porcelain tiles for bedroom flooring, but we have seen it done. If you have the right home and are going for a very refined look, tile can be a great choice. Why not just go for marble flooring? Wood-look tile would be excellent for a bedroom if you decide to go with tile as it is more practical and doesn't need to be refinished or professionally cleaned often. That way you get the best of both worlds. Our personal favorite choice however, is laminate flooring. It's durable and can withstand almost anything (even little Fluffy's sharp nails).
Living rooms are a place to...well..live! Let's get living people! But in all reality in a living room you can really use any type of flooring. Everyone has a unique taste for their living area. Some people prefer tile for an easy clean, other people love hardwood with area rugs to provide splashes of color. Marble can even be used for a more formal sitting room. Carpeting is a popular choice to make a room warm and comfortable. Laminate is a good option that can mimic tile or Hardwood. Our motto is, go with what you love best!
Fun fact: A whopping 68% of U.S. families own at least one pet. So most likely that's you. Pets are valued members of the family, but can be messy. Even if they're properly trained sometimes their little paws can be destructible. Does your cat attract litter out of the box? Is your dog big and energetic and likely to scratch up the floors? Consider your pets personality before making a flooring choice, but thankfully you have so many options. You could go with hardwood, but the downside is it's easily scratched. After a few years it starts looking dull and the scratch marks are very visible. Not great. If your pet is prone to indoor accidents, tile or laminate maybe your best choice. Tile is durable and easy to clean but urine can destroy grout. Laminate is extremely durable and super easy to clean. They stand up to even the most rambunctious pets and that would be our top choice for families wit pets.
Now this is an easy one. Decor and tastefulness is subjective. What you find to be beautiful someone else may not. But that's okay, everyone has their own styles. Hardwood flooring and carpeting is more traditional. Vinyl and laminate are more modern. We say be creative with your home. Let us bring out some samples and you see what catches your eye. Who cares what that other person says about your floor? You like it? Then it goes with your decor!
When you hire Murfreesboro Flooring, we will attach a subfloor to your floor joists. This structure provides reliable support for your surface flooring. Keep in mind that most flooring materials are not durable enough to support the dead weight of cabinetry, appliances, cabinetry, and other household items. You should also take into account the daily foot traffic from people and pets.