ᐅ Which types of flooring are recommended for single-family homes? What does the building expert community suggest?
Created on: 14 Sep 2020 07:43
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exto1791
Hello everyone,
We are slowly starting to consider the flooring for our planned single-family house and are still completely undecided.
We have an open-plan living-dining area with a kitchen. We believe that a seamless floor transition looks nicer than separating the kitchen from the living/dining area. For this reason, we want to have a uniform floor covering throughout.
Now the question: vinyl or tiles? We have already read about the pros and cons, but maybe we can get some first-hand tips or tricks here that might put some of the disadvantages into a more positive perspective?
1. Question: Is vinyl really safe to use in the kitchen? Is vinyl fully waterproof? How does vinyl flooring react if, for example, a knife slips from my hand and falls on the floor? Will I get immediate dents or marks? Are there vinyl floors that are significantly more resistant?
2. Question: How does vinyl respond to sunlight? Since we will have several large glass fronts in our living-dining area, vinyl "technically" seems to be excluded... Does vinyl actually deform? Is it true that vinyl, like parquet, fades significantly in sunlight?
3. Question: Is vinyl really only suitable for 10-20 years? What happens afterward? Do I have to replace the vinyl, or can it be refurbished or maintained?
--> We are considering tiling the entire area because then we would be "done," have a robust floor that works perfectly with underfloor heating, is simple, and very resistant to sun/fading/stains/impacts. We think generally that you can’t go wrong with tiles.
However, I see the problem that the tiles will likely stay in place for a lifetime, and I may not want or be able to replace them later due to the high effort involved. Also, any chip or damage to a tile will be visible for life since I can’t quickly repair it (true, vinyl also can’t be easily repaired, but I could replace the floor after 15-20 years). Another downside is cost. Tiles are generally more expensive, and I wouldn’t be able to install them myself (I don’t feel confident with tiles but feel okay with vinyl), so we are wondering what is best for us.
What flooring have you installed in your living/dining areas? What good or bad experiences have you had?
Now about the upper rooms:
1 bedroom and 2 kids’ rooms: vinyl/parquet/cork/laminate?
We are familiar with the pros and cons here as well. Parquet is "technically" out of the question because it is very expensive (is there good parquet for around 30€ (about $33)?). Opinions on vinyl are divided... We also have clear concerns (especially in the kids’ rooms) regarding plastic flooring... Are they really completely safe and non-toxic nowadays? If I pay attention to this, can I safely choose vinyl for the kids’ rooms? The kids’ rooms should be "good and affordable" above all. Cork might be an option? Laminate is somehow excluded because it is very noisy and offers no advantages over cork or vinyl.
Is parquet sensible for the bedroom? Here there is no fading, parquet is durable, and sunlight is limited. Very durable and might make the bedroom more visually appealing. What do you think?
We are open to any suggestions.
Where did you buy your flooring? From a hardware store? A specialist dealer? Are there recommendations, including manufacturers or models?
We are slowly starting to consider the flooring for our planned single-family house and are still completely undecided.
We have an open-plan living-dining area with a kitchen. We believe that a seamless floor transition looks nicer than separating the kitchen from the living/dining area. For this reason, we want to have a uniform floor covering throughout.
Now the question: vinyl or tiles? We have already read about the pros and cons, but maybe we can get some first-hand tips or tricks here that might put some of the disadvantages into a more positive perspective?
1. Question: Is vinyl really safe to use in the kitchen? Is vinyl fully waterproof? How does vinyl flooring react if, for example, a knife slips from my hand and falls on the floor? Will I get immediate dents or marks? Are there vinyl floors that are significantly more resistant?
2. Question: How does vinyl respond to sunlight? Since we will have several large glass fronts in our living-dining area, vinyl "technically" seems to be excluded... Does vinyl actually deform? Is it true that vinyl, like parquet, fades significantly in sunlight?
3. Question: Is vinyl really only suitable for 10-20 years? What happens afterward? Do I have to replace the vinyl, or can it be refurbished or maintained?
--> We are considering tiling the entire area because then we would be "done," have a robust floor that works perfectly with underfloor heating, is simple, and very resistant to sun/fading/stains/impacts. We think generally that you can’t go wrong with tiles.
However, I see the problem that the tiles will likely stay in place for a lifetime, and I may not want or be able to replace them later due to the high effort involved. Also, any chip or damage to a tile will be visible for life since I can’t quickly repair it (true, vinyl also can’t be easily repaired, but I could replace the floor after 15-20 years). Another downside is cost. Tiles are generally more expensive, and I wouldn’t be able to install them myself (I don’t feel confident with tiles but feel okay with vinyl), so we are wondering what is best for us.
What flooring have you installed in your living/dining areas? What good or bad experiences have you had?
Now about the upper rooms:
1 bedroom and 2 kids’ rooms: vinyl/parquet/cork/laminate?
We are familiar with the pros and cons here as well. Parquet is "technically" out of the question because it is very expensive (is there good parquet for around 30€ (about $33)?). Opinions on vinyl are divided... We also have clear concerns (especially in the kids’ rooms) regarding plastic flooring... Are they really completely safe and non-toxic nowadays? If I pay attention to this, can I safely choose vinyl for the kids’ rooms? The kids’ rooms should be "good and affordable" above all. Cork might be an option? Laminate is somehow excluded because it is very noisy and offers no advantages over cork or vinyl.
Is parquet sensible for the bedroom? Here there is no fading, parquet is durable, and sunlight is limited. Very durable and might make the bedroom more visually appealing. What do you think?
We are open to any suggestions.
Where did you buy your flooring? From a hardware store? A specialist dealer? Are there recommendations, including manufacturers or models?
S
Strahleman17 Sep 2020 17:14We are still undecided between vinyl and engineered wood flooring. In both cases, Ter Hürne is our preferred manufacturer. Prices are around €23/sqm (about $25/sqft) for vinyl and €43/sqm (about $47/sqft) for engineered wood with a 3.5mm wear layer, oiled.
That means an additional cost of about €2,400 (around $2,600) for approximately 120sqm (1300 sqft). I’m especially torn about whether engineered wood is the right choice. I know the cork flooring in my parents’ kitchen, which, despite being waxed, has absorbed grease over the years—mainly around the stove—and has darkened in those areas. That wouldn’t happen with vinyl.
That means an additional cost of about €2,400 (around $2,600) for approximately 120sqm (1300 sqft). I’m especially torn about whether engineered wood is the right choice. I know the cork flooring in my parents’ kitchen, which, despite being waxed, has absorbed grease over the years—mainly around the stove—and has darkened in those areas. That wouldn’t happen with vinyl.
I find it really remarkable how much PVC flooring’s reputation has improved since it started being called vinyl or luxury vinyl flooring.
Of course, everyone has their own preference, but I’m always surprised by how little the feel of a material matters when choosing flooring, whether it’s PVC flooring or wood-look tiles.
Of course, everyone has their own preference, but I’m always surprised by how little the feel of a material matters when choosing flooring, whether it’s PVC flooring or wood-look tiles.
HarvSpec schrieb:
I find it quite remarkable how much PVC flooring’s reputation has improved since it started being called vinyl or luxury vinyl flooring.
Of course, everyone has their preferences, but I’m always surprised how little the feel of a material matters when choosing flooring, whether it’s PVC flooring or wood-look tiles.I agree with you about PVC. It actually has a pretty poor feel and doesn’t offer real advantages compared to other flooring types. With tiles, at least I see significant benefits in other areas. With PVC, I just don’t see that.
P
pagoni202017 Sep 2020 18:44I feel similar to @exto1791. I prefer open-plan living, but it does come with these kinds of "problems."
Currently, we have engineered hardwood flooring installed as a floating floor throughout all areas, including the kitchen. In the dishwasher and sink area, there are occasional drips. Tiles or stone would naturally be ideal here. I also don’t like the transition between tile and wood. We ruled out large-format tiles or screed floors mainly because the floor tends to be cold despite having underfloor heating.
Previously, we had modern rooms with "cement tiles" around the kitchen island, which looked really good. However, that won’t work for us because we wouldn’t glue down our hardwood floor but rather install it floating as we do now. This obviously makes transitions to tiles or similar materials even more challenging, leaving only unattractive transition profiles, which are definitely out of the question.
I think there simply isn’t a perfect all-in-one solution, and you should go with the flooring you like best. For me, having to install a secondary option just because of the kitchen within the living/dining area is not an option.
Gluing down wood or hardwood is also out for us, as is sanding later on. Although it’s often claimed otherwise, we don’t like the process or the results of sanding; otherwise, there would just be the occasional stain over time. I also consider scenarios of water pooling from the dishwasher in the kitchen to be somewhat exaggerated. Wood flooring has no problem with water as long as it doesn’t remain there permanently.
So the current favorite is again engineered hardwood installed as a floating floor, and if needed, a section can be replaced. There might still be some ideas for the “problem area” around the kitchen, fridge, etc. Ultimately, every product has its drawbacks.
Due to the damage sensitivity mentioned here, I wouldn’t exclude or favor any system because everything can be damaged depending on what falls, and in 10–20 years, something will definitely fall, and the tile floor will have some nicks just like the wood floor.
We will probably install second-choice parquet from Meister or Haro again; technically, it’s first-choice and costs under €30 (about $32) per square meter. We have it here, and it’s just great. It is called “matte lacquered,” but it looks oiled and doesn’t require special care like other oiled wood floors.
If anyone prefers vinyl or laminate, I can understand that too, as they also have their advantages, and overall, in terms of ecology or daily life, there are certainly bigger sins committed during building and living.
What I want to look into further regarding compatibility in the kitchen and overall appearance is liquid cork like @Mellina has, or linoleum.
Currently, we have engineered hardwood flooring installed as a floating floor throughout all areas, including the kitchen. In the dishwasher and sink area, there are occasional drips. Tiles or stone would naturally be ideal here. I also don’t like the transition between tile and wood. We ruled out large-format tiles or screed floors mainly because the floor tends to be cold despite having underfloor heating.
Previously, we had modern rooms with "cement tiles" around the kitchen island, which looked really good. However, that won’t work for us because we wouldn’t glue down our hardwood floor but rather install it floating as we do now. This obviously makes transitions to tiles or similar materials even more challenging, leaving only unattractive transition profiles, which are definitely out of the question.
I think there simply isn’t a perfect all-in-one solution, and you should go with the flooring you like best. For me, having to install a secondary option just because of the kitchen within the living/dining area is not an option.
Gluing down wood or hardwood is also out for us, as is sanding later on. Although it’s often claimed otherwise, we don’t like the process or the results of sanding; otherwise, there would just be the occasional stain over time. I also consider scenarios of water pooling from the dishwasher in the kitchen to be somewhat exaggerated. Wood flooring has no problem with water as long as it doesn’t remain there permanently.
So the current favorite is again engineered hardwood installed as a floating floor, and if needed, a section can be replaced. There might still be some ideas for the “problem area” around the kitchen, fridge, etc. Ultimately, every product has its drawbacks.
Due to the damage sensitivity mentioned here, I wouldn’t exclude or favor any system because everything can be damaged depending on what falls, and in 10–20 years, something will definitely fall, and the tile floor will have some nicks just like the wood floor.
We will probably install second-choice parquet from Meister or Haro again; technically, it’s first-choice and costs under €30 (about $32) per square meter. We have it here, and it’s just great. It is called “matte lacquered,” but it looks oiled and doesn’t require special care like other oiled wood floors.
If anyone prefers vinyl or laminate, I can understand that too, as they also have their advantages, and overall, in terms of ecology or daily life, there are certainly bigger sins committed during building and living.
What I want to look into further regarding compatibility in the kitchen and overall appearance is liquid cork like @Mellina has, or linoleum.
We will probably decide on tiles for the entire kitchen/living/dining area. For us personally, they simply offer the greatest advantages. We will likely choose nice tiles measuring 30cm x 90cm (12 inches x 35 inches) in a country plank style. We’ll see.
We are still considering what to put in the children’s rooms... Ideally, we would prefer cork because it is simply the best option for kids, but we just don’t like the floors.
We are still considering what to put in the children’s rooms... Ideally, we would prefer cork because it is simply the best option for kids, but we just don’t like the floors.
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