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
E
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?
You need to check what you get for 50 euros including installation. Often, this covers tiles up to 20 or maybe 25 euros. It’s not that these are bad, they just aren’t the large modern formats. For large formats, mosaics, or installation work involving a lot of cutting, additional costs will apply.
In 2017, we paid 60 euros per square meter without tiles. On top of that, there was a surcharge twice for the showers. All materials such as adhesive, waterproofing, grout, shower slopes, etc. were included.
In 2017, we paid 60 euros per square meter without tiles. On top of that, there was a surcharge twice for the showers. All materials such as adhesive, waterproofing, grout, shower slopes, etc. were included.
exto1791 schrieb:
However, the price range indicated in the scope of work and service description from our construction company, as well as from the competitors we previously checked, is around 50.00€/m².Including materials? Then you will likely have to select materials through your tiler’s wholesaler, where you usually pay the list price. This means that if you choose the tile you liked in the hardware store for 20 euros, you will end up paying 40 or 50 euros. The fine print in the scope of work often states that out of the 50 euros per m², about 15 euros are calculated for the tile—and for that price, the wholesaler only offers three unattractive tile options. Also, the 50 euros per m² price usually covers only small tile sizes, for example, up to 50x30cm (20x12 inches). Larger tiles will, of course, cost more to install.Our basic idea was that we wanted the same flooring everywhere in the house.
We liked the idea of hardwood flooring, but we had mixed experiences with its durability. I grew up in a house with natural stone flooring (Solnhofen natural stone in irregular pieces, so very rustic), and it’s simply indestructible. After 30 years, it still looks like new.
That’s why we decided on tiles. In the end, we chose the tile "Castelvetro - Life - Beige color." After 3 years, we are still very satisfied and don’t regret the decision.
The floor is easy to clean and dirt isn’t immediately visible.
The only downside is the temperature. My wife expected the floor to be as warm as in my parents’ house mentioned above.
But since we always wear slippers, it’s fine. In summer, it stays nicely cool, and I love walking barefoot on it.
We liked the idea of hardwood flooring, but we had mixed experiences with its durability. I grew up in a house with natural stone flooring (Solnhofen natural stone in irregular pieces, so very rustic), and it’s simply indestructible. After 30 years, it still looks like new.
That’s why we decided on tiles. In the end, we chose the tile "Castelvetro - Life - Beige color." After 3 years, we are still very satisfied and don’t regret the decision.
The floor is easy to clean and dirt isn’t immediately visible.
The only downside is the temperature. My wife expected the floor to be as warm as in my parents’ house mentioned above.
But since we always wear slippers, it’s fine. In summer, it stays nicely cool, and I love walking barefoot on it.
Bertram100 schrieb:
I find tiles always look kind of outdated. After 10 years, they just look like “they were nice 10 years ago.” I would never choose tiles, except maybe for the entrance area.
I have hardwood flooring with underfloor heating everywhere, including the kitchen and bathroom. It works perfectly, no issues. Otherwise, linoleum is also a great option for flooring.
50 euros per square meter (about $55 per square yard) for materials and installation isn’t that expensive. I really wouldn’t save money on the flooring or its type. You don’t replace the floor quickly. Better to have it installed room by room. Well, that’s not entirely true. I couldn’t tell the difference from wood-look tiles. I was standing in front of the tiles and could have sworn they weren’t tiles. The feel is definitely different, but visually, you can get any tile design you want nowadays.
Installation costs are usually included in the overall house price and are not itemized separately. You can calculate the cost accordingly. However, 50 €/m² for the sample selection process is definitely a lot! The installation price doesn’t play a role during the sampling.
The real question regarding saving money is: What is important? I already mentioned some factors above. As usual, you can’t always judge quality just by the price.
Scout schrieb:
Including materials? Then you would also be allowed to select samples at your tile supplier’s wholesaler, where you usually pay the list price. That means if you take the tile you liked at the DIY store for 20 euros, you’re looking at 40 or 50 euros there. And in the fine print of the construction service description, it often states that out of the 50 euros per square meter, roughly 15 euros are allocated to the tile—which gets you exactly three ugly tiles at the wholesaler. The 50 euros usually only cover small sizes, for example up to 50x30cm (20x12 inches). Larger tiles will, of course, cost more to install. After consulting with the construction company, this is how it works: 50.00 euros per m² (square meter) is stated in the scope of work document. I go to the specialist dealer, check the prices there (all are clearly listed), pick a tile I like (for example 40 euros), and then receive a 10-euro credit per m². Installation costs are always included (for us, even for 60x60cm (24x24 inches)).
Excerpt from the scope of work document: “All tiles are installed using the thin-bed method. Price range for tile supply up to 50.00 euros per m² including VAT. The scope of work includes installation ... (also 60x60cm (24x24 inches)).”
This seems clear to me, or am I misunderstanding something?
matte1987 schrieb:
Our main idea was also to have the same flooring everywhere. We liked the look of hardwood flooring, but we’ve had mixed experiences with its durability. I grew up in a house with natural stone flooring (Solnhofen natural stone in a broken, very rustic style), and it is simply indestructible. After 30 years, it still looks like new.
That’s why we decided on tiles. In the end, we chose the tile "Castelvetro - Life - Beige color." After 3 years, we are still very satisfied and do not regret the decision. The floor is easy to clean and dirt is not immediately visible.
The only downside is the temperature. My wife expected the floor to get as warm as it did in my parents’ house mentioned above. However, since we always wear slippers, it works out. In summer, it stays nicely cool, and I love walking on it barefoot.These are my concerns as well... Does underfloor heating really make much of a difference? I only know it from home, where the tiles were really warm with underfloor heating, but I’m not sure if this is the case in modern airtight houses.
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