Few flooring materials are as visually appealing as wood. We install a lot
of traditional solid-wood flooring, but many of my customers are opting for
one of the alternatives to solid wood because it usually costs less.
The most inexpensive way to get the wood look is with sheet vinyl (about $2
per square foot installed). It comes in patterns that mimic a wood-strip or
parquet floor. Vinyl is a real bargain, and it can be a good choice in a sunroom
or family room. But it is not nearly as durable as other options, and it doesn't
quite look like the real thing. I have seen some patterns that make you reach
down and tap it to be sure, but for the most part this flooring has a plastic
look.
A second option is to install an engineered wood floor (about $7 to $11 per
square foot, unfinished). This flooring comes in strips the same width as traditional
wood, but it is about half the thickness. It's laminated wood, like plywood,
with a top veneer of whatever wood species you want. We glue the flooring directly
to a concrete slab or wood subfloor. Because it is unfinished, we recommend
this type of flooring when the homeowner wants us to match an existing wood
floor. For about $1 more per square foot, you also can buy a prefinished version
of this flooring.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you decide to go with this
flooring. For one, the surface veneer is relatively thin, so you have to be
careful when sanding. It also can be a challenge to install this flooring because
it is thinner than traditional wood flooring. On some jobs we've had to adjust
the floor framing, add another layer of subflooring or even pour a slightly
thicker slab so old and new floor levels would meet. You have to plan ahead.
We've had very good luck with a third choice: laminate flooring from companies
like Formica, Pergo and Wilsonart ($8 to $15 per square foot). We've installed
dozens of these floors, and my customers love their durability and the way
they look. This flooring, roughly 3/8 in. thick, has a very tough top layer
that resists wear and is nearly impervious to stains (see illustration). It
is typically installed over a thin foam pad, which helps to make the finished
floor quieter while smoothing out minor imperfections in the subfloor. Unlike
other types of flooring, this one is not nailed or glued to anything but itself:
The tongue-and-groove joints are glued together, and the whole floor floats
on top of the foam pad.
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