With numerous types of flooring available, choosing the best option can feel overwhelming when remodeling your home. Picking the right material for your floor remodel can make all the difference in the look and feel of your newly renovated space. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of remodeling floors when renovating a room and explore different materials you can use for your project.
Visualizing your new space can be a challenge when there are so many options to choose from. James Barton Design-Build has 30 years of experience helping Twin Cities homeowners choose the best materials for their renovations. Contact us today and let us show you the design possibilities for your space!
Benefits of Remodeling Floors
When updating your home, it’s easy to focus on design elements such as the layout, cabinets, appliances, and fixtures. However, your flooring is just as important in tying the design of your space together.
Aside from improving the appearance of your home, the benefits of updating your flooring include:
- Boosted home value. Hardwood floors can give you a return on investment (ROI) of 75% or more.
- Better indoor air quality. Old carpeting can trap dust and allergens. Replacing carpet with hard floors will make your home easier to clean.
- Increased durability. New flooring materials are engineered to withstand stains, scratches, and heavy foot traffic without showing signs of wear as easily as older options.
- Improved accessibility. Compared to carpet, hard floors are easier to navigate for people with mobility concerns, making them great for universal design.
Best Types of Flooring for Minnesota
When doing a renovation, flooring options can feel endless. From hardwood to concrete, you might not know where to begin. To narrow it down, we’ll look at a few materials that are good choices for Minnesota homes. With humidity and extreme temperatures to contend with in the Midwest, some choices are better than others.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood is a timeless choice for Twin Cities homes. If you currently have hardwood floors, you may want to consider refinishing them rather than a complete flooring remodel. Not only are original hardwood floors a selling point, but they also help preserve historic charm if you live in an older home.
Installing new hardwood floors is also an option for your renovations. However, solid hardwood is more expensive than engineered wood flooring, costing up to $25 per square foot (on the high end), compared to $16 per square foot for engineered wood.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that solid hardwood is more susceptible to humidity than engineered wood. If you want to install solid wood floors during your remodel, it’s best to avoid them in areas exposed to humidity, such as entryways.
In terms of aesthetics, solid hardwood floors typically only come in narrow planks. If you’re looking for wide planks, engineered wood or luxury vinyl plank flooring will be a better option.
Engineered Wood Floors
If you want the authentic look of hardwood without the expense or humidity issues, engineered wood is a great choice for a floor remodel project in Minnesota. Engineered wood has a veneer of real hardwood layered over a plywood or high-density fiberboard core.
Engineered wood comes in wider planks than solid hardwood, giving you more options. Better yet, its layered construction makes it more stable and less likely to warp due to humidity.
As a downside, there are limitations when it comes to refinishing engineered wood. Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished numerous times, but with their thinner surface layer, you can usually only sand engineered floors once or twice—if at all.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring
LVP flooring is an affordable flooring option that comes in a wide range of colors and styles. Unlike real hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring, LVP is waterproof, making it a sensible option for kitchens, bathrooms, or mudrooms.
In addition to being waterproof, luxury vinyl plank flooring is durable. It can resist scratches and regular wear and tear from a busy household, and the only maintenance it needs is sweeping and mopping to keep it clean.
Compared to wood options, it comes in a much wider variety of colors, textures, and plank styles. You can achieve the look of slate, concrete, stone, or even marble with LVP.
When considering your floor remodel cost, LVP is also one of the best options. It usually costs between $2 and $7 per square foot, making it one of the more affordable materials.
As a bonus, LVP can be used with in-floor heat. Compared to tile, LVP is softer and warmer on the feet. It’s also a less expensive material and requires less labor to install than tile, making it a much better option for many homeowners.
Tip: If you have pets or young children, you may want to consider a luxury vinyl plank or engineered hardwood instead of a traditional hardwood floor, since those options are more resistant to scratches and water stains and require minimal maintenance.
Tile Flooring
Tile floors aren’t just for the bathroom. In kitchens, mudrooms, and bathrooms, tile flooring is a great choice because it repels water and holds up very well against heavy foot traffic. Another added bonus to using tile flooring is that it’s easy to clean.
Tile also works great with in-floor heating, making it a perfect option for Minnesota. Having a heated floor in the bathroom, kitchen, or even the living room can make your home feel much more inviting in the winter.
As a drawback, tile chips easily, and it can be difficult to maintain and clean the grout. That said, you can replace individual tiles if they break, rather than needing to repair a large section of the floor.
Skip These Flooring Choices for Minnesota
Humidity, cold winters, and water damage are all things you need to think about when choosing flooring for Minnesota. With these factors, you’ll generally want to avoid these types of flooring:
- Cork is popular for its softness and because it’s made from natural materials. However, it has low durability and is susceptible to moisture damage.
- Concrete is durable and budget-friendly, but it will feel extremely cold in the winter unless you have in-floor heating. It is also susceptible to cracking during freeze-thaw cycles.
- Linoleum is affordable and long-lasting, but it easily becomes water-damaged, needs regular sealing, and comes in limited options.
- Laminate is an attractive and affordable alternative to LVP or wood, but it is easily damaged by water, and it tends to develop gaps between the planks in cold weather.
Wondering what flooring choices are best for your home? Let our design experts help you choose! At James Barton Design-Build, we have decades of experience renovating homes in the Twin Cities, so you don’t need to worry about figuring out the perfect design on your own. Contact us today for a design consultation.
Flooring Colors and Styles to Choose From
Choosing a flooring material is just part of the decision. You’ll also need to think about the texture, color, plank width, and layout pattern. Here are a few design choices to consider.
- Dark floors really pop against white enameled millwork and can create drama in a classic way.
- Lighter floors are beautiful when paired with darker cabinetry to make a space feel grounded.
- Subtle, neutral tones work even if your style shifts. As accessories, cabinets, or paint colors come and go, your floor pairs with a wide variety of looks, so you aren’t stuck in a specific niche.
- Choose a color tone that works with your design. Flooring with a red or yellow undertone will make your space feel warmer, while gray undertones will create a cooler palette.
- Narrow planks will create a more classic look, while wider planks tend to look more modern. Remember, the width options might be limited by the type of flooring you choose.
- Flooring doesn’t necessarily have to be installed in straight lines. Many types of flooring look great in a herringbone or diagonal pattern.
- Texture affects not just how your flooring feels, but how it looks. You can choose from smooth, brushed, or hand-scraped, depending on the material.
Renovate Your Home with James Barton Design-Build
Remodeling your home is an exciting time to explore different ideas and create a fresh new look for your space. No matter what area of the home you want to renovate, new flooring will tie your entire design together.
James Barton Design-Build has an award-winning design process that will turn your remodeling ideas into a reality. Contact our team to learn about the process and get started on your next home renovation!
