One way or another, flooring materials will cost you a few thousand bucks no matter who you turn to for help. And while some floors cost more right out of the gate, others will have higher maintenance and upkeep expenses to plan for soon.
Whether you are a local Dallas, TX, business owner or a cost-conscious homeowner, you have options which must get balanced before you shell out a ton of money on installation. Below are some of the most resilient floors you can buy today.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors have long acted as the standard by which most homeowners base their material decisions on for its lasting beauty and durability. However, what many consumers don?t realize is that not all flooring panels offer the characteristics that they value the most.
Some wood floors stay especially susceptible to changes in temperature and moisture, while some are too soft and spongy to get relied on for prolonged use. Soon after installation, your furniture all leaves behind grooves and scuffs from nothing more than pulling them away from the table.
Wood floors also come with a broad range of pricing, especially concerning its finished coat. You can purchase unfinished wood panels far cheaper than finished, but then their installation costs run higher in the end.
Others may think that they can save by doing the installation alone, but it takes experience to get it put in correctly. The typical person can easily spot an amateur installation, and now you?re stuck with it until it needs to get replaced.
Stained Concrete
Stained concrete flooring has become a versatile choice for many Fort Worth homeowners as much of the materials are already in place. And because stains can produce any number of patterns, textures, and colors, most people find it simple to customize their home.
However, like any applications, not all stained concrete surfaces provide the level of resilience you had hoped that they would offer. And while you probably won?t see any considerable damages anytime soon, some stain treatments last longer than others.
Most concrete staining is little more than a roll-on paint product, although more complex dyes can get used as well. They won?t produce any additional protection, however, and it?s more similar to the coloring done to your interior walls.
You could go for the additional expense of requesting a one-part epoxy paint, but then you run the risk of your entire home looking like a garage. And at that point, you would be better off going for a complete epoxy coating instead.
Epoxy Coating
Epoxy coating floors are similar to fully epoxied surfaces in that they offer a thick, durable shell that protects against daily use. As it is only a coating, you aren?t spending as much on the chemical products, and most of your costs go towards the installation?s labor.
Although there isn?t as much epoxy present, you should still enjoy a couple of inches on top of the existing concrete, giving you plenty of shielding. And the resin remains relatively easy to clean and maintain, helping you save in the long run.
One of the biggest hurdles for homeowners, however, is improper installation techniques, especially if they attempt it as a Do It Yourself project. Some people think five minutes spent speaking to a hardware store employee is enough to understand the process thoroughly.
It doesn?t take much for a recently installed DIY epoxy coating to develop cracks, and once cured, you?ll need to pay a professional to redo it. It often makes more economic sense to have a local Frisco epoxy flooring company handle it from the start.
Polished Concrete
Polished concrete builds on the principle of stained versions, but with a much smoother, professional finish. Since the early 2000s, more homeowners have begun turning to polished concrete floors.
The process starts with your bare concrete surface, which is also your home?s foundation slab. The installation team uses a series of abrasive pads that sand down the surface until it creates a smooth, glossier finish.
Once dyed, it can take on any textures or preferred patterns, offering lots of customizability. And although it?s a long-lasting flooring material, it isn?t without its hazards.
Corrosive cleaning agents can quickly scar the surface, and while concrete remains dense, a heavy enough object could cause cracks, splits, and take chunks out. While polished concrete looks excellent, you may want to wait until after the kids move out first.
Epoxy Flooring
Unlike an epoxy coating, these floors are pure resin installed directly to a concrete surface. While epoxy flooring is among the most industrial material in the list, it also provides a superior level of protection.
Many homeowners are going for the added expense of having epoxy flooring put into their garages, as well as to create personalized showroom areas. If you find yourself to be an especially clumsy home cook, or you work with lots of stains, paints, and other chemicals as a hobby, epoxy flooring should remain a consideration.
Epoxy flooring does require maintenance every few years, which could create a bit of a hassle for some. And while it might not be the end of the world if you wait a little longer between service calls, the sooner you have damaged areas repaired, the better.
Your epoxy floors will likely outlast any other flooring material type, but it isn?t always aesthetically pleasing. While superior for use in your garage or kitchen, you might not want it used in the master bedroom.
Speaking of kitchen…see?5 Reasons Why You Need Commercial Kitchen Epoxy Flooring.
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