There’s more to upgrading your home’s flooring than simply choosing the material you like and having it installed. The perfect flooring will look good and be practical. Here are three things to consider when choosing to update your floors.

Consider the room 

It’s important to pick a flooring material that will work with your space. Areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms benefit from material such as porcelain or vinyl tile to avoid potential water damage. High-traffic rooms, such as family rooms, need something more durable, like hardwood or engineered wood. If well maintained, hardwood is comfortable and will last for decades. AC Flooring offers a great comparison table of different types of flooring, here.

Get crack-free floors

Durability is key with ceramic and porcelain tile floors. The best way to ensure that your new tiles and grout remain crack-free is to install an uncoupling membrane underneath the tiles. These are dimpled plastic sheet materials that go down at the beginning of the installation. They work by allowing the tiles and subfloor to move slightly from side to side in relation to each other. Adding this small detail might seem unimportant, but it can make all the difference in terms of your tile floor remaining crack-free over time, especially with tiles installed over wooden subfloors.

Use transition strips

Got a tile installation that won’t sit entirely between walls? Will tile edges be exposed where they meet another type of flooring? This is where transition strips can help. The best are available in different metals, finishes and shapes, but all deliver the same thing — a refined, finished appearance where tile edges would normally remain visible.

Still not sure where to start? Find a professional who will install the perfect flooring that will stand the test of time.