How do I know if humidity is damaging my hardwood floors?

Early signs include boards that feel slightly raised at the edges, small gaps appearing between planks, or a faint squeaking that wasn't there before. If you notice any of these, checking your indoor humidity level is a good first step before assuming the floor itself is the problem.

Is LVP really waterproof?

Most luxury vinyl plank products have a waterproof core, meaning the planks themselves won't absorb water. However, if water sits long enough to seep beneath the floor, it can affect the subfloor. Addressing spills and leaks quickly still matters even with waterproof flooring.

Can sun damage to hardwood floors be reversed?

In some cases, sanding and refinishing can restore sun-faded hardwood, depending on the extent of the damage. Preventing it is always easier and less costly than repairing it, which is why UV protection measures are worth the effort.

Do hallway runners work with all flooring types?

Yes, and they're especially practical on hardwood, LVP, and laminate, where scratches from foot traffic accumulate over time. We carry custom runners that can be sized to fit your specific entryway or hallway.

How often should I vacuum the carpet in the summer?

Two to three times a week is a reasonable target during high-traffic summer months, especially in homes with kids or pets. High-traffic areas like living rooms and hallways benefit from more frequent attention than bedrooms.

What should I do if I come home to water on my floors?

Remove standing water as quickly as possible and get air moving with fans. For hardwood and laminate, time is critical since both can begin to swell or buckle within hours. Call a water mitigation professional if the damage is significant, and reach out to our team to assess whether the floor itself needs attention once things dry out.

How do hallway runners protect my floors?

Runners absorb foot traffic, dirt, and grit that would otherwise land directly on your floor. In entryways and hallways, that kind of daily friction adds up over time, especially on hardwood, LVP, and laminate. A runner takes that wear so your floors don't have to, and a custom-cut option means it fits your space properly rather than sliding around or leaving gaps at the edges.

How to Choose Flooring for your Central Ohio home

Feb 7, 2023

Table of Contents

Choosing Your Flooring Style for Your Central Ohio Home
What Flooring is Best for Central Ohio?
What is Your Flooring Budget?
Contact Us, Your Friendly Flooring Store in Columbus Ohio

Are you ready for new floors to update your home? This quick guide will help you sort through important things to consider for flooring in your Columbus, Ohio home. Here are four quick steps to help you get started selecting your carpet, vinyl plank flooring, or hardwood flooring.

Choosing Your Flooring Style for Your Central Ohio Home

Since your taste in style tells a story about who you are, what you love, and how you relax, it is a key factor to consider when selecting flooring for your house.

"A house becomes our home, a place we return to at the end of the day to relax, replenish, and refresh."

So what type of flooring serves you best? Carpet? Luxury vinyl? Hardwood? A mix of them all?

You can create a space you love by finding products that are correct for your taste, lifestyle, and budget; thousands of flooring options help you do just that. Research or ask trained sales teams about product options, product performance, maintenance, and price comparison.

Are you trying to pinpoint what your style is? Some helpful places to start looking are interior design magazines or flooring trend sites, home shows and tours, local Central Ohio design companies like Palmer House Designs, or Pinterest. Start recognizing what details you like (or maybe what you do not like). Do you like an industrial style with a mix of wood, metal, and concrete, or a traditional, classic style with warmth? Or you might prefer a modern style with clean, simple lines and furnishings. By browsing multiple options, you will be able to better determine what your personal preference is.

Maintaining consistency of style throughout your home is important to help each space complement the others and keep your home feeling restful to be in.

What Flooring is Best for Central Ohio?

There are three practical things to consider when making your selection. Being realistic and practical in selecting the flooring that is going to work best for you is very important.

Consider Your Climate

The weather outside does, to some degree, find its way inside. In Columbus, we see harsh winters, rainy springs, and humid summers, with traces of each following us in. Pay attention to how your flooring will hold up near your most-used entrances.

Consider Your Lifestyle

If you have pets or children, plan for scuffing, scratching, and heavy traffic. Many homeowners in Columbus and suburbs like Westerville, New Albany, Lewis Center, Dublin, and Hilliard choose hard surfaces like luxury vinyl or hardwood for first floors and hallways, and keep carpet in family rooms, stairs, and bedrooms.

Consider Maintenance

Different products vary in maintenance and durability. Even the same type of flooring may need more cleaning and care in one area of your home than in another.

What is Your Flooring Budget?

Flooring can be a significant investment; one that often pays for itself with improved home resale value and ease of living. It is important to consider your budget when making decisions for flooring.

For instance, real hardwood flooring is more expensive than luxury vinyl but carries a significant return on investment. Realtor.com suggests that the average ROI for installing hardwood floors hovers in the 70% to 80% range and can add as much as 2.5% to the resale value. If your budget allows it, you can enjoy the beauty of true hardwood while investing in your future resale value.

Consider how long you plan to be in this home. If this home is where you plan to retire and host your grandchildren, you will want to consider different options or grade of products than you would if you are refreshing just to resell the property.

All flooring product lines come with a range of grades and price points within them. Carpet is typically the lowest starting price point option, but of course, high quality carpet will have similar pricing as some hard surface options. LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planking) is typically the lowest price point of hard surface options.

Start Your Flooring Project Today

While it can be overwhelming to start looking at flooring options and narrowing down the choices, doing research, talking with trained professionals, and asking great questions will help you discover the most appropriate flooring for your home. We would love to help you find it.

Ready to Start Your Flooring Project?

Visit our Columbus-area showroom or schedule a free, in-home flooring consultation.

Call (614) 262-0765