Floors For All Walks

Decisions, decisions.  When choosing a floor, you may find yourself torn between wood and laminate.  And with more color style options than ever – including alternative woods such as cork, and laminates created to mimic materials as diverse as oak and stone – it’s easy to get tripped up.  Below are the benefits of both floor types to help you select the one that’s right for you and your home.

Why wood?

BEAUTY – the rich, warm grain of wood brings the outdoors in.

TIMELESSNESS – unlike some floor types, wood won’t cycle in and out of style.

DISTINCTION – since no two trees are exactly alike, you can be sure your wood flooring is one of a kind.

VALUE – wood floors add value to your home

LONGEVITY – wood flooring is durable, long-lasting, and often comes with a lifetime warranty.

Hardwood floors come in more species, widths, and colors than ever before.  In addition to solid wood (nail-down installation) and engineered wood (glue or staple installation), new locking wood floors feature an easy-to-install tongue-and-groove system.  No messy glue or nails needed.

Why laminate?

VARIETY – laminate floors come in a wide range of colors and capture the look of an array of materials, including wood, stone, and tile.

LOW MAINTENANCE – no sanding or refinishing is required to keep your floors looking great.

AFFORDABILITY – laminate offers great value and costs less to purchase and install than wood.

DURABILITY – have children or pets? Laminate floors take them in stride by resisting scratches and stains.  Laminate also stands up to dents.

EASY TO INSTALL – simple locking construction makes laminate floors easy to install in a weekend – even by a novice do-it-yourselfer.

Locking planks make all laminate flooring super easy to install.  Use an underlayment for moisture protection and soundproofing.

Friendly Flooring

These materials make a big impact on your home – and a small impact on the planet.

CORK – the soft, cellular structure of cork – harvested as bark from living trees – adds natural, eco-friendly insulation.

BAMBOO – while technically not wood (it’s a wood-like grass), bamboo is a fast-growing renewable resource that makes a beautiful floor.

Courtesy of Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Home and Gardens