Hardwood flooring is a popular choice in many homes due to its classic look. However, hardwood flooring isn’t always the best choice for every home and lifestyle. Here are a few reasons hardwood flooring might not be right for your home:

1. You Don’t Want a Lot of Maintenance

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance flooring option, hardwood floors may not be the best choice for you. The amount of maintenance you want is one of the things to consider when choosing flooring. With hardwood flooring, regular sweeping is necessary in order to keep it looking nice and clean. You also need to be very careful about the products you use to clean them. You can’t just use any cleaner on hardwood floors because it may damage their finish.

If your heart is set on hardwood floors but you know you don’t want to put up with the maintenance, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a good option to look into. LVP’s maintenance level is relatively low as it doesn’t require any specific cleaners. There are so many design trends in luxury vinyl flooring that you should have no problem finding something that looks nearly identical to hardwood flooring.

2. You Have Kids or Pets

Pets and children are tough on floors. Both tend to track in a lot of dirt and mud from outside and this will require very regular cleaning. This constant cleaning can be hard on hardwood floors. They’re also prone to scratches, nicks, and dents.

Both kids and pets (dogs in particular) are likely to unknowingly damage these floors, which may make hardwood floors an unwise choice for your family. The best kind of flooring for pets is tile or LVP. Some of the benefits of tile flooring are how durable and hypoallergenic they are. Pet hair and dander can easily be swept away and they’re easy to clean.

If you also have kids, LVP or carpet can be a good option. While carpet may not be ideal in every room, it’s a good choice for bedrooms and playrooms. For other rooms, choose a durable material, like LVP, that can withstand a lot of foot traffic as well as frequent cleaning.

3. You Want Soundproofing

Hardwood floors can make your home louder since they tend to amplify sound. If you want a quieter home, you may want to choose another type of flooring. Carpet will absorb a good amount of sound, but other options include cork and vinyl. Rubber and LVP, popular basement flooring options, offer soundproofing capabilities as well.

4. You Don’t Want Cold Floors

There’s nothing quite as terrible as getting out of bed on a chilly morning and stepping on cold floors. Of course, area rugs can go a long way in giving you warm areas of your flooring, but it won’t solve the problem.

If you prefer warmer flooring due to your climate, you may want to reconsider hardwood flooring. If you still want the look of hardwood, consider luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or plank (LVP). You can get a very realistic-looking hardwood floor with the benefit of a material that retains warmth better.

Underfloor heating is another option to consider. Underfloor heating works with a variety of materials, including tile as well as LVP and LVT. This type of heating is a popular bathroom flooring idea but it’s not limited to bathrooms.

Update Your Floors With Zephyr Thomas

These are just a few reasons hardwood flooring might not be right for your home. If you want to update your floors or you see any of the signs it’s time to replace your flooring, contact the experts at Zephyr Thomas. We’ll help you choose the right flooring material and provide excellent installation. Call us at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate!

Take a look at the infographic from FCA Flooring Specialists below for some materials around your home that are perfect for homes with kids and pets. Click to view it at full size.