Flooring Installation Colorado Springs: The Best Materials for Each Room

Flooring installation can make or break remodeling projects in Colorado Springs. What you walk on has an important effect on both the overall appearance of a room and how you feel about it. Not all materials are suitable for all areas of your property, so it's important to know exactly which choices are best for the areas you're renovating when you need flooring installation in Colorado Springs.

There are many flooring options available, and some of those materials have additional customization options that exceed the overall variety of basic flooring materials available in Colorado Springs. Ceramic and porcelain tile, for example, have so many varieties that it can be difficult just to narrow down an average price point for tile flooring installation.

Your particular selection of flooring should be based on considerations of both which room you're renovating and how you use that room. That means you need to know the specific pros and cons of each material, so you can make a choice that meets your needs for flooring installation in Colorado Springs.

If you're sure which material is best, or if you just need advice from an expert, your local Colorado Springs handyman is a great person to ask. Mr. Handyman of Colorado Springs is here to help you with all your remodeling projects. Whether you need expert advice or professional services for flooring installation, Colorado Springs property owners can always rely on our team of experienced pros.

Flooring Installation Colorado Springs: Materials for Each Room

There are many materials you can use in your home or business, but many people in Colorado Springs use just a handful of popular materials. These materials are common in so many properties because they have specific benefits that set them apart. Of course, they also have drawbacks.

The unique characteristics of each specific material make them great options for some areas, and terrible choices for others. It's important to carefully consider how you use your space while you're picking a material for your Colorado Springs flooring project. Careful consideration will ensure that you pick the right beautiful, functional material for your installation.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring:

Sometimes called luxury vinyl plank (LVP), luxury vinyl tile (LVT)—or simply, vinyl—this is an extremely common material for flooring installation in Colorado Springs. It's one of the most affordable options on the market, if not the most affordable, and it comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors.

Vinyl Pros:

Low Cost: Vinyl can cost as little as $1 per square foot, although there are fewer materials with more affordable varieties. The higher end of its price range sits around $5, with plenty of options for customization.
High Comfort: Some homeowners in Colorado Springs like vinyl for the softer feeling that comes from its layered construction.
High Durability: Vinyl flooring is water resistant and low maintenance. Many varieties also have a wear layer that resists stains and helps reduce wear.

Vinyl Cons:

Cannot Be Refinished: While it is sometimes possible to repair vinyl sheets, it's often better to replace vinyl planks and tiles. Even with damaged sheets, replacement is often simpler and most cost-effective.
Little Benefit to Value: Because vinyl is generally an inexpensive material, it won't have much effect on the overall resale value of a home in Colorado Springs, which means it doesn't provide much return on investment.
Difficult to Remove: If glued down, vinyl can be extremely difficult to remove, which could limit your options for future flooring installation in Colorado Springs.

Laminate Flooring:

For affordable flooring installations in Colorado Springs, laminate is a great choice. It's a synthetic material that's created by combining a top wear layer with a plywood or fiberboard core. The top layer is usually made of plastic, and it's applied over a photo-realistic image that can be made to look just like natural hardwood. Some varieties of laminate even have texturing added to the top layer, to mimic the wood grain texture of natural wood.

Laminate Pros:

Low Cost: The price of laminate generally ranges from $3 per square foot to around $16 for more expensive options. Its lower threshold makes it one of the most affordable flooring options in Colorado Springs.
High Durability: Despite its low cost, laminate has a high resistance to scratching. It also stands up well against impacts and stains, and it's unlikely to fade from direct exposure to sunlight.
Simple installation: Whether you're going DIY or you're planning to hire professionals for your flooring installation in Colorado Springs, you'll appreciate the easy installation process of laminate. The snap together installation method for laminate planks saves on time and labor.

Laminate Cons:

Moisture Vulnerability: Although laminate is highly durable, the varieties that have a high density fiberboard core are more susceptible to water damage than natural wood. When exposed to water, they tend to break down and expand, causing many issues that eventually lead to replacement.
Hard to Repair: The process for repairing laminate is not as simple as it is for other materials, and in many cases, replacement is the best option for fixing damaged planks.
Installation Learning Curve: Although the process for installing laminate is relatively simple, you'll still need practice and patience to get a perfect installation done.

Carpet Flooring:

Carpet is soft, comfortable and generally inexpensive. It provides a lot of comfort and comes in a variety of styles, which is why it's so common for many homes in Colorado Springs. However, there are some serious downsides to carpet that you should consider before installation.

Carpet Pros:

Low Cost: Much like other affordable materials, carpet comes in around $3 per square foot for cheaper varieties. More expensive options can cost as much as $11 per square foot, which means that there are plenty of carpet options for all budgets.
High Comfort: Carpet is a common comfort option. It's warmer and softer than most other materials, and many homeowners in Colorado Springs who replace their carpet with something else often miss that comfort most of all.
Extra Sound Separation: Some varieties of carpet have mild sound-dampening qualities, which makes them more ideal for areas where keeping sound in, or out, could be a concern.

Carpet Cons:

High Maintenance: Carpet must be cleaned and vacuumed regularly to prevent it from absorbing smells, dust and other debris.
Not Suitable for Pets: Dogs and cats tend to get their claws stuck in carpet. Not only will that make your pet uncomfortable, but it could also end up ruining your carpeting over time.
Poor Moisture Resistance: Carpet will trap moisture, which leads to issues with wood rot and moisture damage in your subfloor and other nearby areas.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring:

Engineered hardwood is another synthetic type of flooring material meant to mimic the appearance and feeling of natural hardwood. It's slightly less expensive than the natural alternative, but also offers fewer benefits. It's similar to laminate in its construction, which consists of two strips of hardwood over a plywood core.

Engineered Hardwood Pros:

Resistance to Warping: One of the biggest issues with solid wood flooring is warping from moisture and humidity. The plywood core of hardwood adds extra durability that increases its resistance against warping.
Easy Installation: Engineered hardwood eliminates the difficult installation process of solid wood flooring with varieties that can be installed with floating and glue-down techniques.
Can Be Refinished: At its slightly lower price point, it still has the benefit of refinishing that comes with hardwood floors, although to a less significant degree.

Engineered Hardwood Cons:

Can Only Be Refinished Once: Due to its construction, engineered hardwood can only be finished once or twice before it must be replaced.
Lower Lifespan: Compared to its natural alternative, it only lasts about half as long at most—about 20 to 40 years—before it needs to be replaced.
Lower Resale Value: Although it looks great, it is the cheaper alternative to the natural option, which means that it will also have a lower resale value.

Natural Hardwood Flooring:

Hardwood is one of the oldest and most widely used materials for flooring installation in Colorado Springs. It has a high durability, great value and lasts for many years. However, it also has some significant drawbacks that make homeowners think twice about the price.

Hardwood Pros:

Long Lasting: With routine maintenance and refinishing, it's possible for natural wood to last for up to 100 years.
High Return on Investment: As one of the most desired and best looking materials, hardwood offers one of the greatest benefits for improvements to home value.
Can Be Refinished and Repaired Many Times: Unlike many other materials, hardwood can be repaired and refinished many times over its long lifespan.

Hardwood Cons:

High Cost: At a minimum of $6 to $12 per square foot, hardwood costs at least twice as much as many of the more affordable options.
Vulnerable to Scratches and Scrapes: Hardwood is vulnerable to scratches, dents and scuffs, so it's likely that you will need repairs eventually.
Low Moisture Resistance: Hardwood will warp and bend if it's exposed to moisture or high humidity, which limits the areas where it can be installed.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Flooring:

With so many options for patterns, colors and designs, tile is a great option for both accents and entire floors. Many unique home remodeling projects in Colorado Springs include great tile for flooring installation.

Tile Pros:

Wide Range of Styles: The options for tile color and shape are nearly endless, so there are designs to meet every need, from boosting resale value to promoting personal taste.
Non-Porous: The natural, non-porous quality of porcelain and ceramic tiles make them highly water-resistant.
High Durability: Tiles are stronger than many other materials and stand up well against scuffs, bumps and impacts.

Tile Cons:

High Cost: With an average price of at least $13 per square foot that can get as high as $80, tile is one of the most expensive options available for flooring installation in Colorado Springs.
Difficult Installation: The process for properly laying tile is precise and time-consuming, which makes it more suitable for professional Colorado Springs flooring installation than DIY projects.
Vulnerable to Cracks and Scratches: Although tile is quite durable, it can still be scratched or cracked, and any broken pieces must be replaced quickly, as they could increase the risks of severe water damage.

Best Flooring Installation Options for Each Room

Kitchen and Bathroom Flooring:

Tile is one of the best options for both kitchens and bathrooms in Colorado Springs because of its durability, beauty and water resistance, but it's not the only option. LVT is another popular choice that has great water-resistance and durability for a much lower price than tile. Laminate is another alternative option for kitchens in Colorado Springs that can work well because of its stain resistance, but its moisture vulnerability will present some challenges—and it should generally be avoided in bathrooms for the same reason.

Living Rooms and Common Spaces:

Engineered hardwood, hardwood and laminate are all great choices for common areas in Colorado Springs based on your budget for flooring installation. Carpet is another great option that adds a sense of comfort, but has the potential to cause major complications if you own pets or fail to keep up with maintenance.

Basements:

For basements, it's best to avoid any materials that suffer from issues with humidity and moisture, which eliminates hardwood, carpet and laminate. Engineered hardwood and vinyl are typically the best options for a basement. There are some options available for synthetic carpet that have higher moisture resistance, but homeowners should always be wary of installing carpet in their basement.

Bedrooms:

Carpet is one of the best options for above-ground bedrooms in Colorado Springs. It offers all the comfort that anyone could want and comes in a variety of styles to match your personal tastes. Engineered hardwood, vinyl and hardwood are also great options for bedrooms in Colorado Springs.

Entryways and High-Traffic Areas:

Laminate and vinyl are both great options for high traffic areas. They offer higher levels of durability for areas where scuffs and scratches are common. It's also possible to install tile in entryways. The right tiles can provide high levels of durability and beauty to make entryways pop.

Do You Need Flooring Installation in Colorado Springs?

Mr. Handyman of Colorado Springs can provide a wide range of services to help with home repairs and remodeling—including professional flooring installation. Whether you want help with your home repair list or you want professional advice and service for a major remodeling project, we're here to help.

Call 719-496-1970 to schedule an appointment or learn more about how we can help.