We had a customer stop by the other day with a common question.

She’s ready to remodel the house she bought a few years back. She’s lived in it for a while, planned out each room, and is finally ready to renovate and create her dream home.

The problem is her dream has always included hardwood floors. Yet her heart is telling her that might not be the best choice. She has young children. She has pets. She has an active family in and out all day long.

So she stopped by to talk. Would she be sorry if she installed her dream hardwood floors?

Our answer:

Did you know there are different types of hardwood that can best suit your needs?

Assessing Your Lifestyle

We didn’t start our conversation by showing this customer hardwood samples. Instead, we had a few questions for her.

• What’s your lifestyle like?
• How do you care for your current flooring?
• What do you like or dislike about your current flooring?
• What would you change about your current flooring?

This is also where you start.

When you’re looking to create a low-maintenance home, the best flooring choice depends on how you live day-to-day.

Think about the daily activities in your home. Do you have kids or pets running around? Or is your space more of a quiet, retreat-like atmosphere? Consider how much time you’re willing to dedicate to cleaning and maintaining your floors. If the thought of spending weekends scrubbing or polishing sounds exhausting, you’ll want something that minimizes upkeep.

Your lifestyle also influences the kind of traffic your floors will endure. High-traffic areas, like hallways and kitchens, may require more durable options. Meanwhile, less frequented rooms can handle more delicate flooring without worry.

By taking a moment to assess how your home functions, you’ll set the foundation for making the right flooring choice that aligns with your vision of a low-maintenance lifestyle.

Low-Maintenance Hardwood – Yes, You Have Options

The thing is, it’s easy to get stuck on one idea when you’re thinking about your dream house. You “see” it in your mind. You “know” what you want. But coming into our retail location will help you expand what you “see.”

When you think of hardwood, solid hardwood floors might be the first thing that comes to mind. But if you’re concerned about maintenance, don’t worry—there are several other great options that can still give you the beauty of hardwood without the extra hassle. We think you’re going to like some of the alternatives that are available:

Solid Hardwood

This is the traditional option. Solid hardwood is cut from a single piece of wood, making it durable and long-lasting. It can be refinished multiple times, which helps it stand the test of time. However, solid hardwood tends to be more sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, meaning it might require a bit more care in high-traffic or moisture-prone areas like kitchens or bathrooms.

Engineered Hardwood

If you love the look of hardwood but want something with a little more stability and less upkeep, engineered hardwood could be your answer. Engineered wood consists of a top layer of real wood veneer and several layers of plywood beneath. This construction makes it more resistant to warping from humidity, making it ideal for basements or other spaces where solid wood might not hold up as well. If you’ve worried about your active lifestyle in your main living space, this can be a great option.

Laminate

Laminate flooring has come a long way, and today’s versions can look incredibly close to real wood. It’s made from multiple layers with a photographic image of wood on the top, and it’s much more scratch-resistant and easier to maintain than solid hardwood. Laminate is a good choice for households with pets or kids because it can handle the wear and tear of everyday life without requiring constant upkeep.

Luxury Vinyl Planks

Want the look of hardwood but don’t want to worry about moisture or durability at all? Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) offer a great alternative. They mimic the appearance of real wood while being highly water-resistant, sometimes even waterproof. LVP is ideal for high-traffic areas and rooms with moisture, like kitchens, bathrooms, or mudrooms, and it’s incredibly easy to clean.

With Several Choices, How Do You Make Your Decision?

We understand more information can just increase confusion. That’s never our intent. But you have to see your options to properly make your decision.

Does one of them jump out at you? Are you intrigued by one of the options? That’s where you should start to explore. Because it all boils down to your priorities and lifestyle.

Consider Your Space

First, think about where you’ll be installing the flooring. High-moisture areas like kitchens, bathrooms, or basements might not be the best places for solid hardwood. In these cases, engineered hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl planks might be better suited to withstand the environmental challenges of those spaces.

Traffic and Durability

Next, consider the foot traffic in your home. If you have a bustling household full of kids, pets, or both, durability might be your top priority. In this case, laminate or luxury vinyl planks can give you that hardwood look while handling the daily wear and tear with ease. For quieter, less-trafficked areas, solid or engineered hardwood can offer that classic elegance while still being practical.

Maintenance Needs

How much time do you want to spend on floor care? Solid hardwood is beautiful, but it does require more maintenance, from refinishing over time to careful cleaning. Engineered hardwood, laminate, and luxury vinyl are designed to make life easier, requiring less attention to keep them looking their best. Maybe they’re the best choice now – you can always upgrade to solid hardwood when the kids are older.

Budget Considerations

Finally, let’s talk about cost. Solid hardwood tends to be on the higher end of the price range, while engineered hardwood is usually a little more affordable, and laminate or LVP can be even more budget-friendly. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of installation and any maintenance down the road.

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to what makes the most sense for your home and lifestyle. Whether you want the long-term elegance of solid hardwood, the flexibility of engineered wood, or the practicality of laminate or luxury vinyl planks, you have options that can align with both your aesthetic goals and your need for low maintenance.

Can we help you make the right decision for low-maintenance hardwood for your home?