Home in Florida, concrete sub floor, is there a "best" flooring type?

6 years ago

Hello. We live on the Gulf Coast of Florida in a one-story, open floor plan home (is there any other kind here!?) The sub-floor is concrete. Someone here doesn't want to lay tile (It's not me....OK, it's me.) I'm a northern girl at heart so I really want hardwood flooring which obviously won't work here from both a practical and financial standpoint - any opinions/suggestions about a flooring type/brand that would give that "warm" feel to our home without costing more than a new car? We've looked at LVT but I worry it's going to look like vinyl. We have kids and dogs so I need something that can handle the stuff we throw at it (reasonably - I'm not expecting it to take full on daily abuse - just spills, dirty paws, etc.)

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SJ McCarthy

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

OK....so "No" to tile (which is THE MOST APPROPRIATE floor in your situation...so whomsoever has said "no" gets to take ALL the blame for any failures in the future...wink wink silent nod). Hardwood is not an option. LVP is suspect.

You are down to (in order of appropriate surfaces):

1. Finished/stained/epoxied concrete (can be $5 - $25/sf)

2. Stone (tile is BETTER)

3. Laminate (yep...everyone's hate

4. Carpet

5. Cork floating

That's it. Someone has poo-pooed the MOST APPROPRIATE floor for you situation. LVP *can work but it REALLY needs to be thought through in Florida. LVP - like ALL VINYL - has ISSUES with A) Heat...you're in Florida...you get some of that; and B) DIRECT SUNLIGHT :-(

Ahhhhhh....here it is. The "sunny and hot" areas of the world have issues with LVP. If you have older windows (ie. they do NOT have HIGH UV blocking properties) that allow the direct sunlight to HEAT UP the spot (pools of sunlight can heat well into the 90+ F range within 30 minutes). This is a MASSIVE problem for A) LVP and B) Floridian homes.

So...that brings us to laminate and concrete/stone. Hmmmmm. You might as well have tile. I think you need to have SOMEONE read this. That person has SCUPPERED - jinxed - this project before it even began.

And BTW you CAN have engineered hardwood. Simply FLOAT the darn thing with a low-cost yet SUPER EFFECTIVE vapour barrier underneath and you are good to go!

As for the cost of product/install....flooring is expensive because it MUST accept TREMENDOUS abuse for 25 years. Only your ROOF, siding and WINDOWS take that type of abuse....and they are some of the most expensive things to replace when it comes time. Flooring is in the SAME category.

Tile = $10+ /sf (install included)

Concrete = $10+ /sf (for a nice finish without HUGE maintenance concerns)

LVP = $10+ /sf (install included)

Engineered hardwood = $10+ /sf (install included)

Laminate = $7+ /sf (high-end product with install included)

As you can see, there isn't much difference in price. Good luck and PLEASE choose the MOST APPROPRIATE floor for your home.

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Comments (11)

Denita
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Excellent analysis SJ McCarthy. There is only one material I see that is missing: Terrazzo. However, Terrazzo belongs in that very expensive category too.

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SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
Denita...you are on it! I forget about Terrazzo because I'm in Canada and we rarely see this material. Again - a STUNNING option (I'm a fan of Terrazzo). But the cost can be HEFTY. Should be more than tile.
Denita
6 years ago
I'm in Florida and could not have laid out the options any better than you did. Tile is the best option here and also the most cost effective option relative to most other choices.

That polished concrete option is viable too, especially from a maintenance POV.

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sonni1
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Have you lived in Florida through the summer? I've been here for a while now, and all I want in my home is a "cool" feel!

I've had laminate? (not real wood planks) wood floors and liked them plenty. Brand started with an "M".
Denita
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
One more comment :)

Wood look tile works here in Florida, especially if you get the medium tone and a great installation

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Sanmonbibi
6 years ago
We are in same boat as you. Down in South Florida, kids and bunch cars and dogs. Laminate is out of question, so is carpet. Vinyl is cheaper and better on feet, but VOC released from it make me uneasy so does the reaction to hear. Really wanted to make marmoleum work but the parent choices are no go for us. We have beautiful Terazzo in 3 rooms but got dam
cpartist
6 years ago
I live in SW Florida and just put in engineered hardwood floors. My last place was 8 years ago. The only problem with that one was I chose a dark floor with a smooth finish so it showed everything. Otherwise it's still in great shape. This is the second time we've done engineered wood glued down on concrete. It can be done. Make sure they use the proper glue that has a built in vapor barrier to it. One where the moisture won't rise up.

If not engineered hardwood, I have a friend who just put in LVT throughout their house on the Gulf. In other words very expensive and unless you bent over to feel it, you'd be hard pressed at first glance to know that it's LVT.

I personally would not do concrete, stone, terrazzo, or any other hard surface. It's murder on knees and backs.

Simply FLOAT the darn thing with a low-cost yet SUPER EFFECTIVE vapour barrier underneath and you are good to go!

No, do glue down if you use engineered wood.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
You can have hardwood if you please. No problems.
Bill & Lynne
last year
@Denita - those two pictures you posted above - are they really the wood look tile? If so, do you know what brand? They are very pretty! I know this post is years old but hoping you get this message!
gelfand_irena
last year
Parcelanosa has a wood-like tile that is impossible to distinguish from wood.

As for the least expensive option, Floor and Decor have great options.

Please note: porcelain tiles are the best in my personal and professional opinion.

www.weruum.com

Home in Florida, concrete sub floor, is there a "best" flooring type?

SJ McCarthy

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