Choosing flooring for Florida home

5 years ago

We want to go with wood/woodlook with the highest ROI. Considering a Florida lifestyle of pool and beach and humidity, which flooring do you recommend: tile, vinyl, laminate, or engineered hardwood?

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User

5 years ago

Porcelain tile is a lifetime floor. All others will need to be replaced at some point due to wear and tear. That replacement need can occur rather rapidly around sandy soils and the abrasion that it causes with wood or vinyl. Tile installations still exist in Roman ruins. You cannot get a better ROI than a single one time cost.

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Comments (14)

RaiKai
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
While I would never do all tile floors where I live, if I lived in a hot, humid climate I would do all tile without hesitation. I travel a lot to warmer humid destinations and the tile underfoot in places I stay is very refreshing! It is same reason I like lower ceilings where I live, but would go for higher ceilings in a warm climate to let that hot air rise!

So my answer is tile. Especially factoring in risk of water (pool), sand, etc. It can likely last as long as the house does. Use area rugs for comfort where appropriate.
benandlauren1002 thanked RaiKai
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I would do a asimple 12 x24 porcelain tile no wood grain look .
PRO
LampsUSA.com
5 years ago
One of the main advantages of porcelain tile is its durability. If installed properly-it lasts for life with best durability. It is also low maintenance-simple to clean and water wipes right off them without causing any real damage. Plus they're beautiful.
K R
5 years ago
Porcelain tile - I live in south Florida and did an office in real hardwood - did not last, buckled, dried out, and just looked horrible in under 5 years. The porcelain tile has taken a beating and looks great.
strategery
5 years ago
All tile, large format (12x24, 18x18, 24x24), porcelain.
User
5 years ago
Porcelain tile. In Florida. In Antarctica. Wherever.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
terrazzo, porcelain, slate, or polished concrete. perfect for fla and nice and cool.
Kathi Steele
5 years ago
Oh Beth, isn't terrazzo just the bomb??? I would love to have terrazzo floors!!
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
kathi,,right? when I see people ripping out those original cement terrazzo floors, I want to cry. It's so expensive to have done like that. even the large tiles you buy now aren't cheap.

I think it's cool to grind down the cement slab a bit in order to expose some aggregate, polish/dye it, and have that for flooring.
sbp59
5 years ago
It’s all about what you like and want! We are in Florida and current home has engineered hardwood acacia which we have loved for the past 7 years and no issues... we will be moving to a condo on the intracoastal and next week the tile is being ripped up and will replace with engineered hardwood!
strategery
5 years ago
@sbp59 - It's all about what you want?!? Really? That comment is beyond useless. If that was true then this forum would not exist.

OP, sure, go for whatever you want. Don't worry about water, soap scum, cleaners, sealing, water stains, friction, dirt or style. It's all about what you want, and if you want it, then it's all good. Same for all aspects of home life, including architecture and construction. Just want it and we'll all buy in to your query.
User
5 years ago
Nothing like real wood for a great feel underfoot. Unfortunately, in hot and humid FL, engineered hardwood is as close as you can get to that feel.
Jolene
5 years ago
Tile or vinyl depending which you find that you like. If vinyl I would go glue down so it is more solid feeling.