Houzz Logo Print
jaxo_gw

Low maintenance floors?

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

My house has tile throughout except two small bedrooms and a family room. I don't want to replace the existing tile, so that means I need less than 500 sq ft of new flooring.

The carpeting is about 12 years old and still looks good, but only because it has been babied with being covered with runners and area rugs and had regular professional cleaning.

I'm tired of the throw rugs and worrying about protecting the carpet from wear and stains. So, I'm looking for other options for worry free floors.

I could get more porcelain tile, but I think there is enough tile already and it's rock hard, tiring to walk on and a hazard to anyone or anything that falls on it.

Hardwood floors would be something that needs even more babying than carpet which means furniture pads, more throw rugs, maintenance with special wood cleaners and conditioning products and having visitors remove their shoes so they don't scuff and scratch the floor.

Bamboo and cork are easily damaged.

I could get a more wear and stain proof type of carpet so it can be walked on daily even while wearing shoes and not need carpet runners to protect it. Maybe, but it would still need to have regular professional cleaning. However, even steam cleaning every 6 months would probably cost less than the cost of installing more porcelain tile or getting high quality hardwood.

Luxury vinyl tile is a possibility if they are scratch, wear and spill resistant enough.

What about high quality sheet vinyl? Softer than tile, with the same ease of maintenance as tile, quick to install like carpeting, yet also more rugged than wood and costs much less to install?

Is sheet vinyl still used anymore in bedrooms and other living areas?

Ideal floor would be soft enough to be comfortable, but would not be easily damaged or stained.

Comments (30)