Best wood flooring option for bonus space?

5 years ago

I am preparing to renovate the converted attic floor of my home, and would appreciate some help on choosing flooring.

The house is an 1860s home, and all the other flooring (aside from tile) is the original hardwood. Which I love. I can be as rough and careless with it as I want, and it all just blends in with the patina of a century of wear.

The attic floor currently has carpet, that is definitely coming out. The contractor suspects there is original wood flooring below, which he could restore. But I would like some sort of sound-muffling underlayment, which means a new floor on top.

Typically, I would just choose reclaimed hardwood, to match the rest of the house. And that is DEFINITELY the style I am going for - this space will not be stylistically different from the whole house. But this space is infrequently used. I usually just go upstairs right before a guest is coming to prepare the space. Sometimes I can go months without going up there. Which means a cat can throw up, and I will discover the mess months later. A guest could have knocked over a glass of water, and I may be none the wiser. Etc etc. While I can be hard on my floors, leaving something for months is pushing it, even for me.

So I wonder - is reclaimed hardwood a good choice for this space? Is there something else I should be considering? I know LVP gets a lot of love on here, but it definitely is not a thing in my historic area. There's no chance it would show up on a main floor in my house. But is it something I should consider for an attic space? Would its touted "waterproof" nature be a better fit for a "messy" area? An easier to clean choice for a space where any and all glitter projects will take place? But how "shiny and new fakeness" does it scream, in a home where everything else is old old old??

I've never really considered the flooring world outside of old hardwood. So any help in opening my eyes is appreciated!

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

5 years ago

If acoustics is something that concerns you (keeping noise out of a space is more difficult than you can imagine) I would look at something like a floating cork floor (click-together) with a 1/4" cork underlayment. The two put together can have the same acoustic insulation as 4-6" worth of poured concrete (20 dB or so).

If you are worried about spills or animal issues, then a coat or two of polyurethane can be added to the floor once it is installed. Cork is impervious to moisture....but it the SEAMS are the weak part of this chain. A laminate seam sealer will also work...but I prefer the 2 coats of water based poly because it adds tremendous amounts of WEAR protection as well as moisture protection.

It is an option...which is to say it is a 'wood' product (cork oaks produce cork bark for the cork industry) which takes over all the duties of carpet...without being carpet. It's kinda cool that way.

Just a thought.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Oak & Broad
5 years ago
Will this space have climate controls? I assume yes but I want to make sure. Can you provide pics of space? Reclaimed would be very nice. Maybe an Engineered reclaimed for added stability and possible reduced cost? Before changing or adding flooring maybe see how much sound comes through the original wood floors.
southeasthouse thanked Oak & Broad
southeasthouse
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, Oak&Broad.

Yes, it is a climate-controlled space. The current flooring has carpet, and the sound transference to the floor below is more than I would like. So I have no doubt the wood floors with the carpet removed will be too loud.

I definitely think reclaimed hardwood would aesthetically be the best choice for the space and the house. Like I said, it would typically be the only option I would even consider. But I am wondering if I should broaden my horizons, given the space's use.

I am not clear on "engineered reclaimed"? Is there reclaimed engineered wood flooring?? I have never heard of it! Tbh, I always thought engineered wood floors were just a more affordable option to hardwood. So if that is the case, I don't see it as a better option for me than regular hardwood.
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Kristin S
5 years ago
If there are restorable original floors I'd do that and put down some large area rugs with a good pad for sound control. My next choice would be reclaimed hardwood (solid or engineered), again with rugs on top. Then just make sure you do a quick sweep after guests leave just in case, and then close the door so the cat can't get in the space.
southeasthouse thanked Kristin S
southeasthouse
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you both for the suggestions.

I had not really looked into cork, so I will definitely add it to the list of considerations, if the sound muffling is superior. Google shows some attractive cork plank options, though I do wonder what it looks like it person.

Rugs are definitely not an option for me, though. The house is designed so that the staircase opens onto the attic floor, just as it does onto the second floor. There is no door to shut. Even if I were to somehow install a door, guests would invariably leave it open. The cats will definitely have access and create mess. I HATE having carpet, and am greatly looking forward to an easy to keep clean solution up there.
Oliviag
5 years ago
I love my cork floors. They do help deaden noise, but you may not find them more effective than the carpet you now have.

Best wood flooring option for bonus space?

SJ McCarthy

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Oak & Broad

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Best wood flooring option for bonus space?

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