How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
One thing’s true, that owning your own home is amazing. You get to design it how you like and truly make it feel like a home, which is something you can never quite do in a rental. With this, however, comes the worry about upkeep. How long do items last? When should things be replaced? The only drawback to owning your own home, one might say.
One of the things that require maintenance and upkeep is your flooring. There are many different types of flooring to choose from and whichever you choose has different care and renewal requirements. Whether you are just thinking about undergoing a new flooring installation and want some advice or are ready to upgrade or replace your current flooring, there are interesting choices ahead. Read on to find out about all different types of flooring and how often they need replacing.
It’s How You Look After it
One of the key considerations, no matter what your choice of floor, is how well you look after it. When reading the rest of this article, be aware that the best-case scenarios are being put forward. However, no matter what floor you have, if you look after it poorly it will last far less time than the suggestions you may read today.
Each type of flooring requires a different kind of care, though pretty much none of them likes getting wet! Keeping floors clean is easy and essential for their longevity. Make sure you keep your floors in top condition and you will see them last a long time.
Is it Installed Properly
The other query with certain types of flooring is the quality of the installation. For example, laminate and wood flooring needs room to contract and expand as temperature changes. There should be a small gap around your room – hidden under the skirting board – to allow this to happen. If this is not done properly during the installation, you could quickly find yourself with bowed and bent flooring, cracking and breaking underfoot.
With carpet, proper grips need to be installed and the carpet cut perfectly to size. Again, if this isn’t done, you may get areas where the carpet raises or bunches up. This can lead to trips and falls as well as damaged or ripped carpet. Make sure it is installed properly and it should last its full lifespan.
Epoxy Flooring
Okay, let’s get into the flooring details. If you want tough, look no further than epoxy. This stuff is durable and looks great. As the north brisbane epoxy floors team say on their blog over at Tough Floors, epoxy is a “tough, attractive, safe, and durable flooring solution for your garage, home, or commercial premises.” But, what is epoxy and why is it so tough?
Epoxy is effectively a coated concrete floor. Once the concrete has set, a sealant and resin are mixed together and applied to the smooth concrete. This creates an extremely durable finish that is almost unbreakable and also stain-proof. When looked after properly, this stuff can last a very long time.
Epoxy needs replacing once you start to see cracks in its surface. Though, it should take a super long time for this to happen. In fact, many experts believe epoxy is the most durable flooring going and that it could even last up to 100 years if looked after properly. Keep it clean by using mild detergent sprays or mops, while not letting any water sit for too long. If you do see cracks, don’t get them wet! Call in the pros to have your floor repaired or examined asap.
Tiled Floors
Tile is another durable material that, if treated properly, can look great and last a lifetime. Tiles are made from glazed ceramic, making them extremely tough and hardy. Everyone has seen a cracked tile, sure, but it does take a fair amount of force to crack a well-installed tiled floor.
One issue with tiled floors that comes up regularly is the fitting. Sometimes, the level of the floor that the tiles are laid on is not considered, meaning it can be a little bumpy and uneven. This causes issues where pressure is not spread evenly across the tile joints or surfaces. If you notice this happening, it’s probably time to replace them. If your tile is holding strong and you still like it, there’s no need to worry.
Wooden Flooring
As mentioned previously, wooden flooring needs room to expand properly. If this is not done, you may as well have it repaired or replaced immediately. This lack of room for expansion will quickly cause cracks and issues that are irreparable. Though, if your hardwood flooring is installed well, you may well be able to keep it in good condition for a long time. Apart from this other thing is laminate flooring you can buy.
This kind of flooring does not like moisture. So, any cracks or cuts that form in the wood, due to wear and tear, need to be treated. Also, with a good wooden floor, you should be able to simply replace damaged areas, and you could expect your flooring to last 10s of years. However, after 25 years or so, the scratches and marks will likely become too much, making this the perfect time to upgrade.
Carpet
Carpet is its own beast. It is, by far, the most easily damaged form of flooring. Soft underfoot but quickly worn down if used regularly, carpet can need replacing as often as once every 10 years. Some people are happy with this trade-off, due to the warmth and comfort carpets bring. Plus, they are often cheaper than other flooring types.
Carpets just wear down quicker due to their softness. Once you start losing the pile from your carpet, it can unravel very quickly. Plus, some stains simply refuse to come out. If either of these situations arises, it’s definitely time to replace it with a new carpet or alternative flooring.
Different flooring types will last different amounts of time, then. And, with proper upkeep and maintenance, they will last longer. Whichever type of flooring you choose, you’ll want to weigh up the positives and negatives of that particular floor, its cost, upkeep, and its overall lifespan.
How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home
Transform your space with new flooring from The Home Depot. Whether you are looking for carpet for the family room, vinyl plank flooring for the entryway, tile for the kitchen or hardwood floors throughout the house – we have you covered with high-quality flooring options for every room. Shop 24/7 online or in-store for the latest on-trend flooring styles that are just right for your home and your budget.
Flooring in the Living Area
You have many options when choosing flooring for your living area or family room. What are you most interested in? Would you rather have flooring that’s hard or soft? Something that feels good under your feet or looks good and is easy to clean? With today’s flooring options, you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort.
Nothing stands out like beautiful hardwood floors for a timeless appeal in traditional and contemporary homes. With proper care, hardwood floors will look their best for years. Customers love the texture and the rich colours of solid hardwood flooring. First, determine the wood species that complement your design style. Top choices include birch, hickory, red oak and white oak flooring.
If solid hardwood floors are not in your budget, there’s always engineered hardwood flooring. What’s the difference, you ask? Engineered hardwood floors are made from layers of hardwood and plywood, while solid hardwood floors are just that – solid. Our engineered and waterproof wood flooring is strong enough to handle the high traffic of the living room and resilient enough to install in the kitchen or bath. Consider bamboo or cork flooring for a sophisticated design with environmental responsibility. Both offer natural beauty and are easy to clean and maintain.
How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
Another affordable, DIY-friendly option is laminate wood flooring. Laminate gives you the appearance and warmth of hardwood flooring for a fraction of the cost. Choose from various colours, including grey, dark brown and tan. Waterproof laminate flooring stands up to everyday spills and resists scratches and dents.
For busy homes with children and pets, consider vinyl flooring. Now, don’t get this confused with your grandma’s vinyl flooring. Vinyl has come a long way over the years. Today’s vinyl flooring is stylish, affordable, clean, and simple to install. For larger areas, consider vinyl sheet flooring. Go for one of our trendy vinyl plank flooring options in smaller rooms or anywhere you want to make a statement. Choose from various luxury vinyl plank styles, including wood-look and stone-look flooring. Plus, with time and effort-saving features like click-lock installation, it’s clear why luxury vinyl plank has become a top choice among DIYers in recent years.
How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
While many trends point people toward hard surface flooring, carpet remains a tried and true option, especially for living rooms and bedrooms. Who doesn’t like to step out of bed onto a nice, warm carpet or rug? And few things are more relaxing than lounging in front of the fireplace on a plush, new carpet. Check out our decorative patterned carpet styles to add flair to your floors. Whatever textures and features are at the top of your list, The Home Depot has you covered with plenty of soft, durable – and even pet-friendly – carpet choices in beautiful colours and styles in-store and online.
Kitchen Flooring
When selecting the best flooring for your kitchen, you’ll want something durable, versatile and easy to clean. Resilient flooring and waterproof vinyl flooring are always good choices. As a bonus, they’re typically accessible on the wallet. Remember, while choosing practical kitchen flooring is essential, there’s no reason to sacrifice style.
Tile remains a classic, clean-looking, water-resistant option for many rooms, especially bathrooms and kitchens. Tile is available in a nearly endless amount of styles, patterns, sizes and colours, too. Tile is very versatile. Sure, kitchen and shower floor tiles offer the looks and performance homeowners have counted on for generations. Tile can also be used to create striking, decorative kitchen backsplashes.
How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
Note that you may use different tile types for floors than for a backsplash. For instance, you may want a tile with texture on the floors, while you might opt for a smooth, glass tile for your backsplash. Here’s where you can show your creativity. Choose a timeless, white subway tile backsplash or go bold with eye-catching hexagon tiles. Add unique styling and intricate design with any of our mosaic tiles, made from stone, glass, porcelain and more. Complete your tile project with grout, grout sealer, caulk and trim.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is another popular, easy-to-install flooring solution. Choose interlocking or peel-and-stick varieties. And talk about convenience…most LVT can be installed over existing surfaces, including tile, wood, concrete and vinyl.
Area Rugs & More
In areas of the home with hard surface flooring, an area rug can greatly warm up a space and lessen sound. We have rugs for every room and every need, including washable rugs for indoors and out. Greet guests with a fun, colourful welcome mat or outdoor rug. Indulge yourself in the lush softness of a sheepskin rug, or add texture with a jute rug. Are you into animal prints? Make a bold statement with one of our unique cowhide rugs. With so many colours, sizes and materials, you will find the vibe you’re looking for in no time.
The Home Depot is your one-stop shop for all your flooring needs. We have you covered from hardwood flooring and carpet to luxury vinyl plank and laminate flooring. We also offer many porch, patio and outdoor options, including artificial turf to spruce up various outdoor spaces. Transform your garage with the right garage flooring. Whether creating a workout space, a man cave, or using your garage to change the oil on weekends, you’ll find durable garage floor tiles, rolls and interlocking mats that you can easily install yourself.
Get Your Flooring Installed
Need help installing your flooring? Let us do it for you. Our flooring installation professionals and contractors are local, licensed, and insured, and undergo a thorough background screening process. What are you waiting for? Schedule a measure today and take the first step in installing the flooring you’ve always wanted professionally in your home.
How Often Should You Replace Your Flooring and Why
Last update on 2025-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API