A few years ago my family purchased a 1940s farmhouse that was in dire need of repair. The family who built the home resided there for more than sixty years. Over the course of their ownership, they made several “improvements” to their flooring. When we attempted to restore the home we found five layers of temporary floor before reaching the original hardwood. Starting from the corner of the main living room we began to get excited when we finally found hardwood floor — until we reached the never-ending drywood termite damage. I cried for days. We had prepared ourselves for minor repairs, but we were not prepared for holes the size of my foot and to see the ground beneath us.
The photo below shows my oldest son vacuuming the dirt, dust (icky stuff), and debris from the wood flooring so we could completely see the damage.
After the dust settled we realized no amount of wood putty would repair the damage to our wood floor. We quickly tossed carpeting over-top and got to work researching our options. Within 48 hours our home was treated to insure the dry-wood termites were gone and the home would be protected from an further damage. From there we met with several flooring specialist to discuss the best route available for our flooring budget and our needs.
Although our desire was to restore the home, we also needed to select the best flooring for our family. It was our final decision to complete a do-it-yourself install of vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is a great alternative to real wood floor because it is water resistant and easy to clean. Families with young children will find that this particular type of flooring will give you the look you want from hardwood but without the wear, maintenance, and repair expenses. Additionally, vinyl plank flooring is significantly cheaper other wood floor products, making it the most economical choice.
Do you know how to select a good floor for your family? Do you know the importance of a good floor? Some great questions to ask yourself before starting your renovation project are:
- What is the sole purpose of the room?
- Who will be using the room the most? (children, adults, professionals, etc.)
- Who do I want to complete the install?
- What are the expected repair costs if I incur damage?
- What is my budget?
The five questions above will help you determine the best type of flooring for your family, for your room, and for your needs. A good floor can mean the difference between having a completed renovation project of your dreams and a nightmare.
Please visit GoHaus for floor selection tips, diy project inspirations, and flooring advice.
