home value Archives - Colors Wood Floors

The Best Flooring for Flipping Houses

So you’re wanting to get into the house flipping game. Maybe a friend of yours has made money flipping houses, or maybe you’ve been watching a ton of reality television; whatever your reasons, you’re ready to test your eye for design and start flipping houses. However, what is the best flooring for flipping houses? Let’s get started!

What does “flipping houses” mean?

Hint: It’s not what happens in The Wizard of Oz. Flipping houses is when a person buys a house at (usually) an affordable as-is price and then, through remodeling, improves the overall house. The goal is to resell the property and have a high ROI, or Return on Investment.

Laminate:

Laminate is very popular among experienced house-flippers. One reason being it gives houses an expensive look without the expensive investment. Laminate can also come in a variety of looks, so the choice is yours (though we would recommend more neutral colors if flipping).

Laminate is a great choice if you have a lower budget but still want a good ROI when you sell.

Luxury Vinyl:

Related content –>2017 Vinyl Flooring Trends: 16 Hot New Ideas

Luxury vinyl flooring is the new flooring of choice for experienced flippers. While laminate is still popular for flipping, vinyl flooring has more perks at close to the same price. You can buy vinyl flooring in planks, tiles, or rolls, so you can control the look of your flip easily. Vinyl flooring also comes in a variety of finishes including wood look-alikes and natural stone.

Additionally, you can buy WPC vinyl flooring, which is 100% waterproof. This makes it a great choice for a continual flooring from living room to the kitchen. It can even be used in the bathroom!

Best yet: vinyl offers a great ROI.

Engineered Wood:

If you have the budget for it, engineered wood is great for a house flip. It has a high-end hardwood look because it is real wood! Engineered wood is constructed in layers to offer more durability and moisture resistance. These floors won’t have potential buyers daydreaming about ripping up your floors.

It is often more expensive than say, laminate, so it might be best to choose this for higher-value houses to make sure you earn a good ROI.

Hardwood:

Does your flip already have hardwood? Is there hardwood hidden underneath the carpet? If so, you struck a gold mine! Everyone wants hardwood in their home. If you have it already, even better. Your best bet would be the sand and refinish the hardwood to make it beautiful again.

If you don’t have hardwood, is it worth it to invest in it? Maybe.

Whether or not you want to buy hardwood for your house flip depends on the answers above. The truth is, hardwood will always raise the value of your flip and will make buyers more keen to make an offer; however, hardwood flooring is expensive.

If your budget doesn’t allow for it, or if hardwood floors are uncommon in the area you are flipping, it may not be worth the investment.

Carpet:

Carpet is a big no-no in the house flipping world. Adding carpet to a flipped house probably won’t increase your ROI. Truth is, not a lot of people want carpets in their houses anymore. Those buyers that are going to view your flip? Yeah, they’re just thinking about how much it will cost to rip-out your brand new carpet and replace it with something else. Pity.

However, replacing old carpet with new carpet is always better than leaving the old carpet in place. If you can’t afford to upgrade the flooring to something other than carpet, at least replace it and you’ll break even.

Original source

Where is the best place to install laminate flooring?

The sales blurb will tell you how laminate is the right choice for every room, but is it true?

In this flooring guide we’re going to re-examine the advantages of laminate floors and take a look at the pros and cons of it versus other materials.

Pros and Cons of Laminate Floors

The main benefits of laminate over other types of home flooring and the reason it is so popular, are affordability, ease of installation and low maintenance.

Laminate is cheap because it’s easily mass produced. It’s easy to install, you can float it over most existing subfloors. And most importantly, it’s easy to clean and care.

So why not just use laminate throughout your home?

Laminate is a great mid-priced flooring option but there are times when a more expensive hardwood floor or a cheaper vinyl floor could be the best choice.

Laminate Vs Hardwood Flooring

Two words for it price and style! Laminate floors look great, not as great as hardwood and that’s a fact. But, laminate wood flooring fits perfectly in a space where practicality is your priority. If stains and extreme weather conditions are a part of daily life then laminate flooring is the smart choice.

Laminate Vs Vinyl Flooring

You should think twice about laminate in a damp basement or a bathroom that regularly experiences standing water. Vinyl however, won’t let any water getting through to your subfloor and is your ideal choice in this scenario.

Luxury Vinyl Vs Laminate

Luxury vinyl flooring is flexible, great looking, reasonably priced option and it matches the durability of laminate. Of course it is better to see luxury vinyl up close and personal before you decide if it’s a good choice.

Laminate Vs Engineered Wood Flooring

In this comparison the pros and cons are the same, laminates tend to be more scratch and impact resistant however engineered wood has much greater longevity.

The really interesting comparison is price. Both materials are at opposite ends of the most budgets.

Laminate Vs Tile Flooring

The biggest difference between these materials is installation. Laminate installation is a breeze compared to the prep, skill and time required to install tile. You can’t beat tile when it comes to durability and longevity. Tile is common in kitchens and bathrooms because it’s resistance to wet conditions.

Laminate Vs Carpet

Between carpet or laminate your final decision will ultimately come down to comfort and cleanliness. In fact the biggest advantage that laminate has over carpet is ease of cleaning and keeping clean.

Original source.

Hardwood or laminate floor; which is best for my needs?

No matter your preference, there are pros and cons when it comes to hardwood Vs laminate wood flooring. We want to help you determine which one is best for your budget and home. 

Price

The reality of flooring costs and what you can afford may be miles apart.

Hardwood: CONS – Made of harvested trees it’s price depends on how exotic the trees are. In general hardwood is more expensive.

Laminate: PROS – The material itself is cheaper and laminate wood installation cost is, on average 50 percent less than hardwood installation.

Durability

A durable surface will make maintenance easier and look great for years.

Hardwood: CONS – It’s susceptible to scratching, can get damaged from moisture and will show wear. PROS – Hardwood is the real deal; it is gorgeous and can add value to your home.

Laminate: PROS – It is more durable, it resists scratches and moisture is also easier to clean. CONS Low quality laminate can have artificial-looking texture.

Repair

From minor accidents to excessive wear and tear both material have advantages and disadvantages.

Hardwood: PROS – Can be repaired by sanding imperfections and refinishing.

Laminate: CONS – This flooring doesn’t repair easily. To replace individual boards depending on sunlight and age, the new piece may not match properly.

Deciding whether to use hardwood or laminate is up to you, review the pros and cons and be realistic about your lifestyle that may influence your decision. Consider the factors and know that new floors will improve your home’s aesthetic, appeal and value.

Original source.

Laminate Flooring Reviews and Tips

What exactly is laminate flooring and what makes it the best choice for you?

Laminate flooring has evolved into a very competitive alternative to hardwood or stone floors. It is a composite of several different layers fused together. The best laminate flooring will have a thick, hard wearing protective top layer, 3 to 4 further inner core layers for structural stability and a quality click-lock system for easy installation.

Let’s look into more advantages of laminate floors.

Barely distinguishable from the real thing! – Top laminate floors replicate the look and feel of wood or stone.

Infinite variety of design – Photographic and printing techniques make it possible to recreate just about every kind of flooring surface imaginable.

Cost – The cost of producing it and thus the retail price is significantly cheaper than authentic hardwoods or stone products.

Eco-Friendly – Laminates are mostly made in the home country of sale, it provide a lower carbon-footprint than the farming, harvesting and transportation of hardwoods or stone flooring. Plus many manufacturers use recycled wood products for the MDF layer.

Easy installation and removal – Laminate floors come with “click-lock” a system that simplifies the installation of laminate boards (as a floating floor) over a subfloor, and thanks to it laminate flooring it is one of the easiest floors to remove when it needs to.

Durable and resistant – Laminates are perfect for high traffic areas and can even be installed in moist areas like bathrooms (the waterproof kind).

Easy clean and maintenance – Laminate flooring is easy to clean: simple vacuum or sweep and then run a barely damp mop over it, no annual maintenance projects required!

Cons of Laminate Flooring

It’s not real! – That’s the number one reason that puts some people off laminate. Lower perceived value – Because it is lower in cost and not authentic, laminate is not seen as a premium product.

Cannot be refinished – If it gets badly damaged you cannot simply sand it back. It must be replaced.

Hard, noisy and slippery! – Laminate floors have a harder feel than real hardwood. It makes them inefficient at absorbing sound. Also, beware because this floor can be a bit slippery!

So What Makes a Great Laminate Floor?

A laminate with a varied pattern makes easy to create a more varied and natural look to your floor as you lay it. The best laminate flooring manufacturers have kept up with all the latest design trends to ensure their products stay relevant to today’s market.

The biggest trends are:

Bigger planks Trying to replicate trends in real hardwood flooring there are now longer and wider planks too.

High gloss finishes – laminate flooring paired with refined minimalist interiors can offer a very chic high-end look, even on a budget.

Laminate your walls! – Yes, you read that right! If done right, adding the same wood look laminate flooring from your floor onto a key accent wall can look spectacular.

Consider where it’s going – High traffic areas may need laminates with superior wear layers, and basement or bathrooms may need specific underlayment to deal with potential moisture.

Don’t forget the underlayment! – Specially if you are planning to use laminate in the bathroom or with under floor heating.

DIY- friendly? – Laminate flooring is one of the more DIY-friendly flooring options, There are tons of how-to guides and videos online.

Why not find out how much you could save yourself by getting a free quote for laminate floor installation from local contractors?

Other laminate flooring options – There are other green alternatives to consider like bamboo, eucalyptus and cork floors. These floors are created using similar fusing technologies as those used to create laminates.

Original source.

Laminate Flooring = Lasting Durability

Laminate flooring could be the perfect choice for your active lifestyle.

Durability, good looks and value are smartly balanced so you upgrade and decorate without breaking your budget or loose quality.

Choose Laminates to Achieve Your Decorating Goals

Laminates are available in a broad variety of handsomely crafted designs. They provide the rugged durability at a value price. Thus you can find a long-wearing laminate style that can help accomplish your decorating ideas within your budget.

Laminate Flooring = Lasting Durability

The beautiful design you love today will remain the same in the years to come.

All laminates are constructed of four layers:

The wear layer is a clear layer of aluminum oxide that protects against fading, stains and surface burns.
The design layer contains a photograph of the floor’s surface appearance.
The core layer is a durable high-density board to protect the floor.
The back layer is a stability layer that helps balance the floor.

Thanks to layered construction, Laminate Floors will always look as good as the day it was installed.

Original source.