5 Common Flooring Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Avoid these common flooring mistakes and make smarter choices for your home with our expert flooring tips.
1. Choosing Style Over Function
Keyword Focus: Flooring style vs function, choosing flooring for lifestyle, durable flooring options.
The Mistake: Many homeowners focus solely on the aesthetic appeal of flooring options and overlook the practicality of these choices for everyday life.
Why It’s a Problem: While beautiful, maple hardwood floors may not be the ideal choice for homes with pets or young children. Maple is a softer wood, which means it can dent and scratch more easily, especially in high-traffic areas. For busy households, flooring needs to stand up to everyday wear and tear.
How to Avoid It: Consider your family’s specific needs when choosing flooring. Do you have energetic pets? Are your kids constantly running through the house? For higher durability, opt for hardwoods like oak or hickory, which are harder and more resistant to damage. Alternatively, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or laminate flooring can give you the same natural wood look while offering superior scratch resistance and easier maintenance—perfect for active families.
2. Skipping the Subfloor Inspection
Keyword Focus: Subfloor inspection, preparing for flooring installation, subfloor issues.
The Mistake: Overlooking the importance of checking your subfloor before installing new floors.
Why It’s a Problem: Installing flooring over an uneven or damaged subfloor can cause gaps, creaking, and misalignment over time, ruining the appearance and durability of your floors.
How to Avoid It: Before installing new flooring, make sure to thoroughly check your subfloor for any damage, moisture, or uneven spots. If you find any issues, it’s important to repair them first to avoid problems down the road. As a trusted flooring expert, we take care of ensuring your subfloor is in top condition before installation, so your floors last longer and perform better. We’ll handle this as part of our free measurement and consultation, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
3. Ignoring Moisture Levels
Keyword Focus: Moisture-resistant flooring, waterproof flooring, best flooring for bathrooms.
The Mistake: Installing hardwood or laminate flooring in moisture-prone areas like basements or bathrooms.
Why It’s a Problem: Moisture can cause certain types of flooring to warp, swell, or discolour. Natural wood, in particular, is vulnerable to water damage, and installing it in high-humidity areas can lead to expensive repairs.
How to Avoid It: For bathrooms and basements, choose waterproof flooring options like vinyl plank flooring or tile. These materials are specifically designed to handle moisture and will last much longer without warping or buckling.
4. DIY Installation Without Experience
Keyword Focus: DIY flooring installation, professional flooring installation, flooring installation mistakes.
The Mistake: Taking on the installation of your floors as a DIY project without understanding the complexities of the process.
Why It’s a Problem: Improper installation can lead to gaps, uneven floors, and the need to redo the entire job—leading to wasted time and money. DIY installations may also void warranties.
How to Avoid It: For those who prefer a DIY approach, we also offer easy-to-install options like loose lay and glue-down luxury vinyl plank (LVP), which are perfect for a seamless, hassle-free installation.
Flooring installation is a specialized skill, and doing it yourself without the right experience can lead to costly mistakes. When in doubt, always hire a professional installer to ensure your floors are installed correctly and stand the test of time. At The Carpet Store Kitchener, we provide expert flooring installation services that are fast, efficient, and dependable.
5. Not Considering Long-Term Maintenance
Keyword Focus: Flooring maintenance, care for hardwood floors, cleaning laminate flooring.
The Mistake: Failing to consider the maintenance requirements of different flooring types before making a decision.
Why It’s a Problem: Certain flooring types, like hardwood, require periodic refinishing or special care to maintain their appearance and durability. For example, oiling hardwood floors involves applying a penetrating oil finish that enhances the wood’s natural beauty and protects it from damage. However, this process demands regular upkeep—typically every 3-5 years, or more often depending on traffic and wear. Without proper maintenance, such as using the right wood floor cleaner and quickly addressing spills, your floors could face wear, stains, or permanent damage. Choosing the wrong flooring for your lifestyle could result in frequent repairs and higher costs in the long run.
How to Avoid It: Understand the cleaning and maintenance requirements of each flooring type before you buy. Our team can guide you through how to care for your new floors—whether it’s hardwood, vinyl plank, laminate, or tile—to ensure they look great for years to come.
Conclusion: Make the Right Flooring Decision for Your Home
Choosing the right flooring for your home can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Avoiding common flooring mistakes—such as neglecting to consider moisture levels, skipping subfloor checks, and prioritizing style over function—can help you save time and money in the long run.
At The Carpet Store Kitchener, we offer expert flooring advice, installation services, and high-quality flooring options to help you make informed decisions for your home. Whether you’re renovating a single room or outfitting an entire house, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Need help choosing the perfect flooring? Visit our showroom or contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you avoid the common mistakes and find the flooring that best suits your needs.
Schedule a Free Flooring Consultation Today!
If you’re ready to install the perfect floors for your home, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team of experts is here to help every step of the way!
