A custom home should be filled with personalized features and quality materials. If you’re considering working with a local Wausau Homes’ Builder to design a new home for you and your family, use this helpful guide to determine the most popular flooring choices for each area of your new home.

Most Popular Flooring Options

Today’s homebuyers have a stunning selection of flooring materials to choose from. Explore common materials and compare the pros and cons of each before making your decision:

Carpet

It’s rare to see wall-to-wall carpet these days, but it remains a popular choice for bedrooms and living rooms. Carpet is one of the most comfortable, noise-reducing options available, so it’s a welcome addition in areas where you plan to walk with bare feet or lay on the floor. While it is an affordable option, the carpet may not last as long as other alternatives and is more difficult to clean.

Hardwood: Solid, Laminate and Engineered

Hardwood floors offer a timeless, luxurious look that can increase the value of your home. Hardwood comes in three distinct categories: solid, laminate and engineered. While each has its own pros and cons, they vary in price making the decision reliant on your budget. All hardwood options are durable, long-lasting, easy to clean and hypoallergenic making this material a popular go for an entryway, dining room and living room or choose to run this quality flooring throughout your home for a unified look.

Tile: Stone, Ceramic and Porcelain

Tile floors are waterproof and extremely durable, so they are a great option for low-maintenance flooring. Choose from an impressive array of materials, shapes, colors and patterns to personalize your floors from room to room. Tile may not have the warmth or comfort of carpet, but it’s an affordable and reliable option especially for those families with furry friends.

Vinyl: Plank, Sheet and Tile

Finally, vinyl is a manufactured material that boasts a waterproof design at a low price tag. The quality of vinyl varies considerably, so you can select the ideal option for any budget. The look may not be quite as luxurious as natural materials, but you can select vinyl that mimics the look of hardwood, tile or other flooring materials.

How To Choose the Right Flooring

When building a home, the most important factor when selecting the right flooring is to consider the use of the room. A high-moisture area, such as a bathroom or laundry room, is best served with tile, vinyl or another waterproof alternative. If comfort is an important factor for you and your family, carpet is a great option for living rooms, bedrooms, and those spaces where feeling cozy is the ultimate goal. Carpet gives you a soft, wall-to-wall surface for families with young kids, and provides warmth for relaxing weekends and brisk early mornings. Compare costs to see where you can invest in quality flooring for years of reliable service. Consider low-maintenance flooring options to reduce the need for staining, finishing and repairing your floor. Any material you choose comes in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, so you are only limited by your imagination. Work with a Wausau Homes Builder to understand what options are available within your budget, so you can achieve the unified look that you desire, but at the cost you can afford.

Popular High-Traffic Choices

A common worry about flooring is the marks that result from everyday wear, scuffs and stains. High-traffic areas, including entryways, mudrooms, and living rooms, need to have a durable floor to prevent these damages. There’s nothing worse than scratches and stains in the first year of owning a custom home. We recommend these choices for high-traffic areas:

• Vinyl
• Tile
• Hardwood flooring with throw rugs or runners

These options are popular for large families or families with pets. Carpet isn’t recommended for a high-traffic areas, but there are padding and carpet alternatives that can offer more stain resistant protection while bestowing comfort.

Common Choices for Pet Owners

Treat your pets right with quality floors that keep them comfortable. Pet owners face unique challenges when determining the best flooring type. You want a material that’s comfortable for your dogs, cats and other animals, but you also need to avoid stains and scratches. There are carpet options that are comfortable for your family and your pets. You’ll need to plan on vacuuming and steam cleaning frequently, but a low-pile carpet without loops can be installed with mold-resistant padding. Other pet owners use vinyl flooring and throw rugs. The rugs provide a comfortable surface for your pets to lay on, while the vinyl is scratch resistant and easy to clean.

Start Your Dream Home Project Today

Flooring is only one aspect of custom home design. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the number of flooring options, it’s time to work with a professional. Find a builder near you to see how your local Wausau Homes team can help you navigate all those tough design decisions and build a custom forever home for you and your family.