Sorting Through Hard Surface Flooring Options

You’re on the hunt for the right hard surface flooring option. Considering the myriad of hard flooring options available, that hunt could quickly become an epic quest — and if you’re like most of us, you don’t have countless hours to spend on finding that perfect, timeless flooring. However, by asking some smart questions beforehand (including the obligatory “What is hard surface flooring?”), you can narrow down both your options and your search.

If you’re a homeowner or a trade professional, try answering these seven simple but smart questions before you make a definitive flooring choice. Check the answers that best describe you or your clients, and you’ll start to see which floors could be the best fit for your current project. So whether you’re looking for some innovative bedroom flooring ideas or just a few hard surface flooring choices for the living room, you’ll have a better idea of where to look when you visit your local ProSource Wholesale^® showroom.

1. Will the flooring be installed in a room where there is running water (like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens)?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider floors that are naturally resistant to moisture, like cork and bamboo, or more watertight choices, like tile or stone flooring.

2. Will the flooring be subjected to lots of traffic — especially the kind that only kids can create?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider floor options that resist scratches and wear, such as vinyl, laminate, tile and stone flooring, or ones that do a better job of hiding chips and scratches, like linoleum flooring.

3. Do you or your clients have a dog (or two or more)?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider choices that can stand up to the scratches and wear that claws can dish out, such as vinyl, laminate, tile, and stone flooring, or floor options that can hide chips and scratches, like linoleum flooring.

4. Do you or your clients have heavy furniture?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider flooring that doesn’t have a tendency to dent, such as laminate, tile, and stone flooring.

5. Do a lot of things hit the floor at the house (besides feet)?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider choices that provide the “give” necessary for a more cushioned — and less damaging — landing, including cork and vinyl.

6. Does anyone in the home have allergies or sensitivities to chemicals?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider flooring types that don’t require on-site finishing or glue to install, like prefinished hardwood, laminate, tile, or stone flooring.

7. Answer truthfully: Do you or your clients want to spend as little time as possible to keep your floors looking good?
___ yes ___ no

If you answered “yes":
Consider low-maintenance options like hardwood, vinyl, linoleum, or laminate flooring that are easy to clean and require no additional surface care.

Armed with answers to these questions, you now have a better idea of where to start your search for a solution that will transcend flooring trends for years to come. Your first step? Bring along your answers and talk to a flooring expert at your local ProSource showroom. This way, if you’re a trade professional, your clients will have a better idea of what flooring best meets their needs.

Hardwood Laminate Tile Vinyl Basement Bathroom Bedroom Dining Entertainment Entry/Hallway Living Room Kids Room Kitchen Laundry Media Room Office