The wrong type of flooring can make your home difficult to find comfort in. Discover some flooring tips for hot and humid climates.
Do you always turn on your air conditioner?
If you live in a city where it's always hot and humid, keeping the AC on isn't the only way to beat the heat. Remember, running your AC isn't just bad for your pocket, it's also not environmentally-friendly.
With that being said, there are strategies you can use to keep your home cool and comfortable. These include using blackout curtains or shades, buying air plants to help soak up a bit of humidity, and choosing the right type of flooring products.
The following flooring tips can help if you're thinking of replacing your existing floors.
Tip #1: Understand Your Flooring Options
Though a hot and humid climate somewhat limits your choice of flooring options, it doesn't mean you can't have beautiful, durable floors. It's just a matter of knowing which flooring products are best suited for your home.
That being said, let's talk about some flooring types and how each one holds up to heat and humidity.
Hardwood
Temperature fluctuations are hard on hardwood floors.
Don't forget this type of flooring is porous, which means it will expand with heat. Add humidity to the mix, and you might find your floorboards swelling, which leads to your boards warping, lifting, or cupping. Over time, this whole process will damage your floors unless you're diligent about maintenance.
Now, be warned. Some homeowners find the whole maintenance thing too troublesome.
For example, you have to be careful when cleaning your hardwood floors. Water is the enemy of hardwood, so you can't use water-based cleaning products every day.
You also have to monitor the amount of humidity in your home. When humidity levels get too high, you'll have to use an AC or dehumidifier to bring those levels down.
Laminate
One advantage of laminate floors is their durability, but the downside is they tend to absorb moisture.
If you're set on having laminate flooring, make sure to choose the high-pressure variety. Since this type of laminate is made with special glue, its moisture absorption properties are reduced. This makes it capable of withstanding indoor humidity without swelling and buckling.
Luxury Vinyl
If you're looking for a hot climate flooring option that's easy to clean and looks great, you can't go wrong with luxury vinyl.
It's low maintenance, meaning you don't have to worry about moisture absorption, and it's also versatile and can work for different areas in your home. We're talking kitchens, basements, and even areas prone to water, like bathrooms.
Plus, it comes in a wide range of design options including some very wood-like choices if that's what you prefer.
Porcelain Tile
Unlike hardwood or laminate floors, porcelain tile is less porous. It's durable and can be used for your kitchen, bathroom, basement, etc.
Another benefit of tile is its resistance to stains and scratches. If you have kids or pets, this will certainly be a good option for floor replacement. Of course, if you feel that tiles lack a homey appeal, you can experiment with area rugs and other floor treatments.
Tip #2: Mix and Match
There are ways to mix and match flooring so the overall effect isn't jarring.
One of the easiest ways is to do it room by room. For instance, you can use tiles in your bathroom, laminate for your bedroom, and luxury vinyl for your kitchen. Doing it this way can really define those spaces.
Another way is to follow the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) principle. Though well-defined areas are great, you don't want too many floor transitions within the same line of sight. Your floors should still reflect your home's aesthetic and not look like they're an afterthought.
Other rules for mixing and matching include avoiding flooring products that are too matchy-matchy and picking flooring that complements your existing floors. Don't go for too high a contrast when selecting flooring colors and designs. Even if you're using different flooring materials for each room, you should make every effort to avoid those elements from clashing.
Tip #3: Don't Forget Your Budget
Okay, so this is more of a general tip, but it still applies when picking a hot and humid flooring option.
Keep in mind that there's a sweet spot for many types of flooring. While exotic woods may be out of the question, you can score some domestic hardwood or engineered wood flooring within a moderate budget in addition to luxury vinyl. When considering flooring, it is important to avoid immediately going for the least expensive product type, and taking the time to evaluate options and how they will continue to uphold over time.
Tip #4: Research to Know More Hot Climate Flooring Tips
Beyond knowing the best flooring types for hot climates, mixing and matching, and setting a budget, there are other flooring tips and tricks you can follow. These include choosing the right installer and learning how to protect your floors.
For the former, it will save you more money in the long run to hire a flooring company that specializes in immediate expert installation.. That's because you can trust that they have unrivaled industry knowledge. They can install your floors on time and can even set you up with amazing deals if you're looking for top flooring brands.
As for the latter, this will depend on what kind of floors you have in your home. You'll need to research how to clean different types of flooring and how to maintain them. Lucky for you, there are tons of resources online that can make your research easier.
Are You Looking for the Best Flooring Products?
Now that you know some of the best flooring materials for hot and humid climates, don't stop there.
You can learn more flooring tips and advice by checking out our other posts or getting in touch with us.
