FLOORING

While it often makes sense to do your own painting, power washing, and other home projects, flooring is one of those things where there’s no room for you to learn as you go. Mistakes can be costly, time-consuming, and more than frustrating.

That’s why we offer professional residential and commercial flooring and carpet installation throughout the island of Oahu. So save yourself the expense and the headache, and let us handle your next flooring or carpeting project. We’ll help you narrow down your choices and find what works best for your needs, budget, and lifestyle, too.

Or call us at 808-352-7511

Let’s decide which type of flooring is best for you

LAMINATE

Laminate flooring is an affordable option that comes in almost any look you want. It often mimics the look of wood, but you can also get laminate flooring that looks like tile or slate.

Laminate flooring clicks together over a sub-flooring, and though the brand most people recognize is Pergo, there are dozens of newer brands on the market, and the quality can vary greatly. Talk to use first, and we can help you make the right choice for your plans and budget.

Laminate Pros:

• Durable.
• Broad range of choices.
• Scratch- and stain-resistant.
• Less expensive than hardwood or stone.
• Great in high traffic areas such as hallways, living room, and foyer.

Laminate Cons:

• Should not get wet.
• Very difficult to repair if it gets wet or damaged.
• Cannot be refinished.
• Not recommended anywhere food and liquids can cause damage, such as in the kitchen, bath, laundry room, lanai, or dining room.
• Can be slick underfoot and particularly slippery when wet.
• Can be difficult for dogs and other pets to walk on.
• Can sound “clicky” underfoot.

HARDWOOD

It’s no surprise that hardwood is popular—nothing else looks or feels like real hardwood.

Though more expensive than laminate, hardwood is a natural product, which may be more important to you than cost alone.

Hardwood Considerations:

• When choosing a wood floor, think about durability and finish. Do you have dogs, children, or both? Do you own a rental property? If so, you’ll need a harder wood, such as oak or maple, because softer woods will dent and scratch more easily.
• Do you prefer darker woods, a lighter and contemporary look, or a mix of dark and light? What types of wood will complement your cabinets and furniture? Because even the hardest woods, like maple, can easily scratch if you apply the wrong finish.
• Finally, think about sustainability. Certain types of wood, like bamboo, are more environmentally friendly than others. Bamboo grows to maturity very quickly, as opposed to some hardwoods that take literally hundreds of years to replenish.

So let’s take a look at some pros and cons to installing hardwood floors.

Hardwood Pros:

• Nothing else looks and feels like hardwood floors.
• Great resale value.
• Fairly low maintenance.
• Easy on the feet, legs, and back.
• Natural product.
• Sustainable product.

Hardwood Cons:

• Higher cost than most other flooring.
• Can require more care or even refinishing when used in high traffic areas.
• Standing water can ruin hardwood floors.
• Best preserved if protected by rugs when used in high traffic areas.

TILE

There’s a reason almost every home in Hawaii has tile flooring—it’s cool, durable, and easy to clean. It also resists water and stains.

Tile Considerations:

• The cost of tile flooring can vary considerably, depending on type, size, brand, and quality.
• Tile can be made from a variety of materials, such as porcelain, marble, slate, granite, ceramic, or soapstone.
• Keep in mind that some tile can be very slick when wet.
• Not all tile is suitable for flooring—something that looks great on bathroom walls may be dangerously slippery if used as flooring. Or a tile may be suitable for walls but not strong enough to be used as flooring.
• If you opt for a rougher surface, try to avoid too much texture, which could cause tripping or be very difficult to clean.
• And if you are paving a walkway or pool deck, consider how warm the tile gets when the sun hits it. Will it burn your feet, or your pet’s feet?

And finally, here are some pros and cons to consider.

Tile Pros:

• Water resistant.
• Very durable.
• Usually easy to clean.
• Stain resistant.
• Almost endless variety to choose from.
• Perfect for many areas, such as kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, lanai, entryways, as well as outdoor areas like walkways, driveways, patios, and pool decks.

Tile Cons:

• Can be cold underfoot.
• Can “look cold” compared to other flooring.
• Causes rooms to echo more than other flooring.
• Loud to walk on.
• For some people, the hard surface can be tough on feet, knees, and the back.
• Can crack, which can be difficult to repair.
• Grout can stain. (Consider darker grout if you have volcanic soil or red dirt in your area).

VINYL

Vinyl flooring has come a long way. Gone are the days when sheet vinyl or vinyl tile were the only options. We now have “luxury vinyl plank” or “luxury vinyl tile” (“LVP” or “LVT”), which rivals laminate for durability, appearance, and price. In addition to vinyl flooring’s newfound popularity and variety, it offers a number of advantages.

Vinyl Pros:

• Usually soft underfoot.
• Quieter and can look “warmer” than tile or wood.
• Often a lower cost compared to other flooring.
• Enormous variety.
• Often simpler to install than other flooring types.
• Fairly low maintenance.
• Offers great option for lower budgets.
• Great for use in kitchen, bath, and laundry room (with the added bonus of being soft and absorbing the sound of the washer and dryer).
• Great option for rental property due to ease of maintenance, along with initial installation cost (and replacement cost when needed).

Vinyl Cons:

• Quality can vary quite a lot—important to choose carefully.
• Not always, but if not carefully chosen, vinyl looks like vinyl, even if it’s made to look like wood or tile.
• Can tear and dent easily.
• As vinyl ages, it can lose its finish and become increasingly difficult to clean.
• Can dull and discolor with age.
• Not durable enough for porches or lanai.
• It’s very important to choose a quality vinyl.

CARPET

A nice, soft carpet can be just the thing in certain rooms. It gives a look and feel that cannot be achieved with hardwood, tile, vinyl, or laminate.

Carpet absorbs sound and it’s gentle on your feet. There’s a lot of variety—color, thickness, pile, pattern, material.

But carpet isn’t always the best choice. How do you know? Where do you start?

Carpet Pros:

• Warm look and feel.
• Quiet and comfortable underfoot.
• Can change the look and feel of a room.
• Absorbs sound and prevents echoing in the house.
• Fairly quick to install.
• Works well over uneven sub-floors.
• Gentle on your feet.
• Many options to choose from—color, thickness, pile, pattern, material.
• Wonderful for bedrooms.

Carpet Cons:

• Not for high-traffic, wet, or messy areas.
• Can be hard to clean.
• Collects dirt and sand.
• Not ideal for those with allergies.
• Can absorb odors.
• Not ideal for pet owners.
• Requires steam-cleaning to keep it fresh.
• Not always the best choice in a rental property.
• If choosing carpet for rental property, consider commercial-type or specifically high-traffic carpeting. Keep in mind that renters may not be accustomed to removing their shoes indoors, so choose carpets that can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Or call us at 808-352-7511