The Evolution of Flooring
Flooring has changed exponentially over the last 20 years. New material, technology and trends all have completely reshaped the flooring landscape. Here are a few of the changes you may notice if you haven’t replaced your floors in the past 20 years.
First, the rise of vinyl plank and tile (LVP and LVT) has being nothing short of massive. Vinyl flooring used to carry a stigma of being cheap and crappy. Now vinyl flooring is the most popular flooring option for residential jobs. Here’s why. Vinyl can create a super realistic wood or stone look and feel. This was achieved through advancements in embossing technology. You can have a realistic woodgrain look and feel without the premium cost and maintenance of wood. Vinyl flooring is usually waterproof and extremely durable. It really checks off almost every box for most homes. Stylish, practical, and affordable. What more could you need?
Environmental impact is a huge factor in consumer decision making currently. This applies to floors as well. People want sustainably sourced products that aren’t loaded with harmful chemicals like formaldehyde that is often found in dangerous levels in unregulated cheap wood products. Sustainability is a priority for us and many flooring manufacturers. If you’re interested in learning more, visit our blog on sustainable flooring where we go into more detail!
Solid hardwood was the standard for hundreds of years, but times have changed. Engineered hardwood is usually cheaper, handles moisture changes better, and still has a thick enough wear layer to refinish it with deep sanding. While solid hardwood is still somewhat common, engineered hardwood has eaten up a big chunk of the market share. Another change we have seen to hardwood is the prominence of wider boards. Rarely do you see the narrow oak boards that probably still occupy your parents or grandparents house. It’s common to see boards wider than 7” in residential and commercial spaces. We have also seen gloss finish come and go once or twice in the past 20 years. Right now, matte or textured finishes are most popular among customers.
Carpet has been on the decline since the 2010’s. Wall to wall carpeted room were the standard for many years. Carpet will probably never be irrelevant, but people just aren’t choosing it like they used to. We think some people should reconsider. Carpet innovations have arguably the most impressive over the last 2 decades. Nylon carpets have always been the most durable and expensive, but not very soft. Polyester carpets have always been the softest and cheapest, but not very durable. Well, both materials have worked out their issues recently. Nylon carpet is softer than ever without sacrificing any durability. Polyester carpet has retained it’s softness while becoming stronger than ever. Now you can’t really go wrong with either option. Most carpet now is completely stainproof with multi-year warranty to back that claim. With proper maintenance, carpets can last a lifetime.
We will touch on tile briefly to wrap up. Tile has probably changed the least over the last 100 years. Tile design for floors, backsplashes, and feature walls grants unlimited customization options of your space. Tile can provide polarizing or simple designs depending on the artist. Well there has been limited advancements in tile over the years, the design has changed quite a bit. 13”x13” was the standard size for tile for a very long time. Now, people are opting for bigger slabs. Almost all of our floor tile is 12”x24”. This has become the new standard and only time will tell how long this will be the case for.
With new installation methods, technology, and trends, flooring is an ever-growing industry. Tracking the innovations year after year is important but what has remained most important from day one is that you love your floors. Come visit us at The Carpet Studio and find flooring that you’ll love!