Home Improvements & Repairs

One of my favorite do-it-yourself home improvement projects is to change the flooring in my house. I know it doesn’t seem glamorous, or even much fun, but updated tile in your foyer or bathrooms can make a big difference in your home’s value. In addition, properly matched hard woods in living spaces can also add warmth and beauty to an otherwise drab room.

So grab your Tassimo, brew up a pot of gourmet coffee and read up on what is hot these days in regards to new floors. Here are some of the more popular flooring choices that are helping homeowners gain value in their investments even in a sluggish housing market.

Marble

Marble tiles in 12”x12” sizes have come way down in price over the last 5 years. In addition, several earth tone colors are available at just about any home improvement store. Marble is a natural stone product, thus giving it good character and pattern variance for a very classy look. Marble is timeless, never goes out of style, and is fairly easy to work with if you have a wet saw.

Marble works great in entry ways, hall ways, bathrooms and even as counter tops.

Bamboo

Considered an exotic wood for flooring, bamboo is actually one of the best values these days in several ways. First off, it comes in colors ranging from coffee brown, to light blonde and everything in between. Secondly, the grains or bamboo are very pronounced and interesting to look at. Finally, and most importantly, bamboo flooring is very tough and can withstand high traffic areas like kitchens.

In addition to its beauty and versatility, bamboo is very fast growing, making it a highly renewable resource that is good for the environment. Everything about bamboo is just plain cool!

Cork

Cork floors were once popular for basements but fell out of favor in the early 1980s due to their lack or strength and durability. However, recent advancements in polymer coatings have made cork a viable choice for not only basement floors, but also recreation rooms and even kitchens.

Once again, cork is a renewable resource and is being sold in varied colors that make it a more reasonable choice for thrifty homeowners. This may be a great alternative to low pile carpets in areas where kids play as well.

Ceramic Tile

If you want the look of marble or granite without the $4 per square foot price, you may look at some of the advanced tiles that are now available. When I say “advanced,” I mean in regards to the tile’s ability to mimic natural stone.

After all, natural stone is all the rage and never goes out of style. Good quality ceramic tile can be a real “fooler” at a fraction of the price. Just be sure to stay with neutral colors and you’ll never go wrong.

I hope these suggestions help you understand just what is available out there in regards to flooring that will help you build value in your home.

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