DIY Network

Flooring: Introduction From "Blueprint for Home Building" episode DBHB-203

Host Jeff Wilson discusses the flooring in your new home in this week's episode of Blueprint for Home Building.

Hardwood? Carpeting? Laminate?

The floor is the largest continuous horizontal area in your home, and it unites every room on each story of the house, which is why it makes such a visual impact. When it comes to the flooring in your new home, the options seem to be endless. Host Jeff Wilson discusses those options in this week's episode of Blueprint for Home Building.

A good way to become acquainted with the current flooring options is to visit a flooring supply showroom and meet with the designer, who is there to help you narrow the choices. They take into consideration the style of your home, tastes and budget.

Tip: It's helpful when you visit a showroom to have your floor plan with you.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Flooring Categories

1. Hard Surface Flooring -- This is any type of flooring that is not carpet. These options include:
   • Vinyl or Linoleum (figure A) is recommended for high-traffic areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

   • Ceramic Tile (figure B) is great for a low-to-mid range budget.

   • Laminates and Wood (figure C) flooring is for high-range budgets. Laminates come in different design options, including the wood-grain look and tile format. Laminates are easy to install.

2. Soft Surface Flooring -- Carpet.

One of the major factors to take into account when narrowing down your options is to make sure your subfloor is appropriate for your choice. For example, a wood subfloor can be uneven or concrete subflooring may have to be ground to the desired smoothness.

Using wonderboard, which is basically a lightweight concrete that gets screwed onto the stammers to the foundation, is an option for subflooring.

Did You Know? -- A light colored floor makes a room look larger, and a richer, darker floor soaks up light, which makes bigger rooms feel cozier and warmer.

In the next segment we'll take a closer look at hard surface options.

GUESTS :

Joe Meringolo
Site Supervisor
6106 Drexel Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323-833-9442
E-mail: joemeringolo@yahoo.com

Al Sain
Homeowner
7117 Fairway Dr.
Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-865-3056
E-mail: alsain@zbzoom.net

Greg Felikian President
Felikian's Carpet One
188 N. Rosemead Blvd.
Phone: 626-795-2821
E-mail: FGELIK@aol.com

Rob Tarver
National Accounts and Marketing Manager
Wilsonart
3301 Center St.
Temple, TX 76503
Phone: 254-207-3235
E-mail: tarverr@wilsonart.com

Jody Siegler
Interior Designer
E-mail: jodycs@yahoo.com

Don Shafe
Vice President
Virginia Hardwood Company
7117 Fairway Dr.
Butler, PA 16001
E-mail: dshafe@virginiahardwood.com