Whether you plan to stay in your house for a long time or are looking to sell, you can improve the look and feel of your home with a floor remodel.
The cost of a remodel varies, from $1 to $7 per square foot for the average floor material (more for hardwood or stone tiles) and an additional $2 to $8 per square foot for installation, according to HomeAdvisor.
Here are just a few reasons you should replace your old floors.
Warmth
Heated floors are a luxury item more people can afford. Installing a 200-square-foot electric mat under a tile bathroom floor costs as little as $1,500 before installation of new flooring, according to HGTV. If you’re redoing an old bathroom floor anyway, adding heated floors could add to your comfort.
Heated floor kits include a thermostat and timer, which allow you to choose time periods when you want to heat your floor. For bigger projects, heat is supplied using hydronic tubing and a boiler or hot water heater.
“It is a worthwhile consideration for a large addition,” HGTV says. “You can also retrofit a large area of an existing home, combining a forced-air system with hydronic radiant heat in the same house.”
Damage repair and comfort
All carpet needs to be replaced eventually, and most modern carpeting lasts 5 to 15 years. Carpet stains could just need to be cleaned, but they could also hint at unseen problems in the padding.
“Stains caused by pet urine, feces, vomit, mold and mildew are usually easy to clean if you act fast,” Angie’s List says. “But these biological substances eventually will absorb into the carpet padding, leading to mold and mildew buildup under the carpet.”
Additionally, carpet padding naturally deteriorates over time, making it uneven and less comfortable.
A contemporary update
An updated look can make your old home feel new. If you aren’t sure of exactly the look you want, check out the options available from top brands like
For example, modern bathrooms tend to use muted, neutral tile colors, with variations in texture, size and pattern. Kitchen flooring trends, on the other hand, favor engineered wood, laminate, or vinyl, making these materials even more popular than the perennial favorite of hardwood.
“In general, engineered wood flooring is easier to install than hardwood,” RealSimple says. “Plus, it stands up to heat better, since engineered wood planks don’t expand and contract as much as solid hardwood planks do.”
Less exposure to allergens and molds
Replacing carpet with hard floors can immediately improve the air quality in your home. That’s because many studies have shown significantly higher levels of dust and allergens in carpets from fungi, dog and cat dander, and mites, compared to hard floors, according to research in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
This can be harmful to people with allergies, asthma or a sensitivity to dust and pet dander.
Additionally, the National Center for Healthy Housing recommends avoiding wall-to-wall carpeting in damp areas like kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, and bathrooms.
Increased marketability
If you’re planning to sell, new flooring can make a major difference to a possible buyer’s first impression.
“Buyers will walk away from homes with bad flooring the same way they’ll walk away from homes that smell bad, or have little to no curb appeal,” HomeLight says.
Replacing old carpet is a start, but the trend is for hardwood floors. In fact, HomeLight says “54 percent of buyers were willing to pay more for homes decked out in hardwood.”
Faux wood flooring or even laminate are also more desirable than carpet.
For more information about flooring remodels or to schedule a consultation with a specialist, visit Sal’s Tile at