Guide
How to choose a floor type
Match mess, moisture, budget, and how long you plan to stay.
Start with the room, not the sample
List moisture risk (bath, entry, basement), grit (pets, garage path), and acoustics. A beautiful oak in a mudroom is a short story with a sad ending.
Budget is installed cost
Boxes are half the story. Add underlayment, transitions, baseboards, tool rental, and your time. Tile’s “cheap” material can lose to LVP on labor.
How long will you stay?
Short stay → prioritize durability and neutral resale. Forever home → invest in constructions you can refinish or live with for a decade.
Narrow to two categories
Run samples of only two finalists at home in morning and lamp light. Decision fatigue is how people order the wrong gray.