The start of the new year is a great time to reenergize your home. Taking steps to give your home a refresh doesn’t always require a major renovation. One way to liven up your living space is to replace your floors. Your new floors are not only about style and décor. Cost, durability, moisture and maintenance are other important factors to consider when purchasing new floors for your home.  To help you evaluate what works best for your home, here are some popular floor options among homeowners:

Bamboo
Unlike the name it implies, bamboo floor is manufactured out of lightweight wood grass. Bamboo floor is durable, resistant to changes due to temperature fluctuation and relatively easy to install. This flooring type is available in strips or planks. While it’s a less expensive option to hardwood floors, installation costs tend to be more expensive.

Linoleum
Natural materials make up linoleum. This flooring choice is scratch resistant and easy to maintain. Linoleum is available in planks, sheets or tiles. Like other flooring options, linoleum is available in a variety of colors and patterns. While durable, linoleum is not as water-resistant as other types of flooring and can fade with long term exposure to direct sunlight.

Carpet
Soft fibers and a variety of colors and textures make this type of flooring option popular especially in living rooms and bedrooms. Depending on the type of carpet you select, this type of floor can resist moisture, mildew, water or stains. Carpet can be soft and pillowlike on your feet based on the type of padding you select. Not all carpet is stain resistant or easy to clean. If you live in a home where someone suffers from allergies, this is not an ideal flooring choice since carpet fibers capture pollen and pet dander easily.

For more information about flooring options or other home renovations in the new year, contact the Central Washington Home Builders Association or visit CWHBA.org.