At 50Floor, we offer flooring and installation services to various parts of the United States that represent different weather conditions and temperatures. Whether your house is on a plot of land at the hot, humid beach or the cold, breezy mountains, explore the best flooring type for each climate.
Best Flooring for Cold Climates
If you live in a climate with freezing temperatures, snow and ice, you need flooring that’s comfortable for your feet and resistant to moisture from melted snow. You may also need to consider how well the material can accommodate a radiant heating system if you’d like to have that upgrade under your floors. The following types are the best for colder regions of the country.
1. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring feels the best against your feet because of its embossed surface. If you want to invest in radiant heating under your floors, luxury vinyl plank flooring is more durable than engineered hardwood. You can also apply a layer or insulated cork or foam under the flooring to increase its ability to keep warm.
Luxury vinyl is excellent for cold areas because it does not expand or contract in extreme temperature changes. Compared to tile or hardwood, it warms up quickly, providing a more comfortable place for your cold feet to walk.
Unlike some expensive flooring options, luxury vinyl is highly affordable and offers exceptional value over a long service life. It’s also scratch-resistant and easy to clean. Plus, waterproof options are available to protect your floors from water damage due to tracked-in rain, snow or mud.
2. Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is an excellent choice for cold climates, especially if you want a product that looks like natural wood. It also has similar insulation properties to luxury vinyl flooring, so you can have a comfortable place for your feet to walk without being too cold. Applying an insulating layer of foam or cork underneath your floors will help them stay even warmer. Overall, laminate flooring can handle extreme temperatures fairly well.
Laminate flooring is easy to clean and scratch-resistant, so salt that’s dragged in won’t damage your floor. As a bonus, many laminate designs are significantly less expensive than more natural options without sacrificing your floor’s quality.
3. Carpeting
Installing carpet on your floors is one of the best options for your home in a cold climate. The warm fibers insulate against heat loss, keeping your feet warm and cozy. Carpeting works well in high-traffic areas like living rooms, bedrooms and family rooms. Choose a deep-pile carpet with thick fibers that act like a warm blanket around your feet as you walk on it.
Carpet has a warm and plush texture and offers safe walking even with wet or snowy shoes. More importantly, carpet can retain warmer air longer than many other flooring types.
4. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood is an acceptable flooring material for your home in a cold climate. If you choose to install a radiant heating system, this material can withstand the heat better than solid hardwood. Keep in mind that engineered hardwood has a humidity and temperature limit, so you should consult the manufacturer’s instructions to get the most out of your radiant heating and flooring components.
Solid hardwood can shrink in cold temperatures, but engineered hardwood maintains its shape. Engineered hardwood is a high-quality insulator, especially in new, well-insulated homes.
Engineered hardwood flooring is moisture- and temperature-resistant than solid hardwood flooring, and depending on the manufacturer, it can be sustainable and eco-friendly. In addition, engineered hardwood often costs less to install than natural wood floors.
Best Flooring Choices for Hot, Dry Climates
Dry air can damage certain flooring types, so you must look for a material that can withstand warping and discoloration in the dry heat. Explore the qualities of these materials to discover the best flooring for a desert climate.
1. Hardwood Flooring
You can invest in a variety of durable hardwood flooring types for your home in a dry climate. Acclimate the wood to the environment before installation so that it won’t warp, cup or shrink. Try to monitor the room’s relative humidity so your hardwood doesn’t get too dry or hot. Closing the curtains to prevent the strong sunlight from discoloring your panels on very sunny days is also recommended.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable. Solid hardwood also offers a more eco-friendly flooring option, which can significantly benefit people with allergies in dry climates.
2. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Even though solid hardwood is a good flooring material for dry regions with an effective climate control method, engineered hardwood flooring can withstand dryness in the air much better. Engineered hardwood flooring features several layers in each board to add stability, preventing warping and cracking in extreme temperatures.
Engineered hardwood can handle drier climates and provide more consistent results than solid hardwood. In addition, homeowners in dry climates can install engineered hardwood in nearly any room.
3. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring is a durable material that can accommodate any climate, especially one with dry air. Like engineered hardwood, this material features multiple layers to enhance its insulation and durability. You can get the most out of this material for your flooring if you seal the seams between the panels, especially if your foundation is a concrete slab. Ensure you close the curtains when the sunlight is strong to help this flooring last longer.
One of luxury vinyl flooring’s top benefits is that it won’t warp, crack or change due to dry climates. It also provides a much longer service life for desert homes than other options.
Best Flooring for Hot and Humid Climates
If you live in a coastal climate, you must consider how the heat and the humidity will affect your flooring. Explore the following materials to determine which one can withstand the high temperatures and moisture surrounding your home. The following flooring materials are the best for hot humid climates.
1. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring can resist heat and humidity in the air because of its various layers. If you want an aesthetically pleasing plank material for your coastal rental property, you can design vinyl flooring to look like solid hardwood. This flooring is waterproof, so you could put it in rooms with excess moisture, such as the bathroom, kitchen or laundry area.
With luxury vinyl flooring, you can enjoy low maintenance and the look of hardwood flooring. The nearly limitless design options allow you to choose the perfect color or pattern to match your existing decor.
2. Wood Flooring
Even though solid hardwood generally warps and shifts in excess humidity, certain wood species can withstand moisture better than others. American Beech, Hickory and Western Australian Mahogany are some of the best wood flooring options for a humid climate because they are structurally stable and can resist the pressures of moisture. You can also invest in engineered hardwood that’s easy to maintain and durable, even after coming into contact with water.
Choosing a flooring company with extensive knowledge and experience installing floors in dry climates can help you select the most practical and durable option for your region.
The Best Flooring for Non-Temperature-Controlled Areas
If your home isn’t regulated by a heating and cooling system, you’ll have some extra factors to consider when choosing the best flooring option. You need quality flooring that won’t expand, contract or move due to changes in temperature and humidity.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a great option to withstand fluctuating temperatures, making it the best solution for non-temperature-controlled areas and extreme temperatures. Further, the best flooring for unheated three-season porches is also luxury vinyl. No matter what funky weather you encounter, your vinyl flooring can handle it.
Schedule an Appointment With 50Floor
If you need help finding the right flooring for your specific climate, contact a flooring consultant at 50Floor. We understand how flooring materials respond to all types of weather, plus we can help you select the best options that meet your lifestyle and budget requirements. We bring floor samples to your home during a scheduled appointment so that you can feel them for yourself and see how they accommodate your comfort needs.
For more information about our products and services, you can call us at 1-800-50-FLOOR.
