High traffic flooring areas in your home, such as kitchens, living rooms, and hallways, require durable and resilient flooring options. It’s crucial to choose the right type of flooring that can withstand constant wear and tear and still maintain its appearance. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which flooring type is the best fit for your needs. This article will explore the various high traffic flooring options, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to select the ideal flooring for your busy space.After all, no one wants to install floors that will need replacing in a few short years. You want floors that will last.The best thing you could do for your home is to find a flooring option that is durable, less resistant to wear, and capable of keeping up with your busy lifestyle.Because we know the value of a durable floor, Floors For Living offers a wide variety of high-traffic flooring options that are not only guaranteed to last but to look beautiful in any space you have.
How to Choose the Right High Traffic Flooring
When choosing high traffic flooring for your home or commercial space, consider the following factors:
- Durability: Look for flooring that can withstand constant foot traffic, pet claws, and furniture movement.
- Maintenance: Consider the maintenance required to keep the flooring looking its best.
- Safety: Choose flooring that is slip-resistant, especially in areas exposed to moisture or spills.
- Appearance: Select flooring that complements your decor and provides a professional and stylish look.
Best High Traffic Flooring Solutions
High-traffic flooring is flooring that is designed to handle … high-traffic.
That means that no matter how many people walk back and forth over your floors, even in the busiest hallways and areas of your home or office, your floors will continue to look great and remain damage-free for years to come.
This is because high-traffic flooring is designed to be especially resistant to scratches, fading, or any other damage that constant foot traffic could cause to your floors.
There are several types of high-traffic flooring to choose from. And just because high-traffic flooring is super durable doesn’t mean it has to be super expensive either.
Here are our top picks for high-traffic flooring to fit any decor, budget, and lifestyle.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl is a very popular flooring choice that gives your home all of the beauty of a hardwood or stone/tile floor with much less maintenance and for much less money.
The flooring is made from high-quality vinyl sheets which are then cut into individual rectangular planks (LVP) or square tiles (LVT) for easy installation.
Each plank or tile is made up of 4 different layers for maximum durability; an underlayment layer, a more rigid core, a vinyl printed image (to mimic hardwood or stone), and a urethane-based wear layer on top that coats your floor to protect it against unsightly scuffs and scratches.
This makes luxury vinyl particularly useful for those high-traffic hallways of your home or your business. No matter how many people or pets walk, dance, and shuffle over your floor, the wear layer keeps its surface free of scuffs, scratches, dents, and even discoloration due to direct sunlight.
The thickness of the wear layer is measured in mil (1/000th of an inch, not a millimeter!). The thicker the wear layer, the better the protection it offers, so aim for something between 12 and 20 mil for those high-traffic areas of your home.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is another very popular flooring option for homeowners who want the look of classic hardwood floors, but with increased durability, less maintenance, and at a much lower price point.
Like luxury vinyl, laminate is another type of layered flooring. It’s typically made of a resin or fiberboard core covered by a printed textured image to mimic the look of hardwood and then topped with a protective aluminum oxide wear layer.
Just as it does with luxury vinyl, this top wear layer is designed to resist scratches, wearing, and other damage that can result from constant high traffic in your home or business.
Again, the thicker the wear layer, the better the protection. Aim for a wear layer between 12 and 20 mil for the best high-traffic protection for your new laminate floors.
Engineered Wood Flooring
If you’re looking for flooring that is practically identical to hardwood floors but with more durability, then engineered wood might be the best choice for you.
Engineered wood is made of a high-quality plywood core with a thin layer of hardwood on top.
Because this top layer can be made from ash, mahogany, or anything in between, your new floors will have all of the looks of classic hardwood at a fraction of the cost.
Engineered wood flooring is much more resistant to high traffic, scratches, and scuffs than hardwood flooring, so feel free to install it in entryways and busy hallways of your home or office.
You can be sure that your engineered wood floor will hold up just fine to even your busiest spaces.
Carpet
While we don’t normally think of carpet as particularly resistant to high traffic, there are some options for you if you just enjoy the classic look and feel of a nicely-carpeted floor.
A nice, low-pile (length of fibers) carpet will stand up to high traffic much better than a high-pile carpet, which could end up looking crushed and worn after a few months of use.
Synthetic materials like Nylon or Olefin are more durable than others, so aim for that material in a low pile for your busiest areas. And there’s no need to sacrifice your style for a durable floor because both of these options come in a variety of shades, colors, and patterns to match whatever vibe you’ve got going on.
At Floors For Living, we carry a wide variety of Shaw carpets, so you can be certain to find something that will not only look beautiful in your home, but withstand high traffic without snagging, buckling, or wearing down.
High Traffic Flooring FAQs
Q: How often should high traffic flooring be cleaned? A: It depends on the type of flooring and the level of traffic. However, it’s recommended to clean high traffic flooring at least once a day to keep it looking its best.
Q: Can high traffic flooring be repaired if damaged? A: It depends on the type of flooring. Some options, like Torly vinyl spc planks, can be replaced individually. However, others may require the entire flooring to be replaced.
Q: Are high traffic flooring options expensive? A: The cost of high traffic flooring varies based on the type of flooring and the size of the area. However, investing in high-quality flooring can save money in the long term by reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacement.
Call Floors For Living Today
Whether you’re replacing flooring in your home or looking for a durable floor to withstand the traffic of your busy office, we are certain you can find the best flooring for high traffic areas at Floors for Living.
Why not reach out and give us a call today?
Our friendly and experienced design consultants are here and eager to talk with you about your flooring needs to help you find the floor that fits you, your style, and your budget.
Call today or schedule an appointment online.
A beautiful space starts with a beautiful floor. We can’t wait to help you find yours.
