When Hurricane Matthew tore through the Atlantic, it left a path of destruction behind it that damaged the entire region. Even America wasn’t safe as Southeastern states like Florida and Georgia felt the effects. While the USA didn’t experience the same scale of tragedy as countries like Haiti, there was still considerable damage. Gale force winds, power outages, and, of course, flooding, all occurred during the biggest storm of the last nine years.
This has put some residents in the unfortunate position of having homes that have been damaged by water. And while flood damage to a home is never a great thing, at the same time, there is an opportunity at play here. If floors have been damaged by flooding, there’s a clear need to get that floor replaced. But how should you go about it?
If flood damage has inadvertently put you in the market for new floors, we can help. But the first thing you should do is find out what you need and want.
Form & Function
Your flooring needs are going to be very different based on the rooms that you want to re-floor and your own preferences.
For example, a common job for floors after a flood is often a finished basement. This is no real surprise, as a basement is invariably the very first room to suffer from flood conditions, and if a homeowner has taken the time to actually finish the basement, turning it into a study, playroom or even “man cave,” then there’s a lot of recovery required.
There are a number of considerations for the floor of a basement. One of the bigger factors may be the temperature of the floor itself. As the lowest point in the home, a basement floor will definitely be the coldest, unless some kind radiant heating solution is installed, or, more simply, you go with carpet flooring. However, if the basement has been designated as an area for a workshop or a gym, you might want to go with vinyl flooring instead, which is built for better durability in working conditions.
Other Rooms
If you’re looking at other rooms in the basement—or around the home—your needs change accordingly. If you have children, and the household is still quite active, then vinyl or laminate flooring is a more durable solution that will clean up messes more easily. If your lifestyle is less hectic, carpet may be a more comfortable alternative, but requires a little bit more maintenance in terms of cleaning, especially when considering spills.
When looking at the flooring for a particular room, you should always balance what you want the floor to look like with what you need to do in the room. It’s certainly possible, for example, to have a carpeted kitchen or bathroom, but most professional flooring companies, including us, would not recommend it. Some floor solutions, like hardwood, are beautiful and add a certain warmth and class to a home, but these floors will also be more expensive, and may be more delicate.
When in doubt, get a consultation from a professional. Have a seasoned flooring expert come in, explain what you would like to do with a room, and listen to the recommendations. Every home is different, every need is different, so just because your home has flood damage and you need a new floor, it doesn’t mean you’ll have the same floor needs as someone else.
