Concrete vs. Hardwood Flooring – Which One is Best for Your Custom Home in Dallas?
Your choice of flooring will have a definite impact on the overall look and feel of your custom home, and 2021 is all about bare flooring with premium finishes.
Two of the most popular types of bare flooring available these days are concrete and hardwood. Both options come with their pros and cons.
Our goal in this post is to measure both advantages and disadvantages these options offer, to be able to determine which option is best for you.
Concrete Flooring
While concrete flooring in a residential setting is a relatively new option, it can add value to your custom home construction because of its durability and affordability. In addition, this option provides a myriad of customization options, making it possible for you to add a unique touch to your dream home in Dallas.
Pros
Concrete is Tough and Resistant
Concrete is used in sidewalks, roadways and construction because it is strong and durable. Concrete is tough and resistant to most damage, so it can be specifically beneficial for those areas in your home that receive high traffic regularly.
Low Maintenance
Concrete floors are low-maintenance, as they need little to no upkeep once installed. Cleaning sealed concrete surfaces is easy and hassle-free as well. All you need to do is to mop the dirty surfaces, and you’re good to go.
Also, when properly sealed and finished, concrete is highly stain-resistant so usually a few strokes of a mop with any quality eco-friendly detergent or floor cleaner is enough to keep your floor looking like new.
Customization Options
Concrete floors are highly customizable. There are many types of stains and dyes that you can apply to give your custom flooring the look and finish of your choice, for example. Stamped concrete is another option that is a huge trend currently, and is created using rubber or metal stamps to add texture or designs to the finish. It is hugely popular and provides practically endless customization options.
Heated Floors
Whether you’re building a custom home or adding concrete flooring to an existing slab, you can include a radiant heating system to make your floors feel warm during cold days. Adding this feature can be especially beneficial in North Texas, where winter temperatures often drop into the single-digits.
Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient
Concrete floors are both environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient. Their durability and insulation rating makes them an ideal choice for homeowners who want to build an energy-efficient, functional home in Dallas where temperatures can vary dramatically throughout the year.
Affordable
Compared to hardwood flooring, concrete floors can be incredibly affordable, with prices ranging between $2 and $30 per square foot depending on the type of finish and complexity of any added patterns you might choose.
Easy to Install
The installation of a concrete floor doesn’t require the cutting, nailing, joining, gluing and other installation challenges of hardwood flooring. Installation only requires pouring the concrete and leaving it to cure for 3 to 7 days (depending on temperature and humidity).
It Adds Value to your Home
When finished properly, concrete flooring can improve the look and value of a home. In fact, many realtors we know prefer to represent and invest time in properties that include concrete floors, as according to them, they can add to the overall value of the house.
Cons
Slippery and Heavy
Concrete floors are heavy, and they’re not an ideal choice for floors connected by joists. Also, homeowners with kids may not prefer to install concrete floors as they can become glossy and slippery once polished.
Concrete Floors Can Crack
Concrete floors can crack if the soil forming a home’s foundation settles or shifts, which is not uncommon in many areas around Dallas. Even if you get your concrete floor installed by a pro, the risk of cracking over time remains unless your foundation is rock-solid.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring has been around for centuries and exemplifies luxury and class. But similar to concrete floors, hardwood flooring comes with its own pros and cons.
Pros
Timeless and Classic Look
Hardwood flooring is popular because of its timeless look and classic appeal. It adds opulence to the overall home decor. Because of its price, this type of flooring is generally chosen by owners who want to give a high-end touch to their custom homes.
Improves Your Custom Home’s Resale Value
Since hardwood flooring is a premium flooring option, it automatically adds to the resale value of your house.
Plenty of Design and Customization Options Available
Hardwood flooring is available in a wide range of options, making it easy for you to choose something that fits your individual needs and custom home requirements.
Heated Floors
As with concrete, you can include a radiant heating option to make your wood floors feel warm during cold days.
Blends with All Types of Interiors
A significant advantage of installing hardwood flooring in your custom home in Dallas is that it can be perfectly coordinated to blend with your home decor. Whether it’s the contemporary home aesthetic or a vintage design, specific hardwood flooring chosen to match will enhance the look of your home.
Cons
It’s Expensive
Hardwood flooring is expensive when you compare it with concrete or other types of flooring. Depending on how premium the wood is, the cost difference can be huge. Unless you have plenty of budget, this option may not be the most practical for you.
High Maintenance
Hardwood flooring is also relatively high-maintenance. You need to maintain it with regular care, and you may have to get it fixed by a carpenter every now and then to help retain its form and shine.
Not Eco-Friendly
Real hardwood flooring comes from real trees, so it is not as eco-friendly as some other options, including concrete. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, then hardwood floors may not be your best option.
Hard to Install
Hardwood flooring is tough to install. There are several essentials involved, including nails, glue, manual labor and various tools needed to install wood flooring in your custom home. The installation charges are pretty high, too.
Hard to Clean
Unlike concrete that you can clean with your mop and a vacuum, you have to pay special attention to cleaning hardwood flooring. Specialized cleaning products should be used, and using too much water to clean your wood flooring can cause moisture damage, buckling and damage to the finish, all of which can reduce its life.
All in all, what you should choose for your custom home depends on your preferences, budget, and goals.
