All of us are feeling it – it costs more to do, well, everything. And yet, we still need to maintain our homes. Avoiding repairs and improvements only compounds the issues (and costs) down the road. If flooring is on “the list”, I have some ideas for you to consider. I will warn you: I’m a practical person, who lives on a budget, and believes in smart choices – I write from this perspective.

1. If you can, use what you have: Many of us are in the habit of replacing whatever is worn or we don’t like anymore. With the press of a button, Amazon may even be able to deliver it today! While this concept may be ok for the small items, floors are too large of an item (physically and monetarily) and impactful on our daily lives to be wasteful. It shocks me every time I hear that someone is considering covering their worn hardwood floors with LVP just because they want “new” or “can do it themselves”. If your wood floors are not too thin, have them professionally refinished. It may save you money now and be the smarter choice for the value of your home.
2. Understand what adds value to your home: In Utah, hardwood floors are the only flooring material that increases the value of your home. Before you just agree and move on, I would like you to consider this further. While most of us understand the value differences of different materials (such as the limitations of engineered wood making them less of a value add than solid hardwood), have you stopped to consider that one solid hardwood floor does not add more value than another solid hardwood floor? Tearing out perfectly good but narrow plank wood floors and replacing them with wide plank wood floors does not add value to your home. Similarly, if you are adding wood floors to your home, you don’t get more value for the more expensive wood. A narrower plank or more character grade of wood may help you to achieve the overall objectives within a more friendly budget.
3. Learn what influences the costs of the product options you are considering (also known as: What was cheaper then may not be cheaper now): Raw material costs influenced by wars, tariffs, and freight and transport costs escalating with fuel prices are all influencing material costs in the flooring industry right now. Don’t automatically rule out options because you guess that they would be more expensive. Domestically grown and milled wood floors, particularly in a narrower plank, are incredibly affordable right now. We have provided estimates for solid wood flooring to clients recently that have been comparable in cost to other imported material options, but with the value add to the home.



Please let us know if you would like to explore options.