Best Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas in the House

In This Post:
– Top flooring options for high-traffic areas
– How to maintain high-traffic flooring
– FAQs

The flooring sets the foundation of any room and therefore must cater to all aspects of the flooring – be it functional or aesthetic. You can’t just focus on the functional elements and ignore the visual impact a good flooring can bring into your house. Although there are a wide variety of flooring options available in the market, when you combine durability, aesthetics and the budget you are left with nothing but a handful of options. For your convenience, we have listed down some of the best flooring options for high-traffic areas.

Top Flooring Options for High Traffic Areas

There are a few areas in the house that are more prone to scratches, cracks and discolouration than others due to more traffic. If you have pets or children at home, then you need to be more careful in your flooring selection. Here are some of the top choices to consider.

Concrete
Stone
Vinyl
Hardwood flooring
Laminate
Tile

It is equally important to know the type of space in which the flooring will be installed. You must also consider a few important features in a flooring before selecting the one that fits your needs and preferences.

Low maintenance: High traffic areas often result in more foot marks. They need to be cleaned on a regular basis, which means you would prefer buying a floor that is not only easy to clean, but requires low maintenance overall. After all, you wouldn’t want to mop the floor all day or polish it every other week.
Durability – Frequent traffic also accounts for more scratches and cracks. You should opt for a flooring that resists dents and scratches and is more durable to endure all that.
Water Resistance – Check for water-resistant capabilities in a floor, especially if you are getting a floor for your kitchen or bathroom as more people using these rooms means more water spillage and warped floors.
Comfortability – Some durable floors also tend to be hard. These can be quite difficult, especially if you have to keep standing on your feet all day, for instance in a kitchen. Select a floor which is both comfortable and easy on your feet and joints.
Resistant to Temperature Changes – Hard flooring also tends to get icy under the feet during the cold winter season and it becomes difficult to work all day on such a flooring. Although you can opt for radiant heating systems in the flooring to heat the space, it can be fairly expensive. Choose a flooring that is not sensitive to weather and temperature changes.
Aesthetics – Although functionality is important, you wouldn’t want to compromise on the visual appeal of your flooring.
Cost – One of the most important factors to consider when selecting flooring for high-traffic areas is the budget. You wouldn’t want to buy an expensive flooring or opt for a low-budgeted floor and compromise on the quality. It is important to strike a balance and go for a flooring that is both cost-friendly, gives you a comfortable experience and is also light on your wallet.

Now, let us discuss the different types of flooring options for high-traffic areas in the house.

Concrete

Concrete is a hard floor and is therefore quite durable in high-traffic areas. If you are looking for a low-cost floor that is tough and can last a lifetime then go for concrete flooring. Aesthetics is also not a worry in concrete flooring as you can find numerous textures and designs that give an overall smart appearance.

You can also colour and use a tint to stain them according to the colour scheme of your room. You won’t find a mark on concrete thanks to its scratch-resistant ability. However, concrete floors when exposed to water can cause mold and mildew and if there are cracks on the surface, it can penetrate the cracks causing expansion. It is also a hard floor and therefore in a kitchen it could be quite difficult to stand on it all day. You can’t really install concrete in a playroom or any slip or fall can cause painful injuries. Not really good with temperature fluctuations, concrete flooring can’t retain heat and can be cold during the winter season.

Stone

The timeless elegance and appeal of natural stone flooring can go for years and never lose its natural charm. It is also a great idea to bring a natural element into your home. It is resilient and is also considered one of the most expensive options, depending on the kind of stone that is selected. You would also need to seal the surface at the time of installation to increase its longevity. Apart from using it in the bathroom, stone flooring is also ideal for pool decks and patios.

Vinyl

If you are looking for a one-stop solution to all your flooring needs, then opt luxury vinyl flooring. One of the best flooring options for high-traffic areas, it is soft on the foot, durable, scratch-resistant and has the ability to block moisture from seeping in, which are some of its noteworthy features. It is also compatible with radiant heating systems so it won’t crack due to changes in temperature. The fact that it is soft under the feet and is impervious to water, makes it ideal choices for bathrooms and kitchens.

One of the drawbacks of vinyl flooring is that it is not long lasting and can crack under pressure. So, when moving heavy furniture around the house, you have to be extra careful. Any sharp object if dragged on the floor can also leave a mark. Vinyl flooring looks worn out with time and you will have to replace it in 8 to 10 years’ time depending upon how withered it looks. You can’t refinish a vinyl floor just like you do hardwood floors. If you have a hardwood floor and want to know how to maintain it, then read our detailed post on: How to refinish hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring

Wood flooring is perhaps the last of options you might consider for high-traffic areas. Since wood flooring is sensitive and can be easily scuffed and scraped, homeowners think twice before opting for this floor. However, scuffed wood doesn’t entirely look bad. It has its own rustic charm. Besides, hardwood floors can be refinished at least five times and you don’t have to change the entire flooring each time. Hardwood flooring can also increase the resale value of your property and is also attractive and comfortable under foot.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is ideal for high-traffic areas if affordability, comfortability and durability is of great importance to you. However, they should not be exposed to water or it can swell up and expand when the water seeps in through joints. Ideal for living room spaces, laminate flooring can mimic wood and stone but at a fraction of its price. Quite easy to install, laminate flooring can be installed on your own. It only has a lifespan of 15-20 years.

Tile

Porcelain or ceramic tiles are considered ideal options for high-traffic areas. They are moisture resistant and can be a perfect choice for bathrooms and kitchens. If you are going for glazed tiles instead of matte ones, (Read our blog on the subject: Matte Vs. Gloss Tiles) then remember that glazed tiles are resistant to scratches as they come with a sealant on its surface. It is expensive to install and fragile objects such as plates and cups when dropped can break into pieces.

You would need to hire a professional to do the job as when the tiles are not properly installed, they can fall out easily. They also come with versatile designs and you can choose from a variety of options that enhances the visual appeal of your room. Tile is not really comfortable to walk on and it can be freezing cold during the cold spell, increasing the cost of heating up the space. Although they come at affordable costs, tiles require professional labour to install it and if you are thinking of having a radiant flooring, then include the cost for it as well.

How to Maintain High Traffic Flooring

While every floor is different, there are general guidelines to maintain high-traffic areas in the house, which you must acquire.

Regular cleaning and maintenance – If more people walk into a room, it requires regular cleaning and maintenance. As a general practice avoid bringing in dirty, mud-filled shoes. It is best to keep a separate pair of slippers for the house and remove your shoes in the hallway or entrance. You can also make use of the hallway and keep a shoe rack and a coat hanger there so that you do not leave any wet or dirty marks on the floor. You can even decorate your hallway by putting up sign posts or using some creative storage solutions.
Use rugs and protectors – Place some rugs and wipe your shoes before walking into the house. These rugs and mats can be placed at the entrance and outside each room and they can capture a lot of dust and debris that would otherwise leave muddy foot marks on the floor.
Avoid high heels – Another important element to consider when choosing the right flooring for high-traffic areas is to avoid using high heels as they can cause scratch marks. Moreover, any other shoe does not exert a lot of pressure on the floor, but a high heeled shoe exerts a lot of pressure, even if the person is slim.
Don’t slide heavy furniture – Professionals recommend not to slide any furniture on the floor as it can cause scratches or even cause deep cracks in the floor.

Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For your convenience, we have also tried to address some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about best flooring for high-traffic areas in the house in this section.

Which Type of Flooring Is Best For High-Traffic Areas?

Porcelain tile is considered one of the most durable flooring options available. It resists scratches and is also moisture-resistant, ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. However, if you drop any heavy object directly on the floor, it can cause a cracked floor.

Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Good For High-Traffic Areas?

Yes, it is considered one of the best high traffic flooring options because of its nature to block water and moisture. Moreover, it comes in numerous styles and designs and is also quite comfortable to walk on.

Which Flooring Blocks Moisture the Most?

Tile flooring is a durable flooring available and is considered waterproof as water doesn’t penetrate the tile surface. However, cleaning the grout is an important element in maintaining the waterproof nature of tile flooring as mold can grow within the grout.

Which Is The Most Scratch-Resistant Flooring?

Cement, ceramic and tile are some of the most scratch-resistant materials when it comes to high-traffic flooring options. If you are particularly looking for scratch-resistant floors, then luxury vinyl plank is also considered a good choice.

Which Is The Best Engineered Wood Flooring For High-Traffic Areas?

Maple hardwood floors are considered top choices for engineered wood flooring. They are not only durable and scratch resistant but also hold well to temperature fluctuations.

So, if we sum it all up – choose a flooring that can resist water, is durable and is not prone to scratches. Low-maintenance floors that are easy to clean such as tile and cement are ideal choices to consider for high traffic areas. Vinyl flooring is best suited for wet surfaces like kitchens and playrooms as they are quite comfortable on the feet and do not turn icy cold during the winter season.

We hope all this information would help you make a better decision. You can also share your experiences of different kinds of flooring by writing to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. In the meantime, you can also take a look at these informative posts before making the purchase:

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Best Flooring Options for High Traffic Areas