If you walk into a luxury apartment building and one of the first things you notice is the worn-out flooring, that is going to be a checkmark in the negative column for that property. In many cases, the owner or the manager simply did not select the right type of flooring for the building. Easy to maintain luxury flooring for apartments should be chosen.
Almost all luxury apartment complexes have high foot traffic. Many tenants have children and pets, and there are always the vendors and suppliers constantly coming in and out of the complex. It might also be the case that some tenants do not take proper care of the flooring. They might make scuff marks by walking on it with work shoes.
Items with sharp edges might get tossed to the floor, and furniture could get moved around with no thought to the impact on the flooring. Others might simply let their pets scratch the flooring. If you manage a high-end apartment building or a condo complex and want the flooring to last a long time, you need to choose easy to maintain luxury flooring for apartments.
Read on to see what experts recommend as durable flooring for luxury accommodations with a high level of foot traffic.
Which Flooring is the Easiest to Maintain in Luxury Condos?
Luckily today, there are several kinds of easy to maintain luxury flooring for apartments that not only have good design but are durable. Your choices include the following:
Tile Flooring for Modern Luxury Apartment Floors is Ideal
Tile is not only a very hard material, but it is waterproof, does not cause allergies, and is generally scratch-resistant. It is the flooring of choice for entrances, hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms. It should be used sparingly in areas where people spend a significant amount of time as it can be hard on the feet that stand all day. If you reside in a warm climate, such as Florida, tiles can keep the place cool and comfortable.
The best feature about tile is that the flooring is easy to clean and maintain. There are no fancy cleaning requirements; all you need to do is sweep the floor to get rid of dust and debris. Any spilled liquids can be easily mopped up without ruining the aesthetics. If well maintained, expect the tile flooring to last several decades. The main thing you have to make sure of is that heavy objects are transported over tiles with care because they can crack.
Today, you can get tile flooring (ceramic or porcelain) that looks like marble, hardwood, or natural stone. Tile flooring is affordable, varying in price between $5-$15 a square foot. The installation should be done by a professional because if any small pockets are left in between the tiles, water may seep through, and mold may grow.
Laminate is Another Great Option for Modern Luxury Apartment Floors
Unlike the first generation of laminate, the latest products are aesthetically pleasing, durable, moisture-proof, and can be installed in many areas of the building. Laminate is also easy on the feet, does not feel hard or cold, and performs well at absorbing sound. It is an excellent choice for flooring in busy areas as it is quite durable.
Laminate is another easy to maintain flooring for apartments. Although, water spills should generally be wiped away as soon as possible. The use of laminate flooring should be avoided in moisture-prone areas, like kitchens and bathrooms. Thanks to technology, the latest laminate flooring has excellent aesthetics and can mimic the look of wood or stone flooring.
If you want flooring that is relatively easy to clean, then look no further than laminate. It is affordable, costing as little as $5 to $8 a square foot. If well maintained, laminate flooring will easily last several decades, even in high-traffic areas.
Concrete is Fast Becoming the Flooring of Choice for Luxury Apartments and Condo Spaces
It has superb aesthetics and durability, and it is relatively easy to maintain. Concrete is best avoided in areas where people will spend a significant amount of time standing on their feet because concrete can feel hard and cold. If you are looking for something durable, scratch-resistant, waterproof, and tough, nothing beats concrete. If well maintained, it will probably be the only flooring needed in a lifetime.
The other benefit of concrete is that it is easy to clean. However, it can crack if hard objects are dropped on it. Today, concrete flooring is available in many designs and styles to match nearly any interior decor. A factor to consider if thinking of choosing concrete as a flooring choice is that it’s not the best at standing up to extreme temperatures, such as excess cold and very hot temperatures.
Extreme temperatures can cause cracks, and this can allow water to seep through. It is also not very child-friendly; falling on concrete can be painful. If you live in Florida where it is warm pretty much all year round, concrete is a great flooring option. You do not need any special tools to clean or maintain it. However, to maintain the aesthetics of it, all you will need to do is wax it every 3-6 months. Concrete is also affordable with prices varying from $5-$14 a square foot.
A professional should install concrete flooring, however, because it is labor-intensive, and you want to make sure it’s done right.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring Stands at the Top of the List for Luxury Apartments
Not only is engineered wood beautiful, but it is also available in many styles and designs to match the interior decor of the building. In addition, it’s durable, child and pet friendly, and easy to clean and maintain. The best part is that it can raise the value of the property, and it is one way to attract good tenants.
However, it should probably be avoided in very high traffic areas where people may walk with work shoes or move heavy furniture or equipment often across the flooring. Solid hardwood is not that difficult to scratch dent or ding, but engineered wood is more durable. It is also a better choice than solid wood if you are looking for flooring that is more moisture resistant.
Engineered wood is one of the easiest floorings to clean and maintain. All you need to do is sweep it to get rid of the dirt and dust. If well maintained, engineered wood flooring can easily last many decades.
Your choice in design or aesthetic depends on your personal preferences and affordability. The biggest drawback to engineered wood is the cost which varies from $10-$18 a square foot for a high-quality wood. But if you want the best luxury flooring for your condominium or complex, you will not go wrong with engineered wood.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is Fast Becoming the Flooring of Choice for Many Luxury Buildings, Including Condos
It is a very versatile material that has many excellent properties that include being moisture-resistant, soundproof, durable, cost-effective, pet and child friendly, scratch-resistant, and easy on the feet. Luxury vinyl can be installed almost anywhere, and it is great for cooler climates as it is known to retain heat. Luxury vinyl is available in many designs and styles and is relatively easy to install.
Best of all, in heavy traffic areas, it will not get easily damaged. Modern luxury apartment floors are often luxury vinyl flooring. Another great feature of luxury vinyl floors is the ease of cleaning and maintenance. There is no need for any fancy cleaning equipment or machines; all you need is a mop or a broom. At $5-$7 per square foot, luxury vinyl is affordable and available in many designs that can mimic the look of wood or stone.
Unlike other flooring materials, luxury vinyl can be installed in bathrooms and kitchens because it is water-resistant. The one minor downside to luxury vinyl is that, unlike other kinds of flooring, its lifespan is 15-20 years, especially if it’s installed in high-traffic areas. But if you want flooring that has good aesthetics and is easy to maintain, luxury vinyl is a great choice.
Conclusion
If you manage a luxury condominium or a large building space and want easy to maintain luxury flooring for apartments, practice regular cleaning and good maintenance procedures. Areas of high traffic should be cleaned several times a day as people can bring in all sorts of dirt on their shoes.
In addition, service workers may cause oil and water spills. The earlier the dirt is cleaned, the longer the flooring will last. If you have questions, let the flooring experts at East Coast Flooring & Interiors help you with the answers. They know all aspects of the flooring business. Call them today at 1-954-773-9575.