2014 flooring trends in custom homes

2014 Floor trends

We are now well into the 2014 construction year and the trends for interior flooring are emerging, some of these trends have been long running trends from previous years and some of them are trends that have started this year and are gaining in popularity. Custom homes are extremely trendy from year to year for a wide variety of reasons.

Here are the trends that have stayed constant over the last couple of years;

• Hardwood floors are still the most installed flooring for houses.

• Tile or natural stone is the most popular product that is used in bathroom floors.

• Mudrooms or entry ways into homes are still mostly tile or slate for the ease of clean up and durability of the product.

• The brick pattern when installing larger tiles is the most popular and simplest way of installation.

• Running the hardwood all the same way (direction) throughout the whole home instead of changing directions or patterning it.

• When using natural stone in ensuite bathrooms it’s almost by default that we install electric floor heating under the tiles.

• Carrera marble is commonly used in master ensuites to give it a luxurious look like a high end hotel
room.

• Engineered hardwood floors are at an all time high in popularity with the split at 50/50 to full hardwood floors.

• With tile found in large mudrooms and laundry room’s custom tile patterns like turning the tile at angle in the middle of the room has become almost the norm.

Here is a list of the new trends in the flooring for custom homes;

• Scandinavian Fumed White Oak is all the rage now. This is white oak that is milled in Scandinavia and shipped over to North America as engineered flooring without a finish on it. When it has arrived here it is finished with an oil finish before it is installed. The overall look is a smokey finish that is very unique.

• Hardwood in the bedrooms has made a comeback replacing carpet. With modern heating systems getting better keeping homes at a more even temperature wood floors are not as cold on the feet as they were in years previous.

• Less and less carpet is going in custom homes now; even basements are getting the engineered hardwood finish. With people looking for products that are easy to clean not having to clean carpets is growing more and more popular.

• With wide variety of pre-finished hardwood floors in engineered and full hardwood and the quality of the finish getting better and better less people are opting for the opting of having raw unfinished hardwood or antiqued hardwood installed and finished onsite. Pre-finished hardwood has made a strong comeback.

• Hand painted clay decorative tiles are all the rage at the moment.

• Cork flooring is being installed in kitchens, the flooring is soft and offers cushion for when people are preparing a meal for long periods of time.

These are just some of the trends that are in custom homes, some trends don’t last a full year and others gain momentum and popularity and stick around for years.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.

Trends in flooring finishes 2013

2013- Flooring

The trends in homes and renovations coming in to 2013, a lot of the things that we did in the 2012 construction year were the same as in previous years. But there were things that became trends in 2012 with more and more home owners opting for them, this is making them a growing trend in 2013. I am focusing on the flooring in custom homes.

Custom home flooring

Here is a list of the trends that have stayed the same over the last several years;

• Hardwood flooring is by far the most popular form of flooring for most of the 1st floor of houses and in any room that is used for large gatherings of people.

• Tile/stone is still the most popular option for all bathrooms, front entrances and mudrooms.

• Carpet is still the most popular flooring for bedrooms.

• Having heated in-floor tile floors is also still the most popular way to keep floors warm and comfortable.

• Re-claimed antique flooring is still by far the most popular, having it hand finished onsite once it is installed is still the most wanted in high-end custom homes.

Here a list of the new trends happening in flooring in custom homes;

• High definition porcelain is becoming increasingly popular in guest bathrooms, guest showers and powder rooms. The cost savings and ease of care are a major selling feature for this type of tile.

• Ensuite master bathrooms are taking on the look of luxurious hotel bathrooms. The use of Carrera marble is an increasing trend that is ending up in every Ensuite. The durability of the stone and timelessness of it are drawing people to put it not just on the floors but on the walls as well.

• A growing trend in hardwood flooring is for flumed oiled floors. This is a process that you coat the hardwood before it is installed and then you do a final coat once it is laid. Then once a year you have someone come back and touch up the oiled parts in the high traffic areas that are starting to show wear. This process allows you to have new looking floors every year instead of waiting till a regular finish wore off and forcing you to coat the whole floor all at once.

• Carpets are becoming popular in basements again, with new anti-mold and anti-mildew carpets and under pads, it is making the carpet option more appealing for people who are worried about their basements smelling.

• Engineered wood flooring is growing in popularity over full hardwood floors. The resistance of engineered flooring to not shrink and expand like normal hardwood, also the wider variety of choices is becoming more and more appealing to homeowners.

• New foam and moisture resistant products that are placed on top of concrete floors help engineered floors last longer, feel warmer and help resist dampness that causes the floors to cup and curl.

These are just some the new trends in flooring in today’s new custom homes.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.