Much like cabinetry or lighting, flooring is an essential component to any home and can help pull a room’s aesthetic together. Whether looking for something minimalist to complement bold pops of color elsewhere, or looking to make a statement, choosing the right type of flooring helps create a cohesive interior design.
More than just aesthetics, flooring will ultimately have a great impact on a homeowner’s life, especially when it comes to cleaning. After all, we trek across our floors in muddy cleats after soccer practice, dash across them soaking wet from the pool, and drop dishes on them while cooking. Our pets, nails clicking, fur flying, also run across them, leaving signs of their presence.
Because of how much we put our floors through, it’s important to find the right one for your lifestyle. When looking for something that’s both beautiful and easy to care for, Bob Wagner’s Flooring America, which has locations in Downingtown, West Chester and Middletown, Del., has over 40 years of experience installing every type of floor imaginable.
 |
 |
Current Trends in Flooring
Like window and wall treatments, flooring trends change over time, but some looks, like hardwood floors, never go out of style. While hardwood floors are great for many, they do require upkeep. For those with young children, pets, or generally busy lifestyles, luxury vinyl is a great new option. “Luxury vinyl didn’t exist several years ago, but now it’s our industry’s fastest growing trend, especially in the northeast United States,” explains Matt Wagner, a second-generation owner at Bob Wagner’s Flooring America.
Luxury vinyl isn’t your grandmother’s vinyl, though, and takes its cues from popular classics like hardwood and natural tile floors, so convincing in appearance that it’s hard to tell it isn’t wood or tile. Luxury vinyl is available in both tiles (LVT) and planks (LVP) so you can get the exact look you want. “The looks are amazing,” says Wagner. “It’s not a smooth plastic looking or feeling product anymore. It’s hard to tell what you’re walking on.”
No matter what you choose, “the floors dictate the character of the room,” explains Wagner, so choosing something beautiful and durable is essential. “It’s one of the most vital components for setting the atmosphere of a room.”
 |
Benefits of Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl has countless benefits: It’s usually more cost effective, it can take a beating, and it’s easier to clean than other surfaces. “It’s very low maintenance,” says Wagner. “The fact that it’s waterproof material is what makes it easy to maintain.” Cleaning isn’t an ordeal—just give floors a sweep and scrub with a basic cleaning solution and you’re good to go. Plus, luxury vinyl can be used in virtually any part of the house, but is proving especially popular in kitchens and bathrooms.
Standard hardwood and tile floors can get scratched or chipped easily, but luxury vinyl doesn’t. “Many types are scratch-resistant, so you don’t have the issues of touching it up. Many of them are indentation-proof, too, so you don’t have the added maintenance of correcting a chip from dropping a frying pan,” adds Wagner.
Plus, vinyl is more forgiving for the body. “Ceramic tile is unyielding, so if it’s in the kitchen it can be hard on the feet and legs over a period of time,” adds Wagner.
 |
 |
Get the Look You Want
LVP and LVT are available in dozens of varieties, which range in color, size and pattern, which means there’s no compromising on aesthetic. Choosing luxury vinyl can give you even more options, since it’s available in larger sizes than many hardwoods and tiles. Think concrete or travertine tile looks, in eye-catching sizes like 18×36 inches when choosing from the popular and high-end Galvanite line. “They’re very large format tiles. It just looks stunning when you put them down,” says Wagner.
As for woods, colors range from light oaks to deep cherries and everything in between. Galvanite offers extra-long plank options for stunning interiors. “The Galvanite planks are amazing. They are 9 inches wide by 72 inches long. You don’t see much hardwood that long,” explains Wagner, who notes that wider hardwood floors are very on-trend right now. “You can get this wide board look and it just makes for an amazing visual.” Wagner also likes that Galvanite comes with one of the best warranties and can even be used in commercial spaces, something most products can’t withstand.
Whatever type of flooring you choose, the team at Bob Wagner’s Flooring America will walk you through every step, from choosing the material that’s right for your home through the installation, including leveling subflooring, as necessary. See luxury vinyl and other options in person at one of Bob Wagner’s Flooring America showrooms or visit them online at www.bobwagner.com.
Bob Wagner’s Flooring America
4531 W. Lincoln Highway
Downingtown, PA
(484) 401-7129
1330 West Chester Pike
West Chester, PA
(484) 401-7225
938 Middletown-Warwick Rd.
Middletown, Del.
(302) 266-1529
