The Tech Behind Flooring

When you think of technology in the home, flooring is probably not the first thing you think of. Flooring is, well, flooring. It doesn’t have buttons or flashy lights. You can’t talk to it, and it won’t automatically adjust the temperature of your house based on your habits. But, that doesn’t mean technology hasn’t played an enormous role in the flooring products offered today. Each year, flooring gets better, stronger, softer and more durable. New materials and manufacturing technology are responsible for the wide variety of beautiful, durable floors available today. Here’s a look at some of the attributes you can now find in flooring – no matter what your style – thanks to technology.

WATERPROOF

Gone are the days of worrying that a missed spill could ruin your floors forever. You can now find both hard surface and soft surface flooring options that are waterproof. That means the product itself will not absorb or be damaged by water. Waterproof carpet resists water (and liquid stains) and won’t let those pesky spills seep through to the carpet pad and subfloor. This is a game-changer for households with pets. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) products are made of a material that is completely waterproof and they are available in textures so realistic, you’ll hardly be able to tell it’s not hardwood or ceramic tile.

SUPER SOFT

If carpet is what you’re looking for, you probably love the feel of something soft underfoot. Whether you have kids playing on the floor, love to walk around barefoot or just want a soft place to sit during movie night, you’ll be pleased to hear that carpet is now softer than ever. With finer, smoother fibers, the finished product feels soft and silky to the touch. But soft doesn’t mean weak. These carpets are just as stain resistant and strong as their less soft counterparts.

DURABLE

From carpet to hardwood and everything in between, flooring today is ready to take what life has to throw at it. It’s not uncommon to see carpet with warranties of 15 years or more and hardwood with warranties over 25 years. This is all due to materials and finishes that truly stand the test of time. Scratch-resistant finishes on hardwood are great for standing up to pet scratches or those house guests who refuse to take their shoes off.

STAIN RESISTANT

Stains, especially on carpet, are a worry of most homeowners. With stain-resistant products, that worry can disappear. Even if you don’t have kids or pets in the home, spills and stains are bound to happen occasionally. Fibers that don’t absorb stains are easy to clean no matter how quickly you rush to rescue your carpet from a spill.

The content of this post first appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple magazine.