Living in Southwest Florida means a lot of sunny days and balmy breezes, but it can also mean rainy summers and intense heat. When building a custom home or remodeling an existing home, it’s important to take the weather and climate into careful consideration, so that you’re able to choose the right materials for your new space. Perhaps the area of the home that tends to be impacted the most by the weather are your floors, which means finding a durable material is of the utmost importance. After all, the last thing you want is to have your beautiful hardwood floors ruined at the first sign of a rainy day. Building in Southwest Florida is unique, and although there are some flooring materials you’ll want to steer clear of, there are many that work perfectly with our coastal contemporary home styles, as well as our climate.
Here are some of the best flooring materials for your Southwest Florida home.
Ceramic & Porcelain Tile
In our subtropical climate, you want to choose a flooring material that’s durable, one that can stand up to the elements, so that you won’t have to worry about tracking rain into the house during a storm. Tile is one of the most common flooring materials found in homes across Southwest Florida, and not just because it’s the most durable. Choosing ceramic or porcelain tile comes with a host of benefits, including:
- Many shapes and sizes available
- Stunning design options
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Easily replaceable if damaged
- Water resistant
Tile can be used all through the home or in areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms, the kitchen and mud room. With so many options, ranging from traditional tile to wood-look, marble designs and more, finding the ideal tile for any area of the home is simple.
Wood-Look Laminate
Some Southwest Florida homeowners really want a hardwood floor in their homes; however, since hardwood can’t stand up to the elements like other types of materials, it’s always advised to go another route. That route is wood-look laminate, which displays the luxurious look of wood, only with maximum durability. Wood-look laminate is made of multiple layers of various materials, giving it depth, as well as strength. Like tile, laminate is available in a number of styles, tones and colors, so that you’re able to customize it to suit your home’s décor needs.
Concrete Flooring
Concrete floors have been consistently gaining popularity over the years, and for good reason. Concrete is one of the strongest materials you can select for your flooring, and with various dyes and etching techniques, you’re able to create a custom look in your home with it. Not only are concrete floors extremely easy to maintain, they’re also eco-friendly, as they require less resources to produce. They are also more capable of keeping the hot air out and cool air in, helping to reduce energy bills
The Right Flooring Material for Your Home
Whether you desire traditional tile or a wood-look material, there’s a product available that can withstand our climate, as well as meet your design expectations. Create the look you want in your home and be sure you’re able to enjoy it for years, even during those three o’clock rainstorms in the steamy summer months.
Gulfstream Homes is excited to help you build the perfect home in paradise! Call (239) 254-1664 or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com to get started.
