Choosing flooring for how you live

What this decision really turns on

• Moisture

  Basements, bathrooms and kitchens rule out solid wood in most homes.

• Wear and claws

  Dogs and hard-wearing households need a tough wear layer or a harder species.

• Refinishing

  Solid wood can be sanded back for decades. Most engineered and luxury vinyl cannot.

Questions worth answering first

• Which rooms, and is moisture a factor in any of them?
• Pets, children, or both?
• What's underneath — concrete slab, joists, existing floor?
• Do you want it to last decades or a decade?

TLC asks these one at a time, then reasons from your answers — and your photos, if you share them.

Mistakes that cost homeowners money

• Installing solid wood over a slab or in a damp basement.
• Choosing a soft species in a home with large dogs.
• Skipping underlay, then living with the noise.

Common questions

Related guides

• 🏡Should I repair, renovate, or replace?
• 🍽Kitchen improvements
• 🪑Room layout