[senior citizen]

Having had all three and knowing some of the pros and cons from years gone by, but not knowing what folks building new homes or buying resales in The Villages think is the best flooring material to choose......I'd like to start a poll of sorts.

We all know what happens to carpeting and yet it is soft on the feet, knees, joints, etc. and quieter.

Hardwood floors are indeed beautiful nowadays (not like the ones I recall from our first houses that needed waxing).

Tile is what my husband would want in the entire house, but although I don't mind that we tiled our three bathrooms up here as they are easy to care for, being the shinier tile..........the type of tile I chose for my kitchen floor is not easy to care for.......with all the coffee drips, grandchildren spills, etc., especially near the dishwasher area. I do have the steam cleaner.

He suggests using DARK GROUT......but I don't think that would look good on light colored tile.

So, opinions please........the pros and the cons on carpeting vs. wood floors vs. tiled floors in homes in TV.

I now wish I had put hardwood floors in my kitchen. But are they slippery???
Especially as one "ages in place".

Do THE VILLAGES new construction homes allow for "upgrading" to a better carpeting that might wear well? Anyone who has done this, I'd love to hear from you......and please tell me the brand of carpeting you are happy with. Height of padding, etc. Any help would be appreciated..........before we finally go ahead and decide to choose a model, choose a location and then get down to the particulars. Looking forward to our visit end of year.

THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ALL RESPONDERS.

[mulligan]

Maybe someone else can speak to the designer/premiere selections, but in all the others, you select a "package" To include floor covering and countertops in specific color combinations. I was told that the designers in house will look at your selections to make sure you don't do anything too outrageous. IMHO, because of what the developer charges for any changes, you're probably better off living with base selections, and changing to your selections after you have lived in your home for a while. If you choose to make upgraded selections up front, be prepared for limited choices and big charges.

[cappyjon431]

My wife and I have always preferred tile, primarily for ease of maintenance. We currently have a beautiful hardwood floor, it looks great when it is swept and mopped, but the dark floor combined with our white haired dog makes upkeep very difficult.

We are closing on a resale home next month and while the current owner has just put in brand new caprpeting, my wife decided it has to go so she has already made arrangements to have tile installed post-closing and prior to the moving truck's arrival.

As an aside (and not meaning to hijack this thread), does anyone know who we can donate the to once we have it removed? My immediate thought is Habitat For Hummanity, but I wasn't sure if they had a Habitat group near TV

[l2ridehd]

We have all three in our home. Bedrooms have carpet, kitchen has hardwood and the living area halls and bathrooms are tile. I think each has there purpose and we like all three. I might go hardwood in all living areas and carpet in the bedrooms if I was selecting new everywhere. But the tile is nice as well. I like the look of the hardwood in the kitchen.

[Mudder]

We have all hardwood except in the bathrooms and kitchen. Wish I had it in kitchen but when we bought the house the tile was fairly new and we like it so it stays. Beware of dark grout with light colored tiles because all your eye will see is that dark grout, it also makes the room look a little choppy.

[laryb]

While I prefer tile and wood for their looks, and had both in our previous home, I find a major difference acoustically with carpet. I've found that you have much more sound reflection, even with area rugs and curtains, and that distorts the sound from my surround sound system with wood and tile. Now this might just be my ears, but my son has a home with tile and wood floors, and he can hear a major difference. If you're into home theater, you might want to consider this, or maybe consult and audio-visual specialist.

[Mikitv]

I have hardwood in the living room and dining room. Tile in Kitchen, baths and foyer. Carpet still in bedrooms to be replaced at future date with wood. I love the wood and tile, both so easy to take care of. Our grout color was changed from the light color The Villages had to a slightly darker color when we had the grout sealed. We use an organic cleaner on the tile and it's very easy to keep it clean. Same with the wood, just a pad and the cleaner. Having lived in the south for 15 years I really don't want to carpet but that's what came with the house. We took the carpet out of the living/dining room asap and put in the wood.

[dfn8tly]

Although I don't have it in my current house, nothing looks finer than real hardwood flooring. I've had it in previous homes and if installed properly it is stunning. However, it can be quite expensive. Given all the alternatives, price not an object, I would probably go with hardwood in all areas of my home except the kitchen and bathrooms where I would use tile.

[Ohiogirl]

I currently have tile in the kitchen and bathrooms up north, and hardwood in the rest of the house. In TV, have vinyl (high grade) in kitchen/baths and carpet everywhere else. Our carpet was an upgrade (looks like a short shag, not sure of the brand or name - came with the house) and after 5 years, and 1 good cleaning, it's in very good condition.

Even though I have sealed the tile up north at least twice with a supposedly "15 yr" grout sealer, it looks dirty and I think it's difficult to keep really clean unless maybe you clean thoroughly more often than I do. I don't think I'm a slob, but I don't clean the floors every week. A steam cleaner makes it easier but the grout still looks dirty.

Some neighbors in TV have put in tile thruout - I think they are sorry. Other neighbors replaced the vinyl and LR/DR carpet with a good grade of laminate wood-look flooring - doesn't scratch from dogs, looks great. I am one who always thought wood-look laminate looked like fake wood. This product has made great improvement in the last 10 years, and probably what I would go for when the carpeting needs replaced.

We are getting good about taking our shoes off when in TV and I like the feel of carpet on bare feet. I wear sandals/shoes when spending much time in the kitchen. Tile is hard on your feet and back when standing for very long.

[lawatha]

We have carpet in the living room and bedrooms, tile throughout the rest of the house we're in the process of buying. I love the tile, but wonder how long it will be until the grout looks dirty- what do you use to clean it and keep it clean? Any hints, tips, suggestions to keep it looking new?

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Maybe someone else can speak to the designer/premiere selections, but in all the others, you select a "package" To include floor covering and countertops in specific color combinations. I was told that the designers in house will look at your selections to make sure you don't do anything too outrageous. IMHO, because of what the developer charges for any changes, you're probably better off living with base selections, and changing to your selections after you have lived in your home for a while. If you choose to make upgraded selections up front, be prepared for limited choices and big charges.

Re the package selection, hubby said it is because they buy it in volume and that would make it easier on them. Good advice overall....thank you.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

My wife and I have always preferred tile, primarily for ease of maintenance. We currently have a beautiful hardwood floor, it looks great when it is swept and mopped, but the dark floor combined with our white haired dog makes upkeep very difficult.

We are closing on a resale home next month and while the current owner has just put in brand new caprpeting, my wife decided it has to go so she has already made arrangements to have tile installed post-closing and prior to the moving truck's arrival.

As an aside (and not meaning to hijack this thread), does anyone know who we can donate the to once we have it removed? My immediate thought is Habitat For Hummanity, but I wasn't sure if they had a Habitat group near TV

Thank you for your insights.........yes, the hardwood is always beautiful.
I think our problem up here is we never had the tile grout sealed. In the bathrooms it still looks good after three years.....but the kitchen it seems to show all the spots near the frig and near the sink and dishwasher, stove, etc.
That about says it all. It's a light sand color with matching grout. I'm sure in Florida the tile would feel nice and cool also.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

We have all three in our home. Bedrooms have carpet, kitchen has hardwood and the living area halls and bathrooms are tile. I think each has there purpose and we like all three. I might go hardwood in all living areas and carpet in the bedrooms if I was selecting new everywhere. But the tile is nice as well. I like the look of the hardwood in the kitchen.

I like it also..........the wood floor looks great. No grout to clean.
Nice kitchen. Beautiful countertops. So, they were an upgrade?
Thank you.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Mudder

We have all hardwood except in the bathrooms and kitchen. Wish I had it in kitchen but when we bought the house the tile was fairly new and we like it so it stays. Beware of dark grout with light colored tiles because all your eye will see is that dark grout, it also makes the room look a little choppy.

I HEAR YOU. I agree. Sometimes, model homes will have white tile with black grout. We chose a matching grout to the light sand color tile, but it does show in certain places....like coffee drips or splatters. Thank you.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

I currently have tile in the kitchen and bathrooms up north, and hardwood in the rest of the house. In TV, have vinyl (high grade) in kitchen/baths and carpet everywhere else. Our carpet was an upgrade (looks like a short shag, not sure of the brand or name - came with the house) and after 5 years, and 1 good cleaning, it's in very good condition.

Even though I have sealed the tile up north at least twice with a supposedly "15 yr" grout sealer, it looks dirty and I think it's difficult to keep really clean unless maybe you clean thoroughly more often than I do. I don't think I'm a slob, but I don't clean the floors every week. A steam cleaner makes it easier but the grout still looks dirty.

Some neighbors in TV have put in tile thruout - I think they are sorry. Other neighbors replaced the vinyl and LR/DR carpet with a good grade of laminate wood-look flooring - doesn't scratch from dogs, looks great. I am one who always thought wood-look laminate looked like fake wood. This product has made great improvement in the last 10 years, and probably what I would go for when the carpeting needs replaced.

We are getting good about taking our shoes off when in TV and I like the feel of carpet on bare feet. I wear sandals/shoes when spending much time in the kitchen. Tile is hard on your feet and back when standing for very long.

All good advice. My husband like the idea of the high quality vinyl.
We have also seen good quality laminates for the wood flooring as well as top of the line.........much improvement nowadays, for sure. Thank you.