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BEST FLOORING FOR EXTREME TEMPERATURES
Updated: Sep 10, 2022
Best Flooring For Extreme Temperatures
If you’re looking to add new flooring in your home, it’s likely you’ve considered carpet, laminate, hardwood, tiles and more. But what about the temperature in your house? While you might assume that carpet is the best flooring for extreme temperatures, this isn’t always the case! Learn more about how temperature affects your flooring choice below and get tips on choosing the best flooring for extreme temperatures, as well as other factors to consider when deciding on new flooring.
Jump to our 5 best products for extreme temperatures
Flooring For Extreme Cold
It most cases, floor covering needs a controlled environment to perform properly. But, what happens when you have an area of your home that needs new flooring, but that room gets extremely cold? The best option for these rooms would be either ceramic tile or certain types of luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Ceramic tile comes in many different sizes, styles, and colors. Tile is naturally resistant to cold floors because of its composition. Because it’s made of porcelain or other ceramic materials, tile is an excellent choice if you have a room that gets extremely cold due to its construction or location (like a basement). However, make sure that you discuss your room conditions with your flooring professional before choosing tile. Certain types of tiles are more suitable than others for colder rooms, so be sure to choose wisely!
Some manufacturers make luxury vinyl plank flooring that with withstand extreme cold. This type of flooring is usually made from high-quality wood or composite material and features a top layer of durable laminate. These types of floors are designed to mimic natural hardwood floors, but they have added durability and resistance to moisture and other elements.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring can be glued or clicked together. In extreme cold, be sure to check with your flooring professional to determine which type of installation is best for you. Glue-down LVT might be an excellent choice if you have an area that gets extremely cold because it’s less likely to crack in colder rooms and it’s easier to repair if there are any issues. On the other hand, certain companies have clicked together LVP; these types of floors may be a better option if you don’t want to worry about glue residue on your subfloor.
A good way to ensure that your new floor will last as long as possible is by keeping moisture out of its way. If you live in an area where humidity levels tend to rise during certain times of the year, consider using water-resistant underlayment before installing luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Flooring For Extreme Heat
Extreme heat can also pose a problem for homeowners. The best flooring for extreme temperatures should be able to withstand high humidity and stand up to heavy foot traffic. Engineered hardwood floors, especially those with a polyurethane finish, are durable enough to withstand everyday wear and tear while still keeping your home cool during the hot summer months. A tile-style or vinyl plank floor is another good option, as it provides an inexpensive way to bring style into your home while staying on budget.
However, engineered hardwood flooring might have issues with extreme heat. Maintaining a constant humidity level in your home is important to keep your wood floors from warping or cracking. Most floors require a relative humidity level of between 35 and 50 percent. To do so, you can run a humidifier in your home during dry months and open windows when it’s raining or snowing outside to help regulate moisture levels throughout your home.
The best flooring for extreme temperatures needs to withstand levels above 50 percent. In these cases, check with your flooring professional to see if any extra measures should be taken to protect your floors. For example, installing a vapor barrier underneath an engineered hardwood floor can help prevent moisture from seeping through subflooring and causing damage to your new floors.
The best flooring for extreme temperatures should also be stain-resistant. Extreme heat often leads to sweating and body oils building up on our feet when we walk across our floors—especially during hot summer months when shoes tend to stay on longer than usual.
In extreme heat situations, a the ceramic tile is a good option. Ceramic tiles are stain-resistant and can withstand high humidity levels without warping or cracking over time. Plus, they’re easy to clean and maintain!
Vinyl plank floors are another good choice when it comes to choosing best flooring for extreme temperatures. Vinyl plank flooring can stand up to heavy foot traffic and resist water damage in humid environments—making them an ideal choice for any room in your home that sees a lot of activity throughout the hot summer months.
Flooring For Extreme Dampness
Floors that get extreme dampness can cause major problems with floor coverings. In general, moisture can damage adhesives, as well as swell click-together products.
New slab floors should be tested for moisture before any type of covering is installed. If your home was built on a concrete slab, it is recommended that you test for moisture by using a simple test kit available at most hardware stores. The kit will tell you if there are any problems with high or low levels of moisture in your home.
Moisture barrier products are also available and should be installed underneath all types of floor coverings that might be subject to dampness. . A moisture barrier is a thin layer of material that is placed between your concrete slab and any type of covering. The moisture barrier will keep any water from seeping through to your subfloor and causing problems.
Moisture barriers can be purchased at most hardware stores or home improvement centers. Some moisture barriers come with adhesive backing, while others require you to use an adhesive such as construction glue to install them.
Moisture can cause major problems when it comes to installing new floor coverings. Whether you have wood floors, carpet, or vinyl planks, moisture can cause them to swell, buckle, and lift. It can also increase your risk of mold problems in your home.
If you have moisture problems in your home, you should speak with a professional installer who can help determine if a moisture barrier is necessary. If it is, they will be able to help you choose and install a product that is effective at preventing damage to your floors.
Flooring For Extreme Dryness
Humidity can cause major problems with floor coverings. It’s important to consider how your floors will be affected by humidity and temperature, as a floor that is damaged by dryness may be prone to damage from moisture as well. If you live in an area that experiences high humidity or extreme heat, it’s a good idea to look into tile floors—they are extremely durable and hold up well under changing conditions.
For example, if your power goes out for an extended period of time, the humidity in your home could rise, causing major damage to wood floors. For these reasons, it’s important to consider what kind of climate you live in and how that will affect your floor coverings.
Hardwood flooring is very susceptible to issues caused by dryness. Wood swells and shrinks with humidity, which causes problems in floors that are exposed to a lot of moisture. This can cause buckling, warping, and splitting—which means you’ll have to replace your wood floors if they’re damaged by dryness.
Having central air in your home is extremely important with certain types of floors. For example, if you have tile or hardwood floors, having central air can help keep humidity at a consistent level throughout your home. This will prevent damage to wood and tile floors that are exposed to extreme dryness or humidity.
If you live in an area that experiences high humidity, it’s also a good idea to invest in a humidifier—this will help prevent damage caused by dryness while also providing moisture to tiles and hardwoods when they need it most.
One final point to consider: understand your flooring product, as well as what is in the product warranty. Learn what the warranty says about dryness. For example, some warranties state that floors must be kept above a certain humidity level or else they will not be covered by a warranty.
If you’re considering hardwood floors and live in an area with high humidity, it’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a hardwood flooring product—the manufacturer may not cover warping or buckling caused by excessive moisture if you choose a particular type of wood floor.