Are you considering new flooring for a room in your home? If so, you're probably inundated with options and information, making the mission to find a floor that's both durable and stylish an overwhelming process. To help you find the right floor that balances beauty and substance, the experts at Beautifully Responsible recommend asking the following questions.
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Do they live up to their claims? Whether it's sustainable flooring or flooring that promotes good indoor air quality, it's difficult to know for sure which flooring really meets the criteria they claim. Third-party certifications can provide the dose of truth you need. They are independently verified, meaning the flooring manufacturer needs to prove it's meeting the strict guidelines of the certifications to use the badge. For instance, third-party certifications — such as FloorScore (for indoor air quality) and ASSURE Certified (for multiple attributes in rigid core flooring) — are quick ways to make sure the flooring you're considering can back up its claims.

While these floors look stunning in photos, how will they look after a little wear and tear? Life is full of unexpected moments, whether it's your new puppy having an accident or spilling coffee as you rush out the door. Make sure you understand how much effort is required to maintain your flooring choice. Look for durable, scratch-resistant and water-resistant options. Your floors need to withstand your everyday life. While it can be easy to get carried away with the variety of beautiful flooring options out there, it's important to match your floors with your family's stage of life.

How can I find good looking floors I can feel good about? You deserve to feel good about every aspect of your floors — whether it's how great they look or their green attributes. However, finding flooring that matches your home's aesthetics and what's important to you requires a little research. Be sure to check the sustainability section on the manufacturer's website and look for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which detail product ingredients, carbon footprint and overall environmental impacts.

What can I afford? Aside from durability, scratch resistance, moisture resistance, third-party certifications and manufacturer commitments to sustainability, affordability is a major factor when choosing a floor. There are a wide range of options available to you when it comes to price, and also look for companies that offer options for installation that may be less costly.