Q: I want new flooring in the dining room and I’m trying to decide between carpet and wood. I’m on a concrete slab and it’s kind of cold, so I was leaning toward carpet but prefer the look of wood. Any advice?
A: Solid hardwood would not be structurally stable on a concrete slab. Concrete contains moisture that would change the integrity of solid wood. However, engineered hardwood is a different story because it’s built of various layers of wood grain and textures, similar to plywood. These materials look very natural thanks to a veneer of solid wood on top. Or, there’s laminate flooring which is installed in much the same way as engineered hardwood. These floors may not feel as comfortable underfoot as carpet, but they provide the look of wood you prefer and they also install with moisture barriers and foam underlayment materials, which provide an extra layer of insulation between the slab and the flooring.
Keep in mind concrete floors are often perceived as hard and cold, but their benefits can outweigh these common perceptions.
