FLOORING
Top floors, best choices: what's the best flooring
for you...and for your mid-century modern home?

From the pages of the CA-Modern magazine
By Tanja Kern

Too often, flooring is one of the last remodeling projects tackled in mid-century modern homes. It's no wonder -- many homeowners consider it a mammoth endeavor.

There are more flooring materials available today than ever before, offering both fashion and function, but all of those options might leave you feeling confused about which works best for your home renewal. Before you make any investment of time or money in the project, consider some of the practical and aesthetic factors that will help you make the right decisions.

Choosing the right flooring hinges on many elements: lifestyle, floor plan, maintenance, budget, and overall appeal. "I have found that the cleaner and less fussy look works best when it comes to accentuating twentieth century modern architecture," says Bay Area interior designer Doyle McCullar. "The key to having a successful installation of new flooring is keeping in mind the end result you want to achieve and how it relates to your architecture."

Flooring plays an important role in the overall appeal and mood of a space, but looks aren't everything. Select the right materials and they will blend seamlessly into your lifestyle and the overall design of the home. Select the wrong material and someone could slip and fall, or the kitchen floor could go from spotless to splattered after one messy meal.

Each homeowner's criteria for choosing the best floor for them is different. People who live an active indoor/outdoor lifestyle might choose a hard surface that is easy to clean, stands up to heavy foot traffic (or the occasional cocktail party), and requires little maintenance. Families with younger children might prefer flooring that hides spills and stains and includes softer surfaces that are easy on little feet.

Health issues such as allergies, and maintenance are also important motivations behind flooring selection. Soft surfaces can be comfortable and stylish, but they can also trap dirt and dust mites more easily. Hard surfaces, while sometimes cooler in homes without radiant heat, can often be cleaned with sweeping a light mopping.

Floor plans can have a huge impact on flooring choices. For homes with open plans, using just one material throughout the house will help promote uniformity among the rooms and the different furnishings you choose. A single material also helps novice restorers keep their home design more clean-lined and uncluttered.

Pam and Paul Costa of Sunnyvale recently installed new concrete flooring throughout their newly remodeled Eichler. "We use a slight tint in the coloring, had it hand troweled, and finished with an acrylic coat," Pam explains. "We wanted it to flow seamlessly from room to room. We liked the modern feel of the concrete and decided that having one flooring through the house would really open things up and make it flow."

When Paul Parker purchased his Sunnyvale Eichler six years ago, there was a variety of flooring throughout the house: worn carpeting, vinyl, and ceramic tile. To avoid remodeling hassles later, he decided to replace the flooring in the majority of the house before move-in.

At first, he considered using ceramic tile throughout the house since it works well with radiant heat. But after visiting a local tile shop and noticing the slate-covered entry, he was sold on another idea.

"We fell in love with the idea of slate, and thought it would work well with the Eichler aesthetic," Parker says. "After some extensive shopping, we finally had 16x16-inch slate tiles installed in most areas of the house, including the living and dining rooms, master bedroom, hallways, and office."

He decided to use an engineered bamboo flooring (Plyboo) in the kitchen for its easier maintenance. "It turned out great and looks good with the neighboring slate," Parker says. The bathrooms received fresh 2x2-inch ceramic tiles.

"We had to change our mindset coming from a traditional house," Parker says. "We were accustomed to heavily-padded, carpeted floors, which are an extremely bad choice with our radiant heating. Once we got over that hurdle, it was fairly easy to identify what we liked and what matched the style we wanted to achieve."

Homeowners with more divided floor plans can sometimes get away with using more than one flooring material. Carol Bua and Todd Clark, who own an Eichler in Granada Hills, did just that. Instead of resurfacing their entire home in the vinyl composition tile (VCT) that was used in the original home construction, they decided to use it only in their kitchen. They opted for more elegant travertine in the living room and parquet in the bedrooms and the hallway.

"We liked the look of all of these materials and felt they were appropriate for the era in which the house was built," Bua says. The completed project helped to separate her living spaces and added visual interest, too.

There are so many options available in flooring that choosing the right material can be challenging. From natural materials to synthetics, there are countless color, pattern, and texture selections. "It's very easy to become distracted mid-project, derailing all of the effort you've put into planning," McCullar says. "The challenge is to know when to use restraint in your materials selection, and when to cut loose!"

Materials like bamboo, slate, and limestone on larger-scale applications can be effective choices for a mid-century modern home. Acid-etched and stained concrete floors are also popular.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are gaining depth in color and dimension with more complex glazing applications and sparkles that mimic natural metal flecks in stone. Although neutrals still reign supreme, some of the newer products are deeper and darker with more gray and blue tones mixed with khaki and browns.

Bigger is better in stone and ceramic flooring tiles, with dealers offering 16-,18-, 20-, and even 22-inch tiles. "The larger tiles allow the homeowner to create a more seamless look with fewer grout lines," said Lori Kirk-Rolley, marketing director of flooring manufacturer Daltile. Large tiles make installation a bit tougher on installers, however, and they can crack if the subfloor (concrete slab, plywood underlayment, or other mounting surface) isn't prepared properly first.

The seamless look is becoming even more important for homeowners who want more continuity in indoor and outdoor looks, extending the same hard surfaces from their kitchen or living areas to the backyard patio. When installing tile, thin grout lines also support this appearance of continuity.

Many designers are seeing use of more rustic and irregular stones that can also be used on interior and exterior surfaces. "They create a wonderful effect when continued through the home and out beyond the glass walls and onto the back terrace," McCullar says. "It really tied the spaces together beautifully."

Planning Tips

10 Things to Consider before Choosing Your New Floor

Flooring is a costly item in the overall picture of a remodel, so whatever material you select needs to suit your lifestyle and your budget. Flooring costs are determined by material and installation costs, which vary among different regions. Consider these points, as suggested by the World Floor Covering Association:

1. No matter how good the flooring you choose, incorrect installation will result in an uneven surface that will wear poorly. Always have flooring installed professionally.

2. Radiant heating under the floor is compatible with most types of hard flooring, particularly ceramic, stone, and many hardwoods. However, before beginning installation over in-slab radiant heat, professionally inspect the health of the system for any possible repairs that may require slab penetration. Secondly, be sure to discuss your radiant heat with the installer; special installation techniques and adhesive materials (that can withstand heat without breaking down) may be in order.

3. Plain-colored flooring shows up marks more quickly than floors with a patterned surface.

4. Think carefully about your selection of materials for furniture, soft furnishings, cabinet finishes, work surfaces, and appliances before making a final decision on the type of flooring. This way you can ensure that all the elements complement one another.

5. The amount of day-to-day maintenance you are willing to undertake may influence your floor choice. Some materials, such as wood, require more care, especially around a sink where water can damage the varnish.

6. Does your old flooring need to be removed? In most applications, with the exception of radiant-heated floors, wood and laminate often can go right on top of existing flooring. Vinyl, linoleum, cork, and tile frequently cannot. Carpet can be laid on almost any surface, although it is easier to install over wood. Check with your flooring installer before purchase. For homes on a slab, be sure to request a moisture test prior to finalizing your flooring choice and installation options; a moisture barrier installation may be necessary.

7. When getting quotes from flooring dealers, be sure the price quotes include all subfloor preparation, all installation costs, removal of existing flooring (if needed), moving furniture and appliances, and all necessary materials for installing your floor.

8. The colors and patterns you choose for floors have a huge effect on the overall mood of a home. Light colors make rooms appear larger, but are harder to keep clean. Darker tones absorb light, hide dirt, and create more intimate environments. Large patterns can expand a room visually.

9. Different types of floor covering can function as a room divider, effectively defining two or more different areas in a single space.

10. The fastest way to change a mood or character of a room is to add an area rug. Using the appropriate pad, area rugs can go on top of any kind of flooring, usually with dramatic results.

Retro Is Back

The style of the 1950s and '60s is back stronger than ever. Vintage materials, colors, and imprinted patterns are preferred options of homeowners who want to capture the original aesthetics and historical significance of their homes. Here are four flooring materials that are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

Rubber: ($4 per sq. foot and up) Known for its commercial applications, rubber flooring tile is made of recycled tires, post-industrial waste rubber, and virgin rubber, rubber is designed for high-traffic areas where durability and easy maintenance are desired. Manufacturers offer palettes of neutral, primary, and black colors. Some can be custom colored to suit personal preferences. Others are similar in look to original Eichler patterns. Resources: Reztec and XCR3 by Expanko; Flexco Flooring.

Linoleum: ($3 to $4 per sq. foot) Remembered as the flooring of post-World War II kitchens, and the original flooring material used by Eichler, linoleum is made of natural ingredients like linseed oil, cork, and tree resins. It comes in a rainbow of hues, and the color in linoleum goes all the way through the material.. Genuine linoleum has maintenance characteristics similar to wood, and needs regular waxing and buffing. It is tough and durable but susceptible to moisture and alkalinity. It must be professionally installed and needs a sealer. Resources: Armstrong; Forbo Flooring; Tarkett .

Cork: ($5 and up) Cork gained popularity in the early 1900s and became one of the most widely used resilient flooring materials. Even Frank Lloyd Wright chose cork for use in many of his residential designs. Natural, durable, and warm to the touch, cork resists mildew. It does often suffer fading from sun exposure, however. It's available in tiles and sheets and comes in a variety of natural hues and patterns. Usually treated like wood, waxed cork needs occasional buffing and rewaxing. Resources: IFloor; Nova Distinctive Floors; Infinity Flooring; Expanko.

Shag carpet: (starts at $4 per square foot) Some homeowners who like the retro vibe are breaking up their hard surfaces with shag carpet. Soft underfoot, it comes in a wide variety of loop lengths, colors, sheens, and textures. New introductions involve weaving small metallic yarns into the shag to make it shimmer. Check into having regular wall-to-wall shag carpet cut down and hemmed to the size of an area rug for the ultimate in flexibility. Resources: Karastan; Modern Rugs; Shaw.

Photos: Michael Greene, John Eng, Carol Bua, Joe Barthlow, Ernie Braun (splash); and others courtesy Sue Olson Designs, Glenn Rogers/Flooring Broker, Doyle McCullar, Glenn Sennett, Renaissance Man Construction, Expanko, and Flexco

Seven Choice Options

For direction and inspiration, check out these flooring materials. They may be a good fit for your renewal project. Prices quoted are for materials only.

Concrete: (25 cents per sq. foot for do-it-yourself staining to $12 for custom work) Whether a home has new or old concrete surfaces, the flooring material can be customized to suit décor. It can be textured, colored, and imprinted to mimic tile or stone. Acid stain treatments help to achieve a warm, natural feel by giving the concrete a honed (or rough-textured) look. Concrete can also be polished to a high gloss finish that never needs waxing. Worn or aged concrete might also be topped with a fresh, level micro-topping of concrete that can be stamped or etched with a design. Resources: Bomanite; Newlook Coatings.

Vinyl: ($1 to $5 per sq. foot) Resilient floors, as the name implies, have some 'give' or elasticity to them, and are often used in kitchens and baths because of their good looks, resistance to moisture, and wide variety of colors and textures. The most common resilient floor covering is sheet vinyl, including inlaid designs, and vinyl composition tiles (VCT). Resilient floors are easy to keep clean, although sand can be ground into the surface. Resources: Armstrong; Mannington; Congoleum.

Laminates: ($2 to $7 per sq. foot) Laminates have the appearance of hardwood, tile, or stone floors but have superior stain and fade resistance. You can choose from natural colors, dark wood grains, as well as warm or cool color tones to complement any room decor. Many hardwood plank designs are offered, including rare, exotic wood species. Stone and tile patterns can give the elegant look of tile, but without the concerns about grout cleaning or cracking tile. Laminate floors are never secured directly to the subfloor; they are floated. This allows laminate flooring to be used over a wide variety of subfloors, including wooden subfloors, existing floors, and even concrete slabs. Resources: Pergo; Wilsonart; Mannington.

Wood: ($4 to $12 per sq. foot) A hardwood floor can add warmth and character to a home that other materials cannot. Thanks to new construction techniques and technologically advanced polyurethane finishes, wood floors can now be installed throughout the home and over a wide variety of subfloors. Today, homeowners looking to use wood floors have the option of purchasing four different types of wood flooring: solid wood, engineered, longstrip plank, and parquet squares. Once installed, it is extremely difficult to tell the difference between a solid wood floor and the other wood floors. Both the engineered and the longstrip have thin layers of wood that are glued together. Wood needs to be kept away from standing water and has the probability of expanding and shrinking in different humidity and temperatures. Those with cement slabs should always have their floors moisture-tested first to ensure they are compatible with wood flooring. Those with allergies may want to consider a water-based coating. Resources: Bruce Hardwood Flooring; Anderson Hardwood Floors; Armstrong.

Bamboo: ($6 per sq. foot and up) Made from grasses that rejuvenate themselves every four years, bamboo is enticing homeowners who want to care for the environment. Bamboo looks like narrow strips of hardwood flooring and can be stained to complement most interiors. It is maintained much like hardwood flooring and can be refinished. Resources: Bamtex; Bamboo Hardwoods

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile: ($1 to $6 per sq. foot) Ceramic tile has been around for centuries, and with today's technology manufacturers have created new design and application possibilities that were not available a decade ago. The myriad of colors, sizes, shapes, textures, and glazes make designing a playground for many homeowners. Made of clay, ceramic tile is durable and easy to clean with a damp mop or basic household cleaner. It is extremely scratch- and water-resistant. Large tiles (18 inches and larger) are more difficult to install and are prone to cracking if not installed properly. Resources: Daltile; Crossville; American Florim; American Olean. For those looking for an elegant, high-end option, consider Porcelanosa.

Natural Stone: ($3 per sq. foot and upwards) Stone is usually cut into tiles from quarried blocks of granite, marble, limestone, slate, or other rock. Although floors made from this material are expensive and hard on the feet, they provide an exceptionally beautiful flooring material that has a timeless, elegant quality. Some types of stone are very porous, absorb stains easily, and some of these stains can be difficult to remove. Others are extremely low maintenance and hard wearing. These stone materials do require a strong subfloor underneath, and polished stone can be slippery when wet. Options to this include honed stone, which has been ground flat but not polished, or textured tiles created by sandblasting or heating with a torch. Resources: Walker Zanger; Arizona Tile; International Wholesale Tile; Ann Sacks.

For your next flooring project, consider the Eichler Network's team of 'Preferred Service Companies.'

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