Picking Flooring That Can Handle Florida
Flooring in Florida takes a beating. Between the humidity, the afternoon rainstorms that blow in through the lanai, and the sand that gets tracked in constantly, you need something that can hold up. Not every flooring material is cut out for it.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tile
Works best in: Bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and Florida rooms
Tile is a workhorse. It's extremely durable, completely water-resistant, and available in more styles than you could look through in a month. Wood-look porcelain planks are hugely popular right now, and some of them are hard to tell from real wood unless you touch them.
The one downside is that tile can feel cold underfoot during those few weeks of Florida "winter." Some people add area rugs. Others don't mind.
- Cost: $3 to $15 per square foot installed
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Works best in: Main living areas, bedrooms, and whole-house installations
LVP has taken over the Central Florida market and it's easy to see why. It's 100% waterproof, warm and comfortable to walk on, and the better brands genuinely look like real hardwood. If you've got kids and dogs, this is probably your best option.
Installation is faster than tile, and if a plank gets damaged down the road, replacing a section is straightforward.
- Cost: $4 to $10 per square foot installed
Engineered Hardwood
Works best in: Living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms
If you want real wood, go engineered rather than solid hardwood in Florida. The layered construction handles humidity swings much better. You can refinish most engineered hardwood once or twice depending on the veneer thickness.
Keep it out of bathrooms and laundry rooms though. Moisture is still its weakness.
- Cost: $6 to $15 per square foot installed
Polished Concrete
Works best in: Modern, contemporary, and industrial-style homes
This one surprises people. Since Florida homes are built on concrete slabs, you've already got the floor. Polishing, staining, or scoring the existing slab gives you an incredibly durable, low-maintenance floor with a modern look.
We've done this in a few builds out in the Lake Nona and Horizon West areas, and clients love it.
- Cost: $3 to $8 per square foot to polish the existing slab
What We Usually Recommend
For most of our Central Florida builds, we suggest a combination approach:
- LVP or large-format tile throughout the main living areas and hallways
- Porcelain tile in all bathrooms and wet areas
- Carpet only in bedrooms, and only if you actually want it. A lot of our clients are skipping carpet entirely.
J&N StructureWorks helps clients pick flooring that fits their lifestyle, holds up to Florida's climate, and looks great. We'll walk you through samples and pricing so you can make a decision you won't regret.