Warm and cozy may be fine in the winter, but this is Wisconsin. Our summers get hot and humid. When the mercury rises, warm and cozy goes right out the window—especially under your feet. You want coolness all around you; that’s why we’ve put together a list of floors that stay cool under foot during the summer AND a solution that’ll adapt your floors to the winter.
Luxury vinyl
Luxury vinyl floors are durable, beautiful, versatile, and feel extremely cool under foot. These floors come in styles that resemble stone or wood, but with the added benefit of being water resistant. Because of the water resistance, luxury vinyl can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms and in rooms near pools and lakes (which keep us cool on the hottest summer days!). New luxury vinyl products also boast an incredible temperature tolerance, making it possible to install in rooms that experience the hottest and coldest temperatures. If you are handy, luxury vinyl plank floors can also be installed as a do-it-yourself project; talk to the flooring pros about your flooring options and installation tips.
Tile
patterned tile in bathroomWhen thinking about tile floors, get those old visions of traditional square tiles out of your head. Today’s tiles come in all shapes and sizes, and many products even mimic the look of wood floors (while being fairly water resistant). Tiles also come in unique patterns that can add character and charm to a bathroom, kitchen or mudroom. Most tiles can be installed with or without grout and are durable and easy-to-clean. In fact, the only hesitation most customers have with this product is that tile is cool to the foot, a problem that can be resolved with radiant heating.
Laminate
cherry colored laminate floor in kitchenLaminate floors are incredibly durable and cool to the touch. These floors also resemble the look of wood—so much so that some people think they’re real wood. With regular sweeping and felt pads for protection, it’s fairly easy to keep laminate floors looking great. When the coolness of laminate floors are not as appreciated (like during the cold winter), laminate floors can be covered with an area rug that warms up the space and the toes.
Wood
Even when the weather is simmering, wood floors can feel cool underfoot. Hardwood floors are durable and in demand; installing hardwoods in a home can even increase the home’s value. These floors are long lasting that can be sanded and refinished as needed. To compensate for the cool feel during winter, order a custom area rug that can feel warm and cozy. (Ask flooring professionals for tips on how to add a rug to a room without damaging or fading the floors.) While these floors feel cool even on the hottest of days, wood floors can add a warm feel to any home.
Radiant heating
Radiant heating is not a flooring, but it is a mat that can heat a floor during the cold winter months. During the summer, a thermostat can be used to control the temperature of the radiant heating and keep the floor cool. If the home is heated with a boiler, radiant heating can be installed under the floors. In a home with forced heat, electric radiant heating mats are laid underneath the flooring.
