Choosing the Best Flooring for Your Barndominium Home
The rustic yet spacious design of barndominium homes has become an increasingly popular option for custom home builds. With their high ceilings and open layouts, selecting the right flooring is key to both aesthetic appeal and durability. What are the best types of floors for a barndominium? Key factors like intended use, climate, comfort, maintenance, and budget should guide your flooring decisions.
Hardwood Floors
Timeless hardwood floors bring warmth and elegance to barndominiums. Finishes like oak, hickory, or Eastern white pine not only provide character but also withstand heavy residential traffic. Their durability also suits the workshop areas common in barndos. Nail-down installation over plywood subflooring handles temperature fluctuations better than applying engineered hardwood planks directly to concrete. Keep in mind hardwoods can dent, scratch, or stain over years requiring refinishes. Professional installation is also more labor intensive.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
For a sleek contemporary look, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) rivals hardwoods at a lower cost. Mixing wood-look vinyl with tile patterns allows creativity in zone flooring spaces. Waterproof durability and scratch resistance make LVP a great DIY option for kitchens or bathrooms. Just ensure vinyl is rated for climate fluctuations as dramatic barndo interior temperature swings can buckle inferior planks. An extra foam pad layer helps prevent this while aiding comfort underfoot.
Epoxy Floor Coatings
For industrial shop zones, durable epoxy floor coatings protect against grease stains, chemicals, and heavy impacts. Their seamless, glossy finish bonds directly to concrete easing cleanup too. Polyurea coatings offer similar benefits with even greater flexibility and impact resistance. Just keep in mind epoxies require thorough concrete prep and professional installation for lasting adhesion. Cost may also be high for coating large square footage.
Polished Concrete Floors
Finally, do not overlook the existing concrete slab foundation as a “finished” interior floor. Grinding it smoothly exposes beautiful variegations in the aggregate. Densifying and sealing make concrete nearly indestructible while allowing the artistry of the rebar and pouring process to show through. Be aware, that concrete can dust without sealing and feels hard underfoot. Integrating anti-fatigue mats provides cushion over workstations. Keep existing concrete in mind where you want a raw, urban look matching the industrial origins of barndominium design.
Other Potential Barndominium Flooring options for barndominiums
– Engineered wood planks – Warm look of wood with dimensional stability. Handles moisture better than solid wood.
– Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) – Low cost wood-look option that is waterproof and scratch-resistant. Good DIY choice.
– Tile – Great for bathrooms and laundry rooms. Ceramic or natural stone tiles hold up well.
– Laminate – Provides wood appearance at the lowest cost but can dent and swell with excess moisture.
– Rubber flooring mats – Cushioning properties to ease standing fatigue. Best used in conjunction with hard floors.
– Cork – Naturally water and stain-resistant, provides warmth and comfort underfoot. Prone to indentations over time.
– Bamboo – A resilient and sustainable choice, though moisture can cause some cupping ongoing.
Be sure to consider the maintenance, comfort, moisture resistance, and intended use for each zone in selecting flooring. Mixing appropriate materials from room to room allows you to optimize for both form and function.
In summary, hardwoods bring timeless warmth but come at a price over large areas. Waterproof luxury vinyl plank offers contemporary wood-looks cost-effectively. Epoxies enhance workshops and garages with tough protection. Or integrate natural concrete slabs to celebrate the essential barn structure. Properly weighing use, maintenance, and budgets for each zone lets you mix flooring to design the ideal living space in your custom barndo home.
