Ideal Flooring Options for Lake Living

When building or renovating a lake home, one important detail is often overlooked: what is under your feet. If you live on the lake, you and your guests will spend plenty of time on the water, and damp feet and soggy swimsuits will make their way inside.

To avoid problems with wet floors, consider these flooring options for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements and other areas that see more moisture.

Tile

Tile is one of the most popular flooring choices for homes on the water. Today's options are beautiful, durable, affordable and resistant to scratches and water damage, including:

• Wood-look tile
• Uniform patterns in stone and ceramic
• Non-uniform natural stone
• Molded tile with uniform edges
• Handmade tile with varied edges and textures
• Custom tile with relief work or unique designs

Tile is easy to clean and hard-wearing. Ask your design-build team about non-slip finishes for any tile that may get slick when wet. Learn more in to tile or not to tile.

Luxury Vinyl

Today's vinyl is nothing like what you remember. Solid vinyl tile (SVT), luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are waterproof, easy to clean and dent resistant, with realistic looks that mimic hardwood, stone or tile. They stand up well to wear and tear, can be easier to install and are a great choice if you want tile-like durability on a smaller budget.

Other Options and Where to Use Them

Some materials still have a place in your lake home, as long as you keep them out of areas with moisture or humidity swings.

• Hardwood: popular in Lanier homes for that mountain lake feel, and it adds value. Use it in foyers, dining rooms, hallways and bedrooms, not laundry rooms, bathrooms or basements.
• Engineered hardwood: a solid wood veneer over cross-layered wood resists warping, making it the wood of choice for walk-out basements and areas with changing humidity. Depending on veneer thickness, it can even be refinished.
• Carpet: fine for bedrooms, living rooms and upstairs, but it absorbs moisture, dust and pollen. Keep it out of high-traffic ground-floor areas where wet feet go.
• Bamboo: eco-friendly and tougher than many hardwoods, it resists occasional water but is not waterproof and can crack with big humidity changes. Strand-woven bamboo is strongest, and lighter colors resist scratches and fading.

Avoid any water-sensitive flooring in below-grade rooms, which are more prone to flooding and lingering moisture.

Keep Water Out in the First Place

The best plan is to keep water off your floors. Consider a back entrance or wet room with direct access from the lake. If that is not feasible, a bathroom near the lakeside entrance works well, especially for guests who come in wet and need a place to change.

Plan Your Lake Home Renovation

Thinking about remodeling on the water? Read buy or renovate on the lake, then call Tracy Tesmer Design and Remodeling at 678-450-1700 or contact us online.

This article originally appeared in the August 2020 edition of Lakeside News.