It goes with out saying that in the greater Milwaukee area, the winter months begin to drag on. As we come into March, we have about had it with Mother Nature. The snow still falls and the temperatures tease us, and while we know spring must come eventually, the month March can be painfully long. And with the slow changes in the weather, the mess left outside gets dragged inside on our shoes and boots. Salt, snow, slush, sand, dirt, mud: nearly every combination of filth makes its way on to our beautiful floors and marched through our custom homes.
When building a custom home in Wisconsin, you really have to take into consideration the materials used on your floors. The entryways, foyers, mudrooms and back halls take much of the abuse that they will receive. You also have to consider how you will care for and clean these floors to protect them and keep them beautiful and long lasting. Read on for tips on how to keep your custom home beautiful through the long winter, whether you have solid wood floors, ceramic tile floors, or natural stone floors.
Keep Your Custom Home Beautiful Through the Long Winter
Options for foyers, entryways, mudrooms and back halls:
Solid Wood Floors
Why we love them:
Wood floors cater to many styles and tastes. Variances in colors, patterns and designs make wood floors very desirable. Wood floors have warmth, charm and are a classic option that will not need to be replaced.
The down side:
Harsh winters track in snow and moisture that can deteriorate the wood. Gravel, salt and sand can scratch and damage the flooring.
Clean and maintain:
Protect the floor with thick rugs in the foyer and back entry to collect boots and shoes on. The flooring should be vacuumed and dusted to pick up salt and dirt that may damage the floor. Mop floors with a wood cleaning agent and water, being sure to fully dry them after.
Ceramic Tile Floors
Why we love them:
Tile comes in many options of style, color, texture and size. Tile floors are durable and long-lasting. They also come with a reasonable price tag. Tile floors are easy to clean up, and foot traffic, animals and humans alike can not destroy them.
The down side:
Eventually, grout lines and even the tile itself can crack from settling floorboards. Tile is unforgiving in the cool temperature and becomes very slippery when wet. Additionally, while keeping the tile itself clean is easy, the grout can be hard to keep looking new.
Clean and maintain:
Like wood floors, protect the tile with thick rugs in the foyer and back entry to collect boots and shoes on. Vacuum and dust the floor regularly to pick up salt and dirt that may damage the floor. Mop floors with a hot water and vinegar and be sure to fully dry them after.
Natural Stone Floors
Why we love them:
Slate, limestone, marble, travertine: for centuries stone has been used for flooring. It offers an elegant, rich feel to your custom home, and all stone is unique, giving gorgeous variation. Stone floors are timeless and classic and will last the lifetime of a home. Stone is easy to clean and maintain, and there is such diversity that there is for style for every taste out there.
The down side:
The beauty of a stone floor is rich and extraordinary, and the price tag is too. If the stone has a lot of crevices, it can become hard to keep clean. The surface is stone; it is hard and cold to stand on for long durations. The porous front of stone may need to be sealed occasionally, as well.
Clean and maintain:
Again, protect the floor with thick rugs in the foyer and back entry to collect boots and shoes on. The stone flooring should be vacuumed and dusted to pick up salt and dirt that may damage the floor. Use an agent specifically formulated for stone floorings. Do not use any abrasive cleaners.
There are of course other materials to consider: cork, bamboo and concrete. However, wood, tile and stone are the most popular and easiest to maintain when dealing with Wisconsin winter and spring’s elements.
Whatever your style is, Colby Construction can help you to select the right flooring for your custom built home.
Check out our foyer floors and mudrooms on our Pinterest page for more ideas.
This post was originally published in March 2015 and was republished with updated imagery in March 2019.