DON'T PICK THIS FLOORING IF YOU ARE SELLING YOUR HOME! Audra Lambert 2024

[@Toni_Snark]

My last house had engineered hardwood throughout the entire place including the kitchen and powder room. It was gorgeous and made it seem way more spacious! The only tile was in the upstairs bathrooms. The house I have now, I put LVP on the entire first floor except the bathroom which is yet to be remodeled. 9 inch wide and 6 feet long planks. It's beautiful and dog-proof in this hot, humid climate.

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds lovely!!

[@midlifemom5829]

I completely agree with LVPs. Im in South Orange County, CA and I love mine! My friends cant believe how nice it looks and feels

[@frismo1]

Is it floating or glued straight onto the subfloor. Wondering what the feel is like under your feet.

[@erica7158]

@@frismo1We just installed LVP in our basement. Put plastic (poly) down, all taped together and nice and snug. Then put down the LVP with just clicking together. It was very straightforward to do. LVP feels so soft underfoot. We have engineered hardwood on our main floor which we glued down. From a comfort point of view, I think the LVP wins and it looks beautiful.

[@LucasKuczek-f3e]

I did entire upper level except for the bedrooms 5ish years ago. Kids, 2 large dogs. Only issue is scratches sliding the couch, but matching crayon makes them go away.

[@carolhorton1319]

I had REAL WOOD floors in my kitchen and my whole first floor and it was wonderful! In the kitchen the wood got a few dents but to me it just made it more charming.

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds like you scored on great quality and installation.

[@cassidyarch7686]

This is completely unrelated to the content of the video, but I recently discovered your channel while doing some research to prepare for putting our home on the market, and you are just such a gem! As a young SAHM from the middle-of-nowhere Iowa I'm sure we would have very little in common in real life, but I so appreciate your sense of humor and am grateful that you're willing to share your hard-won knowledge with the rest of us! By the way- I DO know who Gumby is. 🙂

[@AudraLambert]

Laughing about the Gumby comment...and so glad you found my channel. Glad I can help. Really really appreciate the comment.

[@abbibrannan333]

@@AudraLambert She said she thought you and her would not have much in common. Wait a minute, I have stayed in Iowa for a whole season, in a very upscale neighborhood, except for the winter and devout Christianity, there is so much similar about nice homes in Iowa and in Huntington Beach CA. Where I almost bought a home. I lived south in Torrance near Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes, then 20 some years in Morgan Hill CA. I think you girls might have a great deal in common regarding homes and all things House related. imo

[@kt6332]

I have removed a lot of carpet in my life and I would never want it my home. Always a blast to watch your videos!

[@AudraLambert]

Ahh...thanks so much!!! Not a fan of carpet either....but it does serve its purpose.

[@cluebin8398]

Right? Anyone who has ever removed carpet themselves and sees all the nasty underneath it will never want it in their house again. It's a dirt trap that no vacuum can ever clean. If you have pets then it is an even bigger nightmare. If a dog pees on it, it will go all the way down into it, through the mat and into the foam backer. You will never get that back out, even with a carpet cleaner machine.

[@blaster-zy7xx]

The wide, light oak, engineered hardwood planks is exactly the floor I put in my house!! Its a coastal, on the water Florida home and I'm very happy how it turned out. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[@nogames8982]

For some reason when I redid my kitchen, I thought I wanted a nice bright vibrant backsplash. Looked at so many different options. They were ridiculously expensive. Then I finally came to my senses and did 3 x 6 subway tile. 4 x 6 subway tile in the bathroom. I’m glad I did that. I think I would’ve gotten very sick of the wild tile.

[@AudraLambert]

That was a very good choice...you did well!!

[@lupus9596]

Live in a village, got travertine tile throughout with underfloor heating. So clean and moppable. Love it.

[@AudraLambert]

This sounds just lovely. Timeless will always last.

[@Cocolicious08758]

Yes lady your content just keeps getting better 👏🏼👏🏼

[@AudraLambert]

Ahhh...I needed to hear that today. Thanks!!

[@sandblast5636]

idiot

[@Julies-in-a-mood]

The kitchen in our mid-mod was redone in 1995. We installed random-match slate from the front door, through the kitchen and the dining room. We still love it. And here’s a secret: even after 25 years with our family of five using it for very dinner, I have NEVER had to wash the dining room floor. Just a quick vacuum of the rug & we’re ready for company. Waterproof, scratch proof, maintenance-free natural stone. The next owners may not love it, but we sure do

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds like it works perfectly for you and your lifestyle. That's all that matters:)

[@danelleroundabouts2559]

1st Audra Lambert you are awesome I wish I could find an agent like you! Thank you for so much good info. 2nd Sorry for the rant that follows I am just so fed up and frustrated. Totally exhausted. Finding an agent is a major pain. I have talked with 12-14 of them. Some I told to leave as soon as they got out of the car! Yes I have had referrals from here & other YT as well as a referral company. I have spent hours and hours talking questioning. Finally I figured out the main issue is they don't listen. My friend had the same problem. So we decided to split the interviewing process. To get in the door all we had to do was look at what they were wearing when they got out of the car. We tell them up front on the phone, we are a working farm & homestead. We have animals all over the place that means poop and mud. Do not wear nice business clothes. Jeans and boots to walk the grounds are in order. All but 2 showed up in fancy clothes & shoes. Sometimes open toed. They had no idea what they were looking at. Saw big trees and said "oh nice you have marketable timber" hahaha NO it's not if it was we would have sold it. They didn't even know trees let alone food. We have our own water source (3 of them) and septic along with wood and propane. Plus we are hooked up to the grid. This is just normal. Because we didn't have solar panels well according to them we are not off grid at all. HAHAHAH Then my fave one telling us, out buildings and fencing has no value nor does the greenhouse or orchards. Um sorry talk to anyone and ask them if they could have over 12,000+ pounds of free food forever if that has value. There will come a time where gardens & greenhouses will be much more important than flooring and paint colors. Nope we are not city. Yet we are only 5-10 minutes away from salmon fishing, boating, wildlife preserve & bird sanctuary with hiking trails. Less than an hour away from world famous windsurfing 2 hrs from skiing & snowmobiling. On top of all that it takes 20-30 min to get to international airport 30-45 minutes to get to the city if you want to go to dinner, play or opera. I know people who live here and work in CA. They fly in a few times a month and still make it home at the end of the day. It's all so frustrating when these agents don't listen or don't know what they are looking at. Just because they don't have a clue as how or where to market this. I had 1 agent that told me it would be best to sell in winter Jan or Feb. Then she wanted me to take out most of our fencing & plants. In the end she was nice and said she didn't want to sell this place she was too busy with other things and she felt this would take too much work to sell. Meaning there was too much work to be done to get this place market ready. Which was fine. Yet again she really didn't listen. The work she said we needed to do took us 2 weeks. Since it would take her husband several months to a year she wouldn't listen. DUH this is a homestead and not everyone wants acreage. Not everyone wants better than organic fruit from their own trees Many don't want to go to the green house for groceries when they can go to the store instead. Not everyone wants to look out their back door and not see another house. However there are a lot of people who do. Those people are my target market. The ones who want out of the cities & still have a short commute. For the record I don't know one true farm or homesteader that wants everything white hahahaha that is the craziest thing ever. No people that know what they want this lifestyle want hard wearing hard working flooring. I put in LVP when we put our house on the market a few yrs back. Bought a higher end stuff because it was popular. Never again. That stuff didn't last 2 months.

[@KaliCooper]

Hey Danielle! I live near rural areas in Indiana, and it’s so amazing to me how many agents will go out of their area of knowledge/expertise and make such strong suggestions when they’re entirely wrong. I once had another agent tell me I was doing my Sellers a disservice by not telling them to paint their interior (real wood) paneling all white throughout. However, I staged their house and prepared it well for sale and it sold quickly and for over list price. Without white paneling! 😉 I hope you’ve found your perfect agent by now! I’m sorry you’ve struggled so! But I do promise that we exist! 💕 (Although I’m surprised to hear the LVP didn’t fare any better than that! But I realize it can be deeply scratched and then is difficult to repair.)

[@lettyletty8456]

My husband is a hardwood floor pro consultant. Has done lots of famous individuals, floors. Does NOT recommend wood floors in kitchens, and bathrooms.

[@gauloise6442]

If someone does door dash every night, maybe hardwood floors in the kitchen would work, but there is a reason no one puts wood floors in the kitchen.

[@stevepest4143]

​@gauloise6442 it works, though the finish makes a difference. And the right wood can help. Teak for example is used in boats.

[@claybakin2478]

I had my entire home done in oak hardwood including the kitchen which now has grey water damaged areas in front of the sink. I will have that fixed and put down one of those floor cloth style runners. Still way better than any other material would have been for aesthetic and ease of cleaning reasons.

[@gialollobrigida1713]

Wood floors in kitchen work best when it there is little divide/separation between the kitchen and common area. It looks silly and cheap when you have a cutoff of wood to ceramic to kitchen. I cook all the time and love my wood floors---rugs, people, rugs.

[@lauriebutler9032]

I always choose function over esthetics so I have LVT butting up against the wood floor. I have had several friends who have had dishwashers and sink pipes flood their wood floors so it does look good but there is more to consider especially if you can't find hardwood to replace in kitchen that is an exact match to the rest of the house. I am not a fan of gray but I had no choice in my LVT plank inter lock floor selections. Whites or creams all had a Carrara marble type pattern and that was just going to be too busy for my kitchen. And I couldn't find a beige or light brown solid color that would match my red oak small plank flooring. unless I wanted glue down.

[@itssunnyinflorida9529]

Gorgeous wide, long porcelain tile planks from Porcelanosa. Thin thin grout line. It’s beautiful in our Florida home.

[@AudraLambert]

Oh that sounds like a wonderful installation.

[@petragunston771]

Same…I’m also in Florida and our porcelain tile has incredibly thin grout lines. And, it definitely doesn’t look busy.

[@iowagreen8932]

I put in 18x18 porcelain tile in a subtle sand/cream pattern throughout my house. It looks so classy. Also it has been impervious to my many dogs over the years. As their numbers reduce by attrition, I am adding lovely area rugs. In a previous home I had beautiful natural hardwood planks everywhere except kitchen and bathrooms. It was beautiful but not the most practical, even with a polyurethane coating, for pets and an active household. Thanks for your suggestions!

[@abbibrannan333]

LVP is warmer on ones bare feet than tile. I don't mind the sound at all. Love the easy care and no one has ever noticed any exact same pattern?

[@indoorsyren3955]

I am so glad to hear you say no to gray. Gray was a fad for a while, but it's soooo drab and bland.

[@Moluccan56]

It was a boo boo. Someone just had to come up with it.

[@lovly2cu725]

10 year fad

[@blaster-zy7xx]

Agree. The color palate I like today is greys for cabinets, oyster colored walls with light natural wood floors and accents like shelves.

[@johansjournal]

greige is the trending color this decade

[@cathysvetkoff2855]

And so ugly

[@juliebee61]

thanks for saying "no gray"!!!! I'm so tired of boring, depressing gray!!

[@AudraLambert]

Laughing...I agree:)

[@deelehey2827]

I love gray

[@Moluccan56]

It was a phase that will hopefully never come back.

[@gauloise6442]

"Penitentiary Gray" I moved to the USA from Europe, all I wanted was an apartment with wood/parquet floors and white walls. (standard in rentals in Europe). Every single place had "penitentiary gray" walls. So depressing. I ended up having to rent carpet + gray walls, but I painted them. Stuck with nasty carpet. The Gray trend never hit Europe, thankfully.

[@BarryGoldmanBroker-AssociateCR]

@@AudraLambert Too late! I put gray porcelain tile on the whole ground floor. It's fancy, not plain, with different shades, a hint of black and some white here and there. It is above the quality level of most homes in my area. My house needed an upgrade. I promise to do a more plain tile for the kitchen floor. I already looked at some.

[@lindakincaid4530]

I put dark hardwood floors throughout my first floor in 2020. They look amazing. we went with a 2,3,4 inch variation. It looks amazing. 4 years later and Im still in aw of how good it looks.

[@AudraLambert]

@@lindakincaid4530 That’s fantastic.

[@cindypatrick785]

In December I delegated a remodel on my daddy’s rental. I had the handyman crew from our local lumber company put in a vinyl plank flooring because most tenants these days have pets. I did find out that rust spots on the floor could be removed by spraying the rust with white vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes, then sprinkle baking soda on the vinegar.Let mixture sit for a few more minutes, then scrub and wipe w clean cloth. It took me 3 times and took almost all rust off. I had a fresh coat of light tan paint on the whole house. In June we had to put a new roof on it. 10:25 My daddy’s Alzheimer’s journey ended at age 88, in March, so my siblings and I have the house up for sale. I hope it pleases buyers. 10:30

[@WendyWilliamsLiving]

We've placed LVP in two homes and LOVE it. Beautiful, EASY care and very comfortable to walk on 🙂

[@janmerges8645]

Thank Audra, a million and one folks told me to never lay hardwood in Florida. Of course I did after saving for years. It’s very similar to yours . I saved for years. In addition to the flooring, I found an ace installer who is more OCD than I and he used the best glue. A client will be sorry if an inferior product is used under the flooring. Do you agree that’s the secret. Incidentally the flooring is applied on cement slab. The adhesive cost several thousand dollars but my beautiful flooring (European White WIDE, LONG plank) does not buckle and the natural, authentic wood has give and feels great. The years I saved was well worth it. Keep up the good work.

[@deelehey2827]

I put 24” x 24” porcelain tiles in my beachfront condo. Absolutely gorgeous. Not true that you have to have wide grout lines. It is white with a whisper of gray. Fresh. Modern.

[@Ella-Bella2024]

She wasn't referring to all tile, just the fake wood tile. I'm sure your tile looks amazing.

[@eileenfisherericksen9872]

I like a statement in the backsplash unless you’re selling your house. I do things I love and I know I won’t get tired of

[@jacklabloom635]

We used real hardwood flooring in our homes. I used 24x24 white porcelain tiles in baths and laundry room in our last remodel.

[@LenaMMcKee]

I consider myself an interior design buff, and I completely agree with everything you said

[@nogames8982]

I redid my house. The entire thing, it’s only 690 ft.². A craftsman built in 1900 in a lower middle-class neighborhood. Unfortunately, the hardwood floors were fur and they were in absolutely abysmal condition so could not save them. Tore out all the carpet and linoleum, etc. Put in LVP, that’s what I could afford.

[@deltasquared7777]

If you put a foundation layer of EPDM roofing (or cork) under laminate flooring it radically improves the sound quality of when you walk on it and is well worth the cost. I even use this underneath real hardwood floors, it makes the wood lay better and it eliminates squeaks that often occur with real wood floors.

[@AudraLambert]

Thanks for the comment...very helpful!!!

[@deltasquared7777]

@@AudraLambert Please let me know your experience with it after you try it--you can even experiment with it over a small trial area to judge the effect.

[@ChrisMalfaIIX-k9b]

Just put a floor in myself wish I knew this. Another one is on the list, will use cork next underlayment. Thank you.

[@deltasquared7777]

Incidentally, using EPDM underlayment over (under?) large areas of wood flooring makes a very noticeable, even remarkable improvement in sound deadening when you walk on the floor

[@deltasquared7777]

@@ChrisMalfaIIX-k9b cork underlayment comes in rolls and is usually available in stores such as home depot

[@debrakintzing8914]

Like a timeless wardrobe, neutrals and high-quality basics never go out of style. Keep the bones and fundamentals simple, classic & elegant, with continuity throughout the entire home. Avoid trends, but you can jazz it up with rotating accessories.

[@AudraLambert]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@SummerSaltAndPepper]

@audralambert would you say terrazzo floors are timeless? A number of old homes in our area have them under carpets/vinyl and I've seen a few restorations but others wonder if it's worth the cost /headache when so many are looking for neutral woods

[@SummerSaltAndPepper]

​@@AudraLambert how do you feel about terrazzo?

[@SummerSaltAndPepper]

You mention at 12m that that tile is too busy ...

[@tammyrussell-rice5508]

The larger the tile, the more likely it will crack. Expect breakage even in shipping. Your floors must be perfectly level and smooth to support large tiles. If your house "settles," your tile will too. And, it won't be pretty.

[@AudraLambert]

Very good point. Thanks for the comment.

[@stevepest4143]

Large tile should have ditra underneath to help with that

[@linhaton4957]

I hate the maintenance involved with tile. The grout is always dirty.

[@stevepest4143]

@linhaton4957 part of that is that grout is never sealed .usually can't grout for 3 days after grout is done. Contractors don't want to wait 3 days to come back before getting paid.. and frankly clients don't want to pay the extra or wait the extra time.. There is acrylic grout with is waterproof from the start but it was rather expensive and once again few clients wanted to pay extra plus it's a bit finicky to work with. Or was. Haven't done tike in a few years.

[@richardgreve6112]

Tile and grout won't crack if laid on a floated concrete floor over wire lath. This requires a solid subfloor but the subfloor can have some imperfections. 1/2 inch of concrete, at least. This technique was once common but has disappeared as it is very labor intensive. I would imagine it is still done in high end mansions. I once did these technique as a teenager working for my father but I am now 71.

[@bookmagicroe9553]

My house which was built in 1959 has oak floors throughout, including the kitchen. The bathroom has ceramic tile. However, we have a TV room which was originally a sunroom. It has walls now, and is an actual room, but it is on a slab. Michigan winters are very cold, and that floor gets COLD. So that room is carpeted with a good pad. That way when several grandkids are here watching TV, they stretch out on the carpeted floor and are warm

[@eleanoreagly4844]

Purchased a new speck built house 1 years ago and had carpeting removed and had installed 3/4" thickness oak flooring for the entire first floor including the kitchen and powder room. I have loved it. It was installed by professionals. It was sanded in place and given polyurethane coating. It is easy to care for. May sell in a couple of years and will have clean floors buffed by a professional. The real full thickness hardwood with cost of labor to install actually cost me less the cost of DIY floor installation and it would have taken me forever to install. Real wood has a warmth that plastic lacks.

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds like you made a wise selections that was an investment into your home and your comfort.

[@JanHopkins-g4x]

Can you PLEASE share the manufacturer and color of your wood floors you installedin your home? I have seen that questions asked repeatedly on your videos and don't see anywhere that you have answered Would be very helpful for those of us looking for a quality product that a professional realtor put in her own home. Thank you so much!

[@SallianneHines]

Over the years I have torn out enough carpet to never want it in my home. Even in a well-kept home there is tons of dirt, crud, etc. under that carpet, it's just disgusting. No carpet for me. The top of my list in my next home is hardwood floors.

[@AudraLambert]

Can't disagree with that.

[@kevinmach730]

Ditto. The only carpet going into my homes from this point forward is an area rug.

[@janesawyer3495]

If you support the environment, you choose carpet. It adds a decent level of insulation to your home, and lowers energy bills. And lose those high ceilings.

[@polyuniverse1908]

I’m an older person and it’s all about what is the in thing at the moment. Grew up in a new home that had hardwood throughout, then 10 years later my parents and all our neighbors were putting in wall to wall carpet over the hardwood because that was the new thing, the new trend.

[@kevinmach730]

@@polyuniverse1908 If you're talking about literally carpet on the wall, I've seen this lol

[@Geronimo2Fly]

There are huge variations in the quality of LVP. I ordered about 10 samples and did a "fork test." With some of them the top layer scratched right off with barely any pressure at all. Others I couldn't get to scratch no matter how hard I dug into them with a fork tine. Also there is a big difference between WPC, which contains wood pulp, and SPC, which has no wood. WPC is softer so it feels better underfoot, but SPC is virtually indestructible and waterproof, and it also does not warp whatsoever with moisture or temperature changes because there is no wood component. Wood floors are stunning, but they do scratch. Sure you can refinish them, but do you really want to live with the scratches until you get around to doing that? With the right LVP, your kids and your dogs can run around and skid across the floor all they want and there will be no damage. For me, it's LVP over wood all the way, as long as it's a good quality LVP.

[@mschad2001]

Thank you. I'm researching LVP flooring options for my upcoming renos. Could you recommend a few good quality LVP's, the SPC kind. Is the Evoke Surge series one of them?

[@tharais]

Yep. LVP is the modern version of "linoleum". Commonly known as vinyl. It's pretty indestructible compared to all other options. I've seen 40 year old vinyl that still looks good. I've seen five year old hardwood floors that look like someone sand papered them. Just from moving the chairs at a kitchen table in and out. And, for crying out loud, don't put anything susceptible to water damage in kitchens or bathrooms.

[@Ichimokulover]

Would appreciate recommendations on high quality LVP. It's hard to find honest reviews and testing.

[@cleverkittn]

We went with good quality LVP, the Core brand in Old Dominion Walnut. It’s 8mm, thicker than most, it’s rich dark brown and wide and long. We had a lot of large foster dogs and I wanted to have the same surface through the whole home, no tile or transitions. Yes, some patterns do repeat. I was picky with the layout and made sure the 14 different plank patterns are not near each other. I don’t know what she means about the plastic sound, but I don’t walk on my fingernails and the dog’s nails don’t click like that, either. It might be that my thick underlay took care of it. It’s held up great over the past 10 years. I laid it myself, twice! We had a water leak that flooded much of the first floor 3 years ago. I carefully took it up, marked the pieces, cleaned them and was able to lay the floor again on new underlay. My husband and the contractor were so impressed. They were sure we would have to replace the entire floor. It’s sturdy, easy to keep clean, not as cold and hard underfoot as other options and I’m still happy with it because it’s a classic color. Originally I wanted cork but it was just too far out of budget at the time. I’m not sorry now.

[@OrchidBeauty777]

LVP- Tough lock prime

[@mmoya1135]

We love hardwood because we can refinish it and change the color. We recently bought a home with dark hardwood. It was red oak stained in a dark espresso brown. We refinished to a light almost white oak look (red oak can have a hint of a pink hue depending on the lighting). This completely changed the entire look of the home while staying under a $10k change. It’s not cheap, but not crazy expensive either

[@catmo3462]

Moved into new (7 yo) home at age 63 four years ago and decided to remove very dark engineered wood and carpet on 2k Sq ft home and replaced with 3.5" sand-in-place white oak, no stain, satin urethane. I love it! It changed the entire feel of house. Aside from this being a one- story home, I very much want to age in place here. Even though it took about a month before installed and finish walkable, I was very pleased with decision and while it was more expensive, it wasn't that much more. Ps, the wood I purchased was sealed on all sides at factory so after the top sanded, the final top seal and urethane left the board sealed all around and less susceptible to moisture. When I look at realty listings when I'm procrastinating, I see so much ugly flooring and assure myself I'm staying put.

[@jackt6112]

Great video! Anybody who is dry behind the ears and has seen a couple of cycles will agree with the natural wood and earth-tone neutrals. You can paint beautiful wood, cover the oak wood floors with carpet to be ruined by pet pee, kids, and spills soaking through, but a few years later, both you and any perspective buyers are thinking what it will cost to "fix it up". They will be buying with the understanding that there is a 95% chance that the hardwood floors under those carpets are ruined. There are plenty of designers out there telling you to paint your natural brick homes. You just painted $50,000+ off the resale, no matter what home fixer-upper show you watched. As soon as the brief trend cycle is over, you will hate living in it, AND you now have a new maintenance expense. Flashy is what works in a magazine. Practical usability is what they want to see when they are looking for some place to live and maintain. She is correct. Don't trust design consultants. They are more often driven by trends and the trends in their own minds and will support it with facts that match their vision. See what's out there and think on your feet. This house had a pink toilet, tub, and sink, with pink wall paper and silver sparkes in the bathroom. The kitchen had green fixtures and yellow in-door out-door carpeting on the floor. The natural hardwood floors were covered with carpet, and a different paint color for the walls and ceilings in every room. (The pink tub, toilet, and sink became valuable because they were taken out when a new trend cycle emerged when it appealed to a few fad chasers.) People ALWAYS like what this video shows, and the cost of a remodel will not be the first thing on a perspective buyer's mind when they walk in. Much of what I'm going to say next is anathema. I wanted a microwave-hood combination over the range that is vented to the outside. It removes all of the oily smoke from the walls and ceiling that will build up in your kitchen from both. I did not put in tile backsplashes even though the granite countertop people said everyone else does that, and then shows me the squares with grout. That looks nice in magazines but you can't keep the grout lines looking clean and you have all of those lines to clean. It's always getting splattered with something. I used a non-smooth, alabaster-colored, where the bottoms of the slight crevaces are carmel colored. The joint between the granite an backsplash is 3/4" oak trim that is stained to match the cupboards, that have had several coats of flooring polyurethane. It sits on an invisible, thin layer of silicon sealer. It looks as good today as when I installed it. You simply wipe it with a rag, and it is not shiny so it doesn't streak. Moreover, you can extend to the bottoms of cupboards, up the walls on the sides of the window cut-out, etc. I was surprised later by how many comments I get from people about how nice it looks. I went with granite because it is more durable than quartz, which is not quartz. (real quartz countertops are called quartzite) What they call quartz is crushed quartz and plastic. They make it sound like there is very little plastic but that is by weight, not volume, so there is WAY more plastic than what they would have you believe. If you put a hot pain on it, it will leave a mark forever. Believe it or not, granite is much easier to fix if something lands on it and it is also more durabable. The staining that the quartz salemen talk about doesn't happen in the real world except through total install incompetence. Once installed, granite is treated to prevent staining for 8 to 15 years, depending on the product. The shortest they will recommend re-applying is every 2-3 years. Re-applying simply means clean the counter, wipe it on the sealer with a rag, buff it down with a rag in the morning. Nothing in the kitchen scratches the high-gloss granite counter. It daily has a cast iron skillet placed on it, is the mixing surface for bake goods, gets a big Kitchen Aid mixer and blender slid across it. The random pattern means the only way you can tell it is not clean is to run you hand over it. (it's hard to find a bread wrapper back that you laid on it.) Just a little dish soap on a rag and you can feel when it is clean. Nothing is more beautiful than natures random patterns. HOWEVER, where quartz really shines is with large countertops that are large Ls and where there are joints required. As with LVP, with quartz, they control the pattern and exact size during manufacturing. They can make the corners of each piece the same. You won't notice because they are a good distance apart. Where this becomes an advantage is when you join two pieces, either end to end, or cut on a 45 to make a big L-shaped counter. The patterns will almost match to where joints are not noticeable. It appears it was cut from one large pieces.

[@bernadettepapp8991]

I'm so happy to hear this!!!! I have had engineered hardwood floors in my kitchen over 20 years and I am about to have them refinished for my kitchen renovation. I also just had installed in my living and dining rooms. I really wasn't in love with LVP.

[@bernadettepapp8991]

Just to follow up on my project the floor has been completed and I am so happy with the results.

[@linhaton4957]

I have hardwood in my kitchen for many years. I love it. I also have it my first floor 1/2 bath. It looks nice and works well.

[@Cocolicious08758]

Yesss lady your content keeps getting better👏🏼

[@jeanettesjourney9147]

Audra, I sold my 20-year-old tri level home with wide, long plank laminate on the main (entry) floor and carpet everywhere else, in Colorado, in the late fall in a matter of days for cash. Maybe it was because it was 15 years ago, maybe it was because I backed to a lake or maybe it was a God thing. This time I moved to a much warmer climate and had a very neutral large shiny ceramic tile installed diagonally and added an area rug. It has been bullet proof, and I think it looks amazing but it sure is hard on a bad back. Honestly, if I had it to do again, I would choose the lighter colored engineered hardwood like you did. That is stunning.

[@stephanieharrell8876]

Thank you so much! I am all over the place in my head about flooring, especially!

[@BlueW2170]

Excellent tips. Learned about what to lean into - timeless neutrals, simple elegance

[@MonicaMiller-fk8dn]

We just bought a 1990s house. We had to replace the once beautiful hardwood floor in kitchen. They were mildewed and warped by moisture around the sink and dishwasher. We opted for a porcelain brick tile from Spain. We left the Harwood in the dining and breakfast room. The tilers were able to install at the same level as the wood floors. The transition is perfectly smooth. We also put the same type of tile in the living room in a cross and star pattern with a brick tile boarder. Our home is mediterranean style and we couldn't be happier. We will put the brick pattern tile in the bathrooms and laundry room. Because there is no transition strip separating the rooms, the look is very intentional and classy.

[@janicedodge7861]

I do agree, but about 7 years ago put it in and being a waterproof high grade flooring it looks amazing. Great for Floirda !!! I am very tired of grey in decorating, and when we sell we might change it or not depending on market prices.

[@nancymarkon831]

Any love for wide plank stranded bamboo flooring? It's solid all the way through vs. layered like engineered hardwood, sustainable, and more durable than many hardwood floors. Also more water-resistant. Also saw a house online which used ipe wood tongue and groove flooring in a moisture-prone interior installation. Looked great! Finally, our 80s custom built home had reclaimed random-width antique heart pine flooring from historic warehouses in our area. Gorgeous, durable, and had this added bonus . . . When a plank got damaged by a chair which had lost it's furniture glide, I just sanded, stained, and sealed that plank only. Made everything as good as new.

[@Gobi2K17]

LOL🤣😂🤣 You made my day breaking the tile thank you for not editing it out. Also great video as always.

[@MyLoganTreks]

Well deserved 50k Subs 🎉 I Subscribed since 5k and recommend sharing these videos with anyone buying or selling, all the remodels after Helene this will be helpful, in Florida tile still popular because if it's flooded there is no or minor damage.

[@tonimurray2865]

I don’t have any money to do what I’d like and so I think the best option for me is to go over my kitchen and downstairs area with the peel and stick floor pops. It would be a whole lot better! Now that I see your backsplash that you held up a lot of the floor pops look like that, but I’m sure I could find a more neutral.

[@markita.hardenhome]

LVP is a MUST in states where you get a SOLID 4 seasons. In Ohio, we have rain and snow for a solid 6 months of the year. I have engineered wood and HATE IT. It's terribly worn at every door where we enter the house. Salt from outside ruins the finish. We are replacing ALL of it with LVP and I CANNOT wait. The expense of refinishing real hardwood is a hard NO for me. In high end homes where folks have thousands at their disposal to replace or refinish floors....sure. But the rest of the folks here in Ohio are putting in LVP!

[@LindseyHarvell-vc4ez]

Agree. Lvp a must if you have dogs or cats or kids.

[@dealman3312]

Very interesting. In toronto I put down maple hardwood, I hate it, the finish is chipping. Was thinking of going engineered until the company admitted a curing fault and would refinish / re stain at no cost, but that’s two weeks you’ll need to move out. I need to look into LVP

[@notmeee7302]

And you can lay LVP right on top of hardwood!

[@sjustice280]

@@dealman3312go with LVP for sure

[@energydecisions]

Places like where you live and VT, where I live, are also good candidates for ceramic tile - at least in the mud room/entry area. Sometimes, practicality has to rule, even if the aesthetics aren't perfect.

[@pamgrimes3142]

I have had hardwood floors in kitchen for 25 years…still looks good!

[@2nriter]

Love the 4' long, wood-look tile (multiple iterations in a medium brown tone) for my Florida home. I have 8 cats, and tile is FABULOUS for that. I've also got Jerusalem stone in a couple of rooms; is is gorgeous and elegant but a bit harder to take care of.

[@showdogmissy]

If you have dogs, get the hardest flooring you can get. Remember, everything can scratch. Even LVP flooring. Look for a thicker top layer on any of the floors.

[@sherirottweilersforever7772]

My Rottweilers would destroy wood floors. I love my luxury vinyl floors. I have a mini farm so we don’t do unpractical stuff around here.

[@nitramnor9061]

So funny. There is Nothing luxury about vinyl

[@AudraLambert]

Very good point.

[@rebeccar7059]

💯I hate the broken flow of tile in the kitchen with beautiful hardwoods elsewhere. Plus tile is unforgiving as hell. Drop something and it breaks! Our hardwood flooring in the kitchen elevates the space and feels great under the feet.

[@adrienehughes5622]

When we were building our new log home we had about $7k of prefinished hardwood ordered. So disappointed that it was cut improperly. We had to fight to get our money back and went to Home Depot and bought higher mil luxury vinyl and it was the best happy accident t we could have happen. Nothing destroys those floors.

[@peggyhazen3284]

I went with LVP flooring in my entire downstairs and love it so far. Most people think its hardwood. Its super easy to keep clean

[@shelshele]

You are cracking me up! I’m going for a timeless look.

[@AudraLambert]

That is always a save way to go.

[@abbibrannan333]

Dear Audra, echo the previous comment! Here's what I want to comment on the Kitchen as a person who cooks. I do not want hardwood in my kitchen in any home that I own. At the beach there is Hardwood looking Bamboo flooring all over 'cept the kit. laundry and both bathrms. In one of the Baths there's LVP. I am planning to put a matching very blonde collared LVP in the rest to go with the good quality and the same thickness. I do not like a transition where there is a half and inch elevation from one room to the next. All must be level and avoid a trip hazard. Great Video on an important and UNDERSTANDING topic!

[@marybusch6182]

Avoiding the trip hazard is a great comment. We are all about safety

[@abbibrannan333]

@@marybusch6182 We are too!

[@imalivinintexas]

Relentless pursuit of helping us to succeed. You’re amazing and one-of-a-kind Ms. Audra. Thank you for your time in creating these amazing and informational videos. PS: I’m not that old 🤠❣️

[@AudraLambert]

Ahhh..thanks so much!!

[@jsmum196]

Tile is plastered down for life. Exactly why it's the best. Big and long, wide and beautiful.

[@AudraLambert]

It is an investment that if you pick the right color can last a lifetime.

[@lizledgerwood7155]

Thank you , I’m building my forever home . Your design is beautiful .

[@BenTucker-q9x]

I like high quality vinyl roll out fooring (Inlay).

[@bruh_hahaha]

flooring is also semi dependent on your climate. I used to live in LA and almost every home had been in had hardwood flooring. In Florida and TX where it’s much more humid, tile flooring is a much better choice.

[@whatsgoodinthehood]

Porcelanosa porcelain tile has wide and long planks with 70 different pattern variations.

[@ivanrodriguez268]

Tile is great for desert hot places because it stays cool. I LOVE the feeling of being barefoot on cool tile after coming home and it's hot out. Then when you mop, I use water and fabuloso and it just smells so good! Maybe it's a hispanic thing.

[@shaymac23]

Fabuloso in my home too. My hubby loves it!

[@lovly2cu725]

Doesn't stay cool in arizona

[@bitrudder3792]

@@lovly2cu725- tile DOES stay cool in hot, humid southeast Texas. Dogs love to stretch out on their bellies on the tile on hot days. I wish I could’ve afforded something more timeless when we purchased our house (Level one tile from the builder, sad selection to choose from). Very practical for life with dogs. No dogs now but… Audra is absolutely right about how tough it is to remove this stuff, and it will be here forever… Or as long as my husband is alive.😂

[@bitrudder3792]

I think it IS a Hispanic thing. My husband (Mexican) can’t stand the idea of wood floors and thinks tile floors are the bomb. So that’s what we have through most of the house.

[@carolinegutierrez5849]

Thank you for your sharing your expertise with humor. You are so funny!

[@annanardo2358]

Carpeting is HIGH maintenance too. White times are out of the question , I prefer sample tile no. one. I like grey w/ sparkle. But definitely NOT hard to keep clean white that shows up every little streak of dirt. NOPE. I prefer the grey, it's more toned down, white is too brilliant...

[@Winstonia489]

I hate carpet but I bought a house with carpet in the bedrooms and I've noticed that a lot of people like that for the comfort, warmth, and sound dampening qualities. I would never want it installed for myself though.

[@schex9]

^^THIS. I like the uniform look of carpet in the bedrooms. When I had engineered hardwood in the bedrooms, we had to put little rugs at the side of the bed just to wipe feet on if not wearing slippers at all times. Then we eventually put an area rug under bed and a bit beyond, and area rugs just give you DOUBLE the surfaces to clean. I just bought a house with carpet in the bedrooms and we easily changed it out (and the padding) for about $2600.

[@chrishollis6015]

Since my house has so many sliding glass doors we put the tile in through the whole house. Fading from the sun was a problem with hardwood after just a few years. So far no fading with the tile after 9 years.

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds like a great choice....very good point too!!

[@rebelliousraven]

We live in a Northern state. Tile floors throughout is not common. We live on a farm, have several large dogs and having those tile floors has been a godsend. They look just like classic farmhouse floors, we love the look and functionality. The upper floors have hardwood. Not all wood look porcelain is short and grey. Ours are walnut with various tones , with 36-inch long pieces. Neither do we have wide grout lines. We bought rectified tiles and dark grout that blends right in. If you're flipping your home in a short time it might pay to be trendy but otherwise buy what you like. In even a few years styles will have changed and you've spent years with stuff you didn't love.

[@dimsum1698]

Thank you so much for your great advise. Love your humor. What is the name of the luxury vinyl flooring you purchased from Home Depot for your investment property?

[@sherz3725]

We have lifeproof lvp from HD in our kitchen, no weird sound when we walk on it. Love it. Will replace engineered wood flooring that only lasted 10 years or so before it wore out in the rest of the house.

[@AudraLambert]

Thank you for sharing, some products just need to be tested in real spaces.

[@jd4440]

Audra, love the engineered flooring you chose for your home! Was hoping to find a link for the one you showed that you used! ❤

[@alnordgren]

You are an absolute treasure! You’re doing a great service for all your viewers out there, Audra. We live in the SF Bay Area and are getting ready to sell our house and move to Vancouver WA. If you worked close by we’d hire you in a heartbeat. 😊. Thankfully we have identified some great realtors in both locations. Thank you so much for your wonderful and informative videos, and for your sense of humor. 😊

[@AudraLambert]

So glad you are getting value out of watching my videos. Best of luck on your move. I know you will do great.

[@diyr791]

Vinyl sheet flooring was the roll out stuff, and what I was told about the vaneer flooring is that you can coat it with polyurethane to seal it.

[@AudraLambert]

Interesting, I wonder how long that protects it?!?!

[@meomy29]

I loved hardwood when we had it in the kitchen. It was so warm and inviting. Changing from wood to kitchen tile looks like an awkward mistake. I'm not a great housekeeper but didn't treat the hardwood any differently than any other flooring. We moved there when DD was three & had cream colored carpet in the living room and bedrooms. I prefer carpet in the bedrooms. Who wants to wake up and put one's feet on a cold floor?

[@michelemarks5026]

I hated my tile floor in between the laminate wood den and dining room. Oh, I also had the wacky grey mosaic backsplash with a brown granite counter that looked like someone threw up granite all over the kitchen! I live at the beach in Puerto Rico and think tile is probably the best option

[@smashandrews3493]

The grey porcelain/wood tiles look great if you get long wide planks and you do the whole house with the same material.

[@jacquigonzalez5447]

There’s no such thing as real grey wood floors. Barnwood can’t go on floors.

[@slw04]

What are the details of the engineered hardwood plank that you use in your home demonstrated? Brand and color because it is beautiful!

[@tomdemeo2708]

Tile in kitchen and bathroom is most durable. Kitchen floor is like a tennis court with food. Go Tile plank neutral color to compliment wood, especially if you have kids. High quality luxury vinyl has lots of variations, however installers don’t work out of 5 boxes + simultaneity ( even good ones) Tile lasts forever and is not identical pieces it’s same technology as lvp. Many different digital prints! ( you are buying cheap Home dumpo tiles. Now planks are 48” x 8”

[@applesauceandhoney2407]

what is good for a deck or pourch?

[@JMgmkh]

Just listen to Audra . She's right ! (Great hair too 😊)

[@AudraLambert]

Ahh..thanks for the hair compliment. Its finally growing out. I lost 70% of it a few years back.

[@pauletteleeper4120]

Remodeling my home. Will be using engineered hardwood everywhere but the bathrooms and laundry room.

[@FSD23384]

I replaced carpet with LVP flooring in my 1700 sq foot home. It looks greats. It easy to maintain. Easy on the feet. No issues with sound while walking on it. Keeps the home cooler in this Florida heat. Some people have issues with smudges & clouding that constantly appear. I never had an issue with my "whitewash" finished LVP. Thanks for posting.

[@dicelady4]

Just did a full main floor laminate. It was not what I shopped for , just no budget for hardwood:( and all the Luxury vinyls had odd color in my large natural lighted area and they bumped the prices up near wood products. That said, we live at a lake community ( should hint that it’s not an inexpensive home) and much sand coming in no matter how much you try to keep it out. The Johnson & Johnson laminate has so far held up outstanding! The color and patterns look really great. Did I mention the two grand dogs that visit? No scratches showing so far. It’s a hard floor ( ice shatters if you drop some) but it is a plus in the other categories. Every engineered wood floor sample dented on my tests, my previous home full oak floor dented and would shrink in winter even with whole house humidifier. Have to say this laminate has some good qualities. I spent 18 intense months trying to find a floor product and ended up with laminate. Who knew!

[@mmachi7866]

I installed laminate wood flooring in my upstairs bedrooms in my new house to replace the old pergo.. trying to save the expense of hardwood..it looks so nice and has a lifetime residential warranty.. my dogs nails ( which are normal length) sound no difference from/ on the oak wood floors in my last house bedroom.. looks/ feels much better and quieter under foot than the luxury vinyl plank my sister put in her house.

[@angelad2601]

Audra, the best advice and great taste. I love the engineered hardwood you choose. Could you give me the exact manufacturer and color/style you choose. I want to do my own home and that color would be perfect. Thank, a million thanks, A

[@AudraLambert]

Hi there. My floors are Provenza. They don't make my floors anymore. Their website is: www.provenzafloors.com/hardwood?collection=Old%20World. The closest wood product they have on their site is: Aged Alabaster. Hope that helps.

[@EddieJazzFan]

Wider & longer planks for hardwood flooring really increases the price a lot. The more narrow plank hardwood floors are a lot cheaper and look almost as good IMHO.

[@2023Red]

Super job Audra. Wood looks best but appropriate for higher end properties in my opinion.

[@tamibeckham32]

great video. watched to see what you had to say about LVP because I sell it, and I sell a lot! What I tell my customers is almost verbatim what you talk about. Wood is always beautiful. Longer & wider, usually can't refinish engineered, GO FOR COLOR FIRST! No one is going to buy ugly. Get what you love! It's always worth it. I sell and install here in Colorado for one of the top companies in the country and ship to other states as well. Everything you said was spot on. I'm going to follow you. Great advise

[@doberchic]

@AudraLambert Idk how you wound up in my suggestions but enjoyed this so much with your dry sense of humor and honesty (e.g. "I love this and have it but don't put it in!) . I used to fantasize about faux tile wood in our kitchen (got to busy and dogged up to pursue that) and am now wondering what i'd ever do there as there is a "break" between rest of the hard wood in the house and the kitchen back room. I wish you all the best and have subscribed. You're doing great! Appreciate you. Don't change a thing. xo

[@Babsbunbun]

Ooh that backsplash is beautiful. Yes I could imagine getting tired of it though. Good point.

[@AudraLambert]

Like many things we do get tired of things. 🙂

[@cakedupkevin]

My rule of thumb is to avoid following trends when installing hardscape design elements

[@inveritategloria]

I love micro-cement in a well designed high end home! ( especially if the floor is heated). Even though the today's message sounds critical, you are actually doing everyone a favor by pointing out what buyers may not appreciate!

[@AudraLambert]

Hi there...thank you so very much. As you know, I am just trying to help homeowner make wise choices when selling their home. I appreciate you pointing that out. Thanks for the support.

[@shelshele]

Porcelain plank tile does come with rectified edges that allow 1/6-1/8 inch grout lines and leveling systems that minimize lippage. Having said that I’m choosing to put large LVP instead because if I sell in 5-10 years a future buyer may choose not to buy because of the expense of tearing it up. You can tear up LVP yourself and just pay a professional to install whatever flooring much cheaper.

[@AudraLambert]

You are making a selection for your lifestyle and deco style go for it. You can't prioritize or focus on what a future buyer so far off will like or dislike. Enjoy your home today!!!

[@MrMarkS-lg7yk]

I enjoyed today's segment. Young lady, you are one of my very favorite KZbin channels! Thank You! In my experience, over 30 years ago, I installed two and three-quarter-inch (wide) solid maple flooring, one-inch thick, mounted on one-inch battens, the old-fashioned way with flooring nails and an old-fashioned mallet. It is stunning, and I imagine it will last a few (hundred) years. I realize wide boards are the 'thing' these days, but my old floor is the love of my life. An observation: You are fabulous and will undoubtedly buck the trend of where real estate agents are headed. HINT: The way of phone booths! I've no doubt the day will come when you'll soon reach and pass the 100K subscriber mark! It's easy to see you put considerable thought into your videos; well done! :>)

[@MrMarkS-lg7yk]

I just remembered that I sanded and sealed the flooring after the installation, and have never needed to have it refinished. I've never once had the flooring professionally cleaned. Headed to 80 years old I use an old fashioned mop/water/bucket to keep it clean. Fingers crossed, I hope to keep moping my floors for another 20 years! :>)

[@AudraLambert]

Thanks so much Mark. I truly appreciate your comment.

[@arnie1005]

Thanks , Girl, I just put an offer in on a house . The top floor, is carpet, Linoleum . My Daughter, is going to have the top floor replaced with hardwood. Now I have an idea what to tell the people she will hire to look for, are what I want after watching you!z O The offer was accepted!

[@AudraLambert]

Yah..I am so excited for you. Now go fix those floors!!! I totally forgot about linoleum...wow...that's a flash from the past.

[@KevinMichaelGettings]

Great tips and I agree with EVERYTHING that you presented - You freakin' nailed it!!! :). For my kitchen backsplash, we used a warm travertine tile about 5 years ago and still love it! It goes so well with our hickory cabinets. Very subtle pattern yet all are unique yet they blend so well together. Before grouting, I actually liked the travertine's porous holes better yet they were covered over with the grout once complete and looks great.

[@kd1g130]

Love ceramic tile floors with 🐶

[@maggiesmith979]

Is it better to paint before you redo your floors.

[@angiew4544]

Yes!

[@AudraLambert]

Yes, absolutely.

[@strngs4joy]

Very helpful and an excellent presentation! Thank you for sharing.

[@corgiowner436]

Best decision I ever made was taking out hardwoods in the kitchen and putting in Belgian bluestone. The kitchen is a super high traffic area and the finish would wear through every three years. Dirt then gets in the grain of the wood and the floor looks perpetually dirty. After my third refinish in 9 years I was done. The hardwoods were on screeds set in tar and were $$$ to remove.

[@ashdav9980]

You must be hard on floors. I have had wood floors in a kitchen for 25 years and never had to refinish like you are describing. Current floors are wide plank white oak hand scraped and installed about 8 years ago, still looks good as new. I have two teens and two dogs and we cook a lot.

[@AudraLambert]

Sounds like you made the right decision for your lifestyle. You need to enjoy your home:)

[@lindadupuis1531]

When I installed my engineered hardwood it was highly recommended NOT to do the kitchen and foyer even though I wanted it. I so regret that cause now my house looks choppy. Love your videos Audra! ❤

[@AudraLambert]

Hi there...I am sure your home looks beautiful. There are things I have done in my own home that I do regret. I just try to focus on the things I do enjoy;)

[@kjpdjb]

😭 I have so many different floors in my home, and we switched from carpet to lvp in our bedroom. I love the lvp for my bedroom, but wasn't thinking that we'd be changing our kitchen/dining floor too. I didn't want the same lvp, so now we have a different, although similar lvp in that space. We literally have 7 different floors on our entry level rancher. 😭 We have tons of pets, so I do love the lvp for that purpose. It is the widest available and looks great.