A picture of a couple looking through design catalogs on beautiful flooring - find floors that fit your lifestyle with this question guide from Footprints Floors Atlanta, GA.

5 Lifestyle-Based Questions to Answer Before Choosing New Floors in Atlanta, GA

May 07, 2026

While you may be dreaming of hardwood or stone flooring, there is a lot more than aesthetics to consider when choosing the right material. In this guide, you’ll find questions you can ask yourself to narrow down your options and choose the best flooring material for your budget, cleaning preferences, and more.

1. What is Your Budget?

The first thing to determine is your budget range. Knowing how much you’re comfortable spending can help narrow down the types of materials available to you and make the selection process much easier.

The final cost of professional flooring installation depends on the materials you choose, the size of the space, and local labor rates. To help you plan your budget, here are a few 2026 industry pricing averages for popular flooring materials:¹

Hardwood - $6–$25 per sq. ft.^*
Tile - $15–$20 per sq. ft.^*
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) - $2–$14 per sq. ft.^*
Laminate - $2–$13 per sq. ft.^*
Stone - $6–$20 per sq. ft.^*

^*These prices are averages that can vary. They are provided for informational purposes only and are not guarantees or official quotes from Footprints Floors.

2. Who (and What) Will Be Using the Floors?

This is an important question to ask because it can influence the durability you should be looking for in your flooring.

Homes with young children and pets, for example, could benefit more from durable, scratch-resistant, and easy-to-clean flooring options. These include materials like:

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): Easy to clean and highly scratch-resistant with the right wear layer.
Tile Flooring: Extremely durable and water-resistant. One of the best options for spills and moisture concerns.
Laminate Flooring: A budget-friendly, durable flooring option that is scratch-resistant and well-suited for high-traffic areas.

On the other hand, an older couple or empty nesters may want to prioritize appearance, comfort, and luxury finishes over maximum durability. These can include:

Stone: Very elegant, with a high-end appearance and unique natural variations that add character to a space.
Hardwood Flooring: A warm, inviting classic material known for its natural beauty and long-term value.

3. What Is the Moisture Level in The Room?

Some flooring types handle water and humidity much better than others. Choosing the wrong material for a moisture-prone space can lead to issues like warping or swelling, which usually require professional repairs and, in some cases, full replacement.

Below is a breakdown of the 3 most common rooms and recommendations for the best materials based on their water resistance and durability qualities:

Bathrooms: Tile and stone are typically the best choices. LVP is 100% waterproof, making it a good option if you want the appearance of hardwood, but it likely will not last as long as tile options.
Kitchens: Tile, stone, and LVP are popular choices because they can withstand spills and frequent cleaning. Laminate is another option, but it’s important to choose waterproof varieties if you’re considering it for a kitchen.
Living Rooms, Bedrooms, & Dining Rooms: Hardwood is one of the most popular choices because moisture and water exposure are usually minimal.

4. How Much Maintenance Are You Willing to Do?

Each flooring material has different maintenance requirements, including cleaning frequency, long-term upkeep, and potential repair needs. It’s important to consider how much time and effort you’re realistically willing to dedicate to floor upkeep so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the demand over time:

Hardwood Flooring: Sweeping or vacuuming is recommended 2–4 times per week, along with occasional cleaning using a manufacturer-approved wood floor cleaner. Over time, hardwood floors may need professional refinishing to restore their appearance.
Tile Flooring: Requires sweeping several times per week and mopping every 1–2 weeks to remove dirt and debris. Grout lines may also need deep cleaning or resealing to maintain their appearance and prevent staining.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring: One of the easiest flooring materials to maintain. Routine sweeping or vacuuming 1–3 times per week with occasional mopping is usually enough to keep LVP looking clean and in good condition.
Laminate Flooring: Requires regular sweeping or vacuuming and should be cleaned with minimal moisture to avoid damage. Waterproof laminate options are generally easier to maintain over time.
Stone Flooring: Needs routine cleaning with stone-safe products. Depending on the type of stone, sealing may be recommended every 6–12 months to protect against moisture, stains, and surface wear.

5. Are You Planning to Sell Soon or in the Future?

If selling your home is a possibility, it’s smart to consider flooring materials with broad buyer appeal. While trendy flooring styles may match your personal taste, timeless, durable materials like hardwood are often more attractive to potential buyers and can help improve resale value.²

Guidance From Flooring Experts

If you need additional guidance on choosing floors for your lifestyle, the team at Footprints Floors in Atlanta can help.

After you schedule a free consultation, we’ll assess your project area and ask questions about your budget, maintenance preferences, and day-to-day needs. From there, we’ll provide personalized flooring recommendations and suggest trusted suppliers where you can shop for materials that fit your goals and vision for your home.

Back to All Posts

Key Takeaways

Deciding on your budget early helps narrow down flooring materials and make the selection process easier.
Durable, water-resistant flooring options like tile and LVP are the best choices for homes with kids and pets.
Each flooring material has different maintenance requirements and long-term value considerations.
Footprints Floors can guide you through material selection and help you find flooring that works best for your day-to-day living.

What is Your Budget?
Who (and What) Will Be Using the Floors?
What is The Moisture Level in the Room?
How Much Maintenance Are You Willing to Do?
Are you Planning to Sell Soon or in the Future?

Noel Brewick

Sandy Springs Owner

I have been the proud owner of the Footprints Floors Sandy Springs / Alpharetta area franchise since 2019. I was born and raised in Mitchell, South Dakota (home of the world’s only Corn Palace!). My wife Laura and I have resided in Sandy Springs since 2013 and are blessed with two beautiful daughters, ages eight and ten. I attended the University of South Dakota, majoring in business administration and was captain of the swim team. After college I moved to Denver and was employed by Sherwin-Williams Paint Company for five years before transitioning into the bedding industry. For 22 years prior to Footprints Floors, I was employed by Serta Simmons Bedding Company in six different cities across the country. I served in a wide range of positions in both sales and finance, from account manager Director of National Accounts and VP of sales.

My most enjoyable part about being a part of Footprints Floors is working with customers to make their flooring dreams a reality! My guiding principle is to only recommend products or processes that will achieve the customers vision while also staying in budget and adding value and beauty to their home. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, keeping up with my daughter’s various activities, golf, swimming and travel.

About The Author

Matt Therriault

Peachtree City Owner

Matt Therriault is the proud owner of the Footprints Floors Peachtree City and is no stranger to the home renovation industry. After moving to Atlanta from Chicago with his wife and two daughters about 7 years ago, Matt started a business called Peachtree City Home Rescue, and began working small remodeling jobs all over southern Georgia. Matt is a former firefighter, paramedic, and professional renovation expert. He uses his extensive knowledge of the flooring industry, as well as his skills in communicating with customers and individuals in the community to ensure that every customer not only has a great looking floor after the project, but that the experience as a whole is a memorable professional one. He has high standards of honesty, integrity and professionalism and brings these with him to every project and every customer he interacts with. Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters and is excited to expand the Footprints Floors quality, experience, and service to the Southern Georgia area.

About The Author

Tim Busbee

Northern Atlanta Owner

Tim Busbee is the proud owner of Footprints Floors of Northern Atlanta serving the area from Marietta to Cumming and North Georgia. Born and raised in Savannah, GA, Tim graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BA in Marketing and then moved to Atlanta to pursue his professional career. While in Atlanta, Tim met his wife, Dani, who is an accomplished equestrian rider who competes, trains horses, and coaches students in a variety of English disciplines. Tim and Dani are now living in Woodstock GA with their two beautiful children Avery & Miles.

Prior to joining the Footprints Floors family, Tim spent the previous 10+ years of his professional career in Corporate America with Enterprise Holdings where he rose through the leadership ranks, ran multiple territories, mentored hundreds of employees, and received accolades for his teams' high level of customer service performance. Tim is excited to bring his many years of customer-centric service, professionalism, and integrity to the local flooring industry in Northern Atlanta.

In his free time, Tim is an avid Atlanta sports fanatic, loves being outdoors, doing anything competitive and he especially loves spending time with his family and making his kids laugh!

About The Author

Kevin Moore

East Atlanta & Duluth Owner

I spent most of my professional career as an I.T. Professional Services Program Manager. I have worked for many great companies such as IBM, Cisco, The Home Depot, Synamedia and BetterCloud to name a few. After my wife was brave enough to make a career change from Corporate Accounting to an AMI Certified Montessori Teacher (and loves it!), I decided that it was time for me to make a change as well. I have always been an active DIY'r and HGTV junkie and felt that I missed my true calling for construction management. After searching for several years, I decided to make a career change and opened my Footprints Floors franchise in 2021. I really enjoy helping my customers complete their projects to improve on their most important asset; their home. I believe that all customers deserve an honest, reputable and fair contractor that will aspire to deliver 5 star results. Those are the principles that guide me daily.

I have a wonderful wife, 2 young adult children, 2 cats, a sassy Husky and have resided in the Atlanta Metro area for the past 18 years. I am an avid runner and also love to roller skate, hike, kayak and play in the dirt.

About The Author