Aging in Place by Room - Part 15 - Interior Flooring Comparisons

Introduction

This is a continuation of the flooring recommendations discussed in the previous blog article Aging in Place - Part 14 - General Interior Flooring with more of a specific focus on the benefits & drawbacks to the various exact styles of flooring available (ranging from common surfaces such as hardwood and vinyl to more unusual choices such as rubber).
 
Since hard flooring is generally recommended for optimal accessibility  (especially for main interior floor surfaces outside of the bedroom), those varieties will be the main focal point for the brunt of this section.

General Flooring Recommendations

If available, sheet flooring is recommended for hard floor surfaces instead of multiple tiles as sheets provide more liquid resistance (without the possibility of standing water or other liquids seeping into the seams or cracks between tiles). In addition sheet flooring poses less of a tripping hazard with the potential of uneven edges that come with tiling. Where a hard surface is preferable, it's more optimal to choose a particular floor style that has added surface texture for slip resistance as well as some slight cushioning underneath for shock absorption during falls. The cushioning should still remain firm and not too thick, otherwise those users with balance issues will find the floor harder to traverse.
 
If using a carpeted surface, it should be uniform throughout with wall to wall carpeting used over area rugs that pose greater tripping risks with their exposed edges. The carpet height should be short with low-pile (preferably less than 1/2" tall with nothing higher than a mid-pile style at the most), as well as firm with dense fibers. These smooth, tight, and even surfaces will be easier to traverse across particularly with wheeled mobility aids. In particular, high-pile plush carpets can pose a tripping risk for those seniors who drag their feet, have mobility problems, or have other basic balancing issues. While softer carpeting can be good for cushioning during falls, it must still be firm enough to easily maintain one's balance. Uniform low-pile carpeting can sometimes be more slip resistant than certain non-textured hard floors (such as polished marble).
 
While the carpet should always be securely attached to the floor underneath to make certain that it can not slide nor bunch, extra cushioning and padding can be added underneath for better shock absorbance when falling as well as to help to extend the life of the above carpet. This extra padding can take the form of quality high-density foam or felt padding that should still be firm & thin enough not to have a detrimental effect on maintaining balance.

Hard Flooring Comparisons

Due to its low maintenance, higher durability, and ease of use, cushioned varieties of hard floor surfaces are generally what is optimally recommended when it comes to universal design & accessibility. Keep in mind that while some flooring options may be more expensive than others that the cost of recovering from an injury due to tripping or falling would be exponentially greater, and thus the safety of the floor surface should be paramount when it comes to planning to age-in-place.

Textured Vinyl Flooring (Recommended)
 
While this surface material is most often found in the form of vinyl planks, it can also be found as tiles and sheets. A popular recommendation regarding aging-in-place and accessibility concerns, vinyl flooring tends to be more expensive than carpeting but less expensive than other hard floor options. This type of flooring is low maintenance, easy to traverse with mobility aids, and durable with less replacements needed for wear & damage than other available options.
 
Vinyl flooring is particular good for wet areas as its naturally water, spill, and liquid resistant. Since standing water can seep in between the seams & cracks of tiles or planks, high quality solid vinyl sheeting is recommended for moist areas that need to be nearly water-proof. Vinyl comes in a wide range of finishes, so surfaces that look like hardwood, stone, or other materials can be used for appearance concerns. In addition, the extra texture on the surfacing can make it more slip resistant.
 
An additional cork or felt underlayer can be added for more cushioning and shock resistance which is beneficial when falling (as long as the underlayer remains firm and not too thick to pose problems with keeping one's balance while walking across it)

Textured Rubber Flooring (Recommended)
 
This particular type of flooring is more often seen in garages, exercise rooms, gyms, and other places with a high chance of physical activity of falls down upon its surface. While many might find it's superficial look rather strange in the main interior of a household (especially as it comes in a more narrow range of colors, styles, textures & finishes compared to other floor options), it's one of the safest options when it comes to fall prevention.
 
Rubber flooring is soft & shock absorbent, gentle on the feet while being one of the safest surfaces to fall upon. It's also very durable (needing less replacement over the years compared to other flooring options) and is very easy to clean and maintain. Depending upon its exact type of  finish or surface treatment, rubber flooring can be fire, stain, and liquid resistant. Rubber sheeting would be the most durable variety available as standing water can still seep into cracks & seams between rubber tiles and cause damage to the underlayer.
 
A major drawback is that professionally installed rubber flooring can be on the expensive side, although do-it-yourself options using snap-together tiles are a less expensive option.

Linoleum
 
Linoleum is a common replacement for vinyl (and its use in the home precedes vinyl for many decades) for those who wish for a more natural product as it's manufactured from real plant fibers instead of using completely artificial components. However, due to this, linoleum is also more expensive than vinyl flooring and other hard floor options. Like vinyl, this flooring is low maintenance, a sanitary & hygienic choice that is easy to keep clean, and is easy to traverse with mobility aids.
 
Linoleum is durable and both stain & liquid resistant. Normal tiled linoleum is not full water proof as standing liquids can seep into the seams & cracks between the tiles  (thus posing damage to the underlayer), so sheet  linoleum or marmoleum should be used instead of tiles for areas that require more water resistance.
 
Besides its pricing, another drawback to linoleum is that it has less natural cushioning and shock absorbance compared to other hard surfaces such as vinyl and rubber.

Cork Flooring
 
Cork flooring has a medium hardness which makes it softer than most other hard surfaces such as wood or vinyl. This allows it to be more comfortable to both walk across and stand on for extended periods as well as being easily traversable with mobility aids. This softer cushioning also provided good shock absorbance if someone should fall and, unlike soft carpeting, cork won't catch at the feet and pose a tripping hazard. However, a drawback to this softer surface is that it is not as durable as other hard floors and is liable to start showing scuffs and puncture marks with extended use (particularly when it comes to more pointed objects such as furniture feet, high heels on shoes, or mobility aids such as canes).
 
Cork is low maintenance with an easily sweepable and washable sealed surface that is stain resistant but not fully water-proof (and thus spills should be dealt with even sooner than with rubber, vinyl, or linoleum as both the surface & underlayer of cork flooring can be damaged by extended exposure to standing liquid).
 
Other drawbacks to cork flooring include it being more expensive than the more readily available vinyl flooring styles as well as coming in a more limited range of colors and styles to complement the rest of the household.

Hardwood Flooring
 
Hardwood flooring is low maintenance, being easily swept or mopped clean, and thus more sanitary & hygienic for those seniors who may have respiratory problems aggravated by carpets and other softer floorings. Hardwood is also generally perceived as one of the most aesthetically pleasing choices for a household's floor.
 
However, real hardwood is expensive to purchase and usually requires professional installation. To deal with these costs, hardwood is often replaced with a laminate that has a similar look at a lower price point and which also allows a less expensive do-it-yourself style of installation.
 
Further drawbacks to hardwood flooring for aging-in-place include it not being water resistant and thus prone to over all damage due to spills and standing water that would effect even more of the floor's structure than just the seams & cracks of a more water-proof flooring. In addition, as it's name implies, hardwood is quite hard as a surface and has little cushioning or shock absorbance available for potential falls

Ceramic/Porcelain Hard Tile Flooring (Avoid)
 
Tile flooring is most popularly found in the bathroom due to its high water resistance  and easy installation within cramped or odd shaped quarters. While it's durable and low maintenance to clean & repair, this flooring should be avoided whenever possible as it creates a hard surface with no proper cushioning for falls and poses a high risk for incurring injuries within the elderly due to how slippery it becomes when wet.

In addition, tiles can pose further tripping hazards if they are installed unevenly or have wide grout joints. If installed in the bathroom, tile flooring should have a textured surface for better balance and slip protection with at least a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.6.

Natural Stone Flooring (Avoid)
 
This includes surfaces such as polished marble and granite. While aesthetically pleasing, this type of floor is often slippery both when dry and even more so when wet. In addition to being a high maintenance surface that is cold and inflexible to the feet, it has no cushioning when walking or shock absorbance when falling (and similar to hard tile, is one of the worst surfaces to fall down upon when it comes to sustaining injuries).

Bamboo (Avoid)
 
While bamboo shares some of the positives of the more expensive hardwood flooring choices (such as being low maintenance & easy to clean), as compared to other hardwood floor styles, bamboo does not have high resistance or durability and is prone to become easily damaged (especially when exposed to repeated use of bulky mobility aids such as canes, walkers, or wheelchairs).

​It will require more repeated repairs and replacements (especially as splintered bamboo wood is not only an eyesore but poses a tripping & injury hazard).  In addition, bamboo is generally not as water resistant as other hard floor choices such as vinyl, rubber, or linoleum and may take overall damage when exposed to liquids or standing water.

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Exterior
Part 3 - Landscaping & Gardens
Part 4 -  Patio,  Porch, & Deck
Part 5 - Garage & Carports
Part 6 - Entrances, Exits, & Thresholds
Part 7 - Exterior Steps & Ramps
Part 8 - Threshold Lighting & Windows
Part 9 - Interior Doors & Halls
Part 10 - Interior Steps & Staircases
Part 11 - Interior Stairlifts
Part 12 - Interior Elevators
Part 13 - Living Room
Part 14 - Kitchen

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