Fifth Wall Finery

As a newcomer to this part of Florida, your critical fifth wall is alien territory. The choices you made in the North or Midwest will not be the options you seriously consider here. You may have been comfortable with wall-to-wall carpeted rooms that kept your tootsies toasty and visually defined rooms. Except for bedrooms and dens, you don't see much wall-to-wall carpeting in Southwest Florida dwellings and for good reason. We don't need the warmth. And our open floor plans that seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor spaces, make wall-to-wall carpeting impractical from a maintenance standpoint and ineffectual from a design aesthetic.

You will see luxurious wall-to-wall carpets used in bedrooms and some cozy tucked away dens, but in most of the public areas of your new or remodeled Southwest Florida home the flooring of choice is hard surface-stone, ceramic tile, wood, terrazzo and even the newer vinyls.

Rock of Ages

Flat rock-perhaps the oldest flooring product next to dirt-is one of the most desirable in Southwest Florida just as it was for European cathedrals in the 12th century. Marble, limestone, slate and granite are the choices you'll see here. One of the most popular choices in luxury homes is cross-cut travertine marble.

The most popular size today is 18-by-18-inch travertine tiles, although the 24-inch squares are right for some larger luxury homes. It depends on the size of the room and height of the ceiling. The larger the tiles, the fewer the grout lines, making the flooring appear seamless. Price for travertine differs with the grade of marble you select and the degree of installation difficulty, but travertine averages about $10-$20 a square foot installed.

Limestone is another big favorite in Southwest Florida. Jerusalem limestone for kitchens and baths is trendy right now. Then there are the fossil limestones such as Florida keystone, coral stone, Philippine or Mexican shellstone. When considering these options, you will need expert help in making a decision because some limestones do better outside than in.

Jim Newby, owner of Architectural Marble, is one reliable source. "The fossil stones are open pore and even if you seal them, they will still stain and get dirty, so we advise their use on a patio or terrace," he says. "These stones have a textured surface and imbedded in some of them is the imprint of fossils or bits of shell. They're really unique. And because they have texture, you won't slip on them."

Slate is great for merging indoor and outdoor spaces. Slate is dense, does not burn or stain and has a distinctive flake. It's become a bathroom favorite and is lovely in a kitchen that opens to a terrace or patio. Do both areas in the same slate and you will visually increase your home's square footage.

What's the most durable stone floor surface? "It's granite," says Newby. "Granite is one of the most popular choices for kitchen counters, and now homeowners are considering it for flooring because it is so permanent. It does have a slightly cold look and many granites only come in 12-by-12-inch tiles. But the look can be spectacular, especially in a contemporary or high-style modern room, and a granite floor is certainly tough."

If you are working with stone floors in several areas of your home, consider a mosaic as a border or a "rug" to define an area. A mosaic is made when small pieces of colored glass, stone or tile are set into mortar. Metallic bits of stone in a mosaic will gather and radiate light. Highly polished glass will sparkle like jewelry. A mosaic "welcome mat" in an entrance foyer is a memorable piece of art.

Miles of Tiles

Tile is an ancient floor surface. In fact, fire-clay tile was invented by the Egyptians about 6,000 years ago. If you want to do something totally original with your fifth wall, collaborate with some of the visionaries at a reputable tile emporium and let your artistic instincts take flight.

Glazed porcelain tiles that can be used indoor and outdoor (thus extending your living area out onto terraces without interrupting the eye) can be had for about $2 a square foot. Porcelain tiles are stronger than ceramic and can be made to look like stone or nearly anything else. A few years back, when one did a room in ceramic tiles, the 12-by-12-inch tile was considered standard for a large room. Today, that size (except for bathrooms) dates a home. You'll want bigger, 16-by-16 at least and usually bigger.

Pay attention to grout. If you want an interesting graphic statement, select a grout color that is in high contrast with the tile color. If you want the grout lines to make no statement at all, match the grout color with the tile.

Terrazzo for your palazzo

One option that was quite common in Florida homes in earlier days is terrazzo, a poured floor that combines concrete with bits of shiny stones such as marble. Terrazzo makes a smooth, elegant floor that is as beautiful and durable as marble. It seems to sparkle with jewels once it is polished (which is part of the installation process). Terrazzo can be traced back to 15th century Italian villas.

In Florida, terrazzo used to be an economic and permanent solution. Schools, hospitals, businesses and budget homes showed lots of terrazzo as well as high-style modern luxury dwellings. The downside? Terrazzo can crack if the supporting surface is not level or if it becomes damaged over time. Terrazzo is not easy to repair and it takes skilled craftsmen to install such a floor. In the late 1960s and '70s the use of terrazzo declined as more popular options such as tile and vinyl replaced it. Craftsmen turned to other trades.

But lately, thanks in part to its rediscovery by architects and high-end builders, terrazzo is trendy once again. And there have been improvements in the recipe. Today, terrazzo is only 1/4-inch thick, and the adhesive, which was once concrete, is now acrylic. That means there is less likelihood of the floor cracking. The cost of terrazzo is about $24 per square foot. But, it's practically a permanent solution to flooring needs.

Wood and faux wood

Bamboo is one of the trendiest choices. It's a renewable resource, it's durable, it comes in a variety of stains. If you put down a bamboo floor, everyone who comes into your house will comment upon your good taste. Bamboo, long a choice in the Orient for furniture, walls, flooring and decorative items such as vases, began showing up in luxury model homes a few years ago and the look caught on quickly. The price is about $10 per square foot installed.

Maple, oak, red oak, pine, Southern yellow heart pine from managed forests, cherry are all good options in Southwest Florida and they are readily available in a wide variety of stains. Wood adds warmth to rooms, something that tile for all its beauty and glamour does not. For kitchens and baths a tough hardwood such as oak or maple can withstand high traffic and a lot of abuse. These floors age beautifully. In bedrooms, where the wear is less, consider a warm pine.

The new laminated trompe l'oeil wood looks like wood, but wears like tough vinyl. Laid in strips like planks, this option has the beauty of hardwood and the easy care of sheet vinyl. The installation requires no glue, no clamps, no clean-up. Wood laminate floors tend to be popular choices for a high-traffic family room or den, kitchen, hallway and childrens' bedrooms. Cost is about $3 a square foot.

Not your mama's vinyl

For those deciding between stone or ceramic tile that simulates the look and texture of natural stone, there's a new product to throw into the mix. It's textured vinyl that approximates the look of stone and ceramic.This flooring option comes to the consumer with a number of trademarked features such a Tritonite wearlayer, an exclusive product made of the same tough ceramic material that protects the space shuttle during reentry. Tritonite protects against scratches and scuffs up to five times better than ordinary wearlayers. Tell that to your dogs and children!

This new and improved kind of vinyl makes sense for homes with high-traffic areas. This vinyl product absorbs sound, is cushioned for foot comfort (something stone and ceramic cannot claim) and it is easy to maintain with damp moping. Also, if you drop something breakable on this type of flooring, chances are it won't shatter into a thousand pieces. This flooring can be installed with the floating floor method without adhesive, which can minimize costs. Price is about $27 per yard.

And here's a flash-linoleum is back. This natural floor product (linseed oil, wood flour, ground cork, limestone and jute) was put out of business about 50 years ago by vinyl. But now it's back thanks, in part, to the environmental movement and to folks who want a nature-friendly floor.

The painted floor

In the early days of American interior design history, clever colonists used to routinely paint wood-plank floors to create effects that simulated marble, marquetry, or intricate patterns inspired by Oriental carpets. Sometimes craftsmen painted on canvas cloths that were then laid down wall-to-wall or sometimes they painted directly on the floor. Today, floor painting is once again popular. The new good news is that with the application of clear (non-yellowing) protective coatings, the painted floor surface is more durable than ever.

Paint a border around a room or cover the whole floor. A diamond shape will visually expand the space, a diagonal design will make a narrow room appear wider. You can simulate mosaic patterns or fool the eye into thinking you have an inlaid floor accented with exotic woods or stone.

Etched, stained and painted concrete floors are in vogue now. A poured concrete floor is the ultimate in practicality and durability. When concrete is etched, expertly mottled, sealed and waxed, it simulates expensive marble.

Leather-like walking on buttah

Flooring options that none of us ever considered before are surfacing. Leather is one."When you think you've seen everything, bought everything and can't be impressed with anything else to cover a floor, you are definitely ready for leather," says Scott Pintchuk of Floors By Design. "Men will often choose leather for a home office or library," he continues, "and they usually select it in a distressed finish. Just like that well-worn leather club chair, this type of flooring only gets more beautiful as it ages and it is as comfortable on the feet as you favorite soft recliner." Leather flooring comes in cushioned tiles and starts at about $50 a square foot, installed. Leather deadens sound and will give you a room that is as quiet as it is luxurious.

Rubber is also becoming popular and it's perfect for the in-home gym. Do your floor exercises in comfort and with less chance of strain. Put your equipment on it, too. Commercial health clubs started using rubber floors first, now homebuyers want rubber in their own workout rooms. And cork is back. It was popular in the '50s for kitchens and is so once again, especially in a modern setting. Cork is soft and pleasant to walk on, it's a natural product and it absorbs sound. You can paint or stencil cork for a unique artistic piece of artwork on your fifth wall.

Magic carpets

Area rugs really do work magic. Not when they're flying,but when they are laying down on the job. Area rugs define a space, pull a room together, provide a new way to look at art. And, make no mistake, a fine original area carpet is a piece of fine art.

Natural fiber carpets-coir, sisal, sea grass-for both accents and wall-to-wall installations are extremely popular in this part of Florida. The good news is that they complement the Florida lifestyle and can add a bit of relaxed elegance to any room.

The downside of natural fiber rugs is that they stain. So, manufacturers have come up with synthetic 'natural' fiber rugs that wear beautifully and defy all but the most professional eye to tell the difference between Mother Nature and man made.

The new synthetics also offer the look of fine wool Berbers at a fraction of the cost without sacrificing any of the visual appeal. An Olefin/nylon blend Berber complete with Scotchgard stain resistant coating and 10-year warranty can be bought for about $1.70 per square foot.

The colors and patterns of traditional Oriental carpets don't appeal to you? Then check out the new rugs coming from Tibet and Nepal. They are as soft as chenille and the colors are muted. They work beautifully with today's neutral rooms and add just the right touch to a home office. The patterns are modern, amorphous, timeless really. And the palettes are gentle and quiet.

Still confused?

Flooring is a huge investment emotionally and financially. You want your floors to look fabulous, not kill you with maintenance, and be comfortable underfoot. Inspecting small chips of stone or wood or contemplating patches of wool fiber carpeting isn't going to do it. Looking at photographs only goes so far. Asking friends and neighbors is a good start. Showrooms will put you on the right path.

But to really become familiar with available choices and to do personal compare-and-contrast tests you need to see floors in action. Homebuyer magazine suggests you visit model homes. Walking through models is the best way to experience flooring. Take your shoes off and decide if you want to pad around on textured limestone, glassy porcelain tile, or nubbly carpet. Notice color combinations and different styles of area rugs. See if you can distinguish between real hardwood and the new laminates. Discover bamboo.

Decide if it would bother you to have some of your furniture teeter and totter on rustic uneven stone. Check to see how many builders have decided to use hardwood in kitchens and baths. Are some tile floors too slippery for children and pets? Take a notebook and ask questions.

This is no time to let your fingers do the walking. When it comes to investigating flooring options, put your best foot forward and get the education you need by trekking through model homes. A side benefit is that you'll learn about the many neighborhoods that make up the town you've come to call home.