Cork definitely has charm, especially if you're embracing that relaxed beach vibe. If you do go with cork again, maybe consider adding felt pads or those little rubber chair caps? They're cheap and easy to pop on, and they'll save your floors from getting too roughed up. Another option might be engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank—both handle sand and moisture pretty well, plus they're forgiving with scratches. Budget-wise, flooring can range widely, but allocating around $5-$10 per sq ft should give you solid quality and durability without breaking the bank.
"Budget-wise, flooring can range widely, but allocating around $5-$10 per sq ft should give you solid quality and durability without breaking the bank."
That's a pretty realistic range, honestly. When we redid our little beach cottage a few years back, we went with bamboo flooring—eco-friendly and surprisingly durable against sand and moisture. It was around $7 per sq ft, and it's held up great so far. Cork's lovely too, though...just gotta keep an eye on those chair legs! Good luck with your reno, sounds like it'll turn out amazing.
We went with cork in our lake house reno a while back, and yeah, chairs were definitely an issue at first. Ended up getting those felt pads for furniture legs—cheap fix, but makes a huge difference. Bamboo sounds like a smart choice too, though...especially for moisture resistance. Sounds like you're on the right track with your budget and choices, good luck!
We did bamboo flooring in a beach cottage flip last summer, and honestly, it was one of the best decisions we made. Super durable, easy to clean, and held up surprisingly well against sandy feet and wet towels. Cork looks great too, but yeah, furniture can be tricky. We had similar issues with scratching on hardwood in another project—those felt pads are lifesavers. Budget-wise, always plan for a bit extra...renos near water always seem to throw surprises your way. Good luck with it!
"Budget-wise, always plan for a bit extra...renos near water always seem to throw surprises your way."
Haha, ain't that the truth. I swear beach houses have some secret pact with Murphy's Law—whatever can rust, warp, or leak definitely will. I'd tack on at least 15-20% extra just for sanity's sake.
