Flooring for Asheville’s Craftsman Bungalows and Historic Homes

Asheville’s historic neighborhoods tell the story of our city through architecture. From the Craftsman bungalows of Montford and West Asheville to the Tudor revivals of Biltmore Forest and the Victorian gems scattered throughout downtown, these homes deserve flooring that honors their character while meeting modern performance needs.

At Leicester Flooring, we’ve worked on historic properties throughout Asheville for 50 years. We understand the balance between preserving authentic character and making practical choices for contemporary living. Here’s what we’ve learned about flooring Asheville’s beloved older homes.

Understanding Historic Home Flooring Challenges

Older homes present specific challenges that newer construction doesn’t face. Recognizing these issues helps explain why flooring decisions in historic properties require special consideration.

Uneven Subfloors and Settlement

Homes built 80 or 100 years ago have had decades to settle. Subfloors that were level when originally constructed may now slope, dip, or undulate across rooms. This unevenness affects flooring installation and limits some material options.

Some flooring types hide subfloor imperfections better than others. Floating floors can follow gentle undulations without telegraphing every dip. Glue-down installations may require more subfloor preparation to achieve acceptable results.

Existing Hardwood Worth Preserving

Many Asheville historic homes have original hardwood floors beneath carpet, vinyl, or other coverings installed during past remodels. Before installing new flooring, it’s worth investigating whether original hardwood can be restored instead.

Our team can help assess existing hardwood condition during your consultation. Refinishing original floors often costs less than replacement while preserving authentic materials that contribute to your home’s character and value.

Radiant Heat and HVAC Limitations

Older homes often lack the ductwork or infrastructure for modern HVAC systems. Some owners add radiant floor heating during renovations to improve comfort without extensive construction.

Not all flooring materials work with radiant heat systems. If you’re considering radiant heating in your historic home renovation, flooring selection must account for compatibility with these systems.

Moisture from Crawl Spaces and Basements

Many Asheville historic homes sit above unfinished crawl spaces or have partial basements that weren’t built to modern moisture control standards. This moisture can migrate upward and affect flooring performance.

Proper moisture testing before installation identifies potential problems. In some cases, crawl space encapsulation or improved drainage should precede flooring installation to protect your investment.

Flooring Options That Honor Historic Character

The best flooring for historic homes respects original architecture while accommodating how you actually live today. These options balance authenticity with practical performance.

Restoring Original Hardwood

When original hardwood exists in recoverable condition, restoration often represents the best option for historic homes. Nothing matches the authenticity of wood that’s been part of your home for a century.

Restoration involves sanding away decades of wear, damage, and old finishes to reveal fresh wood beneath. New stain and protective finish bring the floor back to life while preserving the original material.

Original hardwood floors in Asheville homes typically feature oak, heart pine, or maple depending on when and how the home was built. Each species has distinct grain patterns and coloring that contribute to historic character.

Heart Pine: The Asheville Classic

Heart pine appears in many of Asheville’s oldest homes, particularly those built before 1920. This dense, resinous wood came from old-growth longleaf pines that once covered the Southeast.

True heart pine is no longer readily available because it takes 200+ years to develop. Antique heart pine flooring salvaged from demolished buildings offers one way to match existing floors or extend them into additions.

When restoration isn’t possible, modern southern yellow pine provides a related aesthetic, though it lacks the density and character of original heart pine.

Oak Hardwood: Period-Appropriate Elegance

Oak was the dominant flooring species in Craftsman-era construction and remains the most popular hardwood choice today. Its grain patterns and warm tones complement Arts and Crafts architecture perfectly.

For additions or replacements in homes with original oak floors, matching species, cut, and width creates visual continuity. We can source quartersawn white oak for homes where this traditional cut matters for historic accuracy.

Engineered oak provides the authentic appearance of solid oak with improved dimensional stability for our humid climate. This option works well in kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces where solid wood carries more risk.

Luxury Vinyl Plank for Practical Spaces

Historic homes weren’t built with modern kitchens, bathrooms, or utility spaces. These rooms often occupy converted porches, enclosed areas, or additions where original hardwood never existed.

LVP provides a practical solution for these spaces without compromising the home’s character. Wood-look vinyl complements adjacent hardwood visually while providing waterproof protection appropriate for kitchens and bathrooms.

The key is selecting LVP that harmonizes with your home’s authentic materials rather than attempting to pass as original flooring. Honest use of modern materials in appropriate spaces respects historic character more than trying to fake authenticity.

Tile for Entry and Bath Applications

Tile has appeared in Asheville homes since the earliest construction. Original tile work in historic bathrooms and entries represents craftsmanship worth preserving when possible.

When original tile has deteriorated beyond repair, period-appropriate replacement options exist. Hexagonal mosaic tile, subway tile, and encaustic patterns all appeared in historic Asheville homes and remain available today.

For entries and mudrooms, tile provides the durability these high-traffic spaces require. Natural stone like slate connects to the mountain setting while handling the debris that comes with Asheville living.

Room-by-Room Guidance for Historic Homes

Different spaces in historic homes have different histories and different needs. Here’s how we typically approach flooring decisions throughout Asheville’s older properties.

Main Living Areas

Original hardwood in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms often survives beneath later floor coverings. Investigate before assuming replacement is necessary.

If original floors exist but are damaged beyond restoration in certain areas, matching new material to existing creates continuity. We can source flooring that blends with your original wood in species, width, and finish.

For additions to historic homes, flooring that complements rather than matches the original often looks more intentional than unsuccessful attempts at exact replication.

Kitchens

Historic kitchens were typically small, utilitarian spaces. Modern renovations often expand kitchens into adjacent rooms or former porches, creating new flooring decisions.

Where kitchens extend into spaces with original hardwood, you face a choice: continue the hardwood (with moisture concerns) or transition to a more practical material. There’s no wrong answer, only trade-offs to understand.

Engineered hardwood or LVP provides water resistance appropriate for kitchen use while maintaining visual flow with adjacent hardwood spaces.

Bathrooms

Original bathroom tile in good condition represents craftsmanship worth preserving. The hexagonal mosaic floors and subway wall tile found in many Asheville historic bathrooms were built to last.

When replacement becomes necessary, period-appropriate tile styles maintain character while providing fresh, functional surfaces. Reproduction encaustic tiles can match original decorative floors that have worn beyond restoration.

For updated bathrooms in historic homes, LVP offers easier installation and warmer feel than tile while providing necessary water resistance.

Basements and Lower Levels

Many Asheville historic homes have basements or partial lower levels that weren’t part of the original living space. Converting these areas to living space requires flooring that handles moisture concerns common in older construction.

LVP works well in historic home basements because it tolerates the moisture levels common in older construction and doesn’t require attachment to potentially uneven concrete floors.

Before finishing any historic basement, address moisture issues thoroughly. The flooring is the last step in creating dry, comfortable lower-level living space.

Porches and Sunrooms

Enclosed porches and added sunrooms expanded many Asheville historic homes during the mid-20th century. These spaces often have flooring unrelated to the home’s original character.

When renovating these spaces, consider whether to match original interior flooring or treat them as transitional areas. Their history as outdoor or semi-outdoor spaces may justify different flooring treatment than original rooms.

Preserving Character While Living Comfortably

The goal of flooring in historic homes isn’t museum-quality preservation at the expense of daily comfort. It’s finding the balance that lets you honor your home’s history while actually enjoying living there.

Matching vs. Complementing

Exact matches to century-old flooring are often impossible. Wood species, cut, and aging create appearances that modern materials can’t precisely replicate.

Rather than striving for invisible additions, consider flooring that clearly complements existing material. Intentional contrast often looks better than unsuccessful matching.

Original Materials in Principal Rooms

Preserving original flooring in main living areas maintains maximum historic character where it matters most. These are the spaces guests see and where your home’s architecture makes its strongest statement.

More practical flooring choices in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility spaces make daily living easier without sacrificing the character that matters.

Documentation for Future Owners

If you undertake significant flooring work in a historic home, documenting your decisions helps future owners understand the property’s history. Notes about which flooring is original, what was restored, and what was replaced provide valuable context.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my existing hardwood is worth restoring?

Original hardwood is generally worth restoring if it’s structurally sound with sufficient thickness remaining for sanding. Deep gouges, water damage that’s caused warping, and severely worn areas may require selective replacement. We can assess your floors during a consultation and recommend the most practical approach.

What if I can only afford to restore some rooms?

Start with the most visible spaces where original flooring makes the biggest impact. Living and dining rooms typically take priority. Bedrooms and secondary spaces can wait for future phases. Practical flooring in kitchens and bathrooms doesn’t compromise historic character.

Can I add hardwood to a kitchen addition in my historic home?

Engineered hardwood can work in kitchens with proper precautions. If your home has original hardwood throughout, extending it into a kitchen addition maintains visual flow. Understand the moisture risks and consider enhanced humidity control to protect the investment.

How do I match new flooring to existing 100-year-old wood?

Perfect matches are rarely possible. Work with the goal of compatible appearance rather than invisibility. Species, width, and cut matter most. Stain can help new wood blend with aged flooring over time.

Should I refinish original floors myself to save money?

Floor refinishing requires specialized equipment and considerable skill to avoid damage. Given the irreplaceable nature of original historic flooring, professional refinishing typically makes more sense than DIY attempts that risk ruining authentic materials.

Honor Your Home’s History with the Right Flooring

Asheville’s historic homes represent irreplaceable architecture that defines our community’s character. The flooring decisions you make either support or compromise that legacy.

At Leicester Flooring, we approach historic homes with the respect they deserve. We’ll help you understand your options, assess existing floors, and make decisions that balance preservation with practical living.

Visit our showroom to explore flooring options appropriate for historic properties. Bring photos of your home, and let’s discuss how to honor its character while creating spaces you’ll love living in.

Schedule your free consultation and let 50 years of local experience guide your historic home flooring project.