If you live in Central Florida, your floors deal with something most of the country only notices in July: humidity, all year long. Add summer storms, sandy feet, wet swimsuits and air conditioning running nonstop, and some flooring materials struggle while others barely notice. Choosing a floor that suits our climate is the best way to make sure it still looks good years from now.

At Pace Floor Covering, we’ve installed floors in homes from Sanford and Lake Mary to Deltona, DeLand and New Smyrna Beach since 1981. Here’s what we’ve learned about which floors hold up best in Florida humidity, and which ones need a little extra care.

Why Humidity Matters for Your Floors

Many flooring materials, especially wood, absorb and release moisture from the air. As humidity rises and falls, they expand and contract. Over time that movement can cause gaps between boards, cupping (edges higher than the center) or buckling. Moisture can also come from below: most Central Florida homes are built on concrete slabs, and concrete can wick moisture up into the flooring above it if the right underlayment or moisture barrier isn’t used.

The good news is that several excellent flooring options are built to handle exactly these conditions.

1. Porcelain Tile: The Most Humidity-Proof Floor

Porcelain tile is about as close to humidity-proof as flooring gets. It’s dense, absorbs very little water and won’t swell, warp or cup no matter how sticky the air gets. It also stays cool underfoot, which is a real bonus in a Florida summer, and it’s easy to clean when sand gets tracked in.

Today’s porcelain comes in far more than plain squares. Wood-look plank tile, marble-look tile and large-format tiles let you get almost any style with tile’s durability. Learn more on our tile flooring page.

Best for: kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, living areas and coastal homes.

2. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): Waterproof and Comfortable

Luxury vinyl plank has become one of the most popular floors in Central Florida for good reason. Many products are fully waterproof, so humidity, spills and pet accidents won’t damage the planks. Rigid-core LVP is also very stable, so it handles temperature and humidity swings without the movement you’d see in wood.

LVP is softer and warmer underfoot than tile, quieter to walk on and usually faster to install. Shaw’s Floorté Pro collection is a good example of a waterproof option built for busy homes. See our vinyl flooring page for more.

Best for: whole-home installs, families with kids and pets, and anyone who wants the look of wood without the worry.

3. Engineered Hardwood: Real Wood, Better Stability

If you want real wood, engineered hardwood is usually the smarter choice in Florida. It has a genuine hardwood top layer over a layered core that resists expanding and contracting far better than solid wood. Engineered hardwood can also be installed over concrete slabs, which solid hardwood generally can’t.

It still needs the right moisture barrier and proper acclimation before installation, and it isn’t waterproof, so it’s not the best choice for bathrooms or laundry rooms. Visit our wood flooring page to see the brands we carry, including Shaw, Anderson Tuftex and Hallmark.

Best for: living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms where you want the warmth of real wood.

4. Carpet: Comfortable, With the Right Choices

Carpet works well in Florida bedrooms and family rooms, especially when you choose synthetic fibers with built-in stain and soil protection and a quality pad. It does hold onto moisture more than hard surfaces, so we generally don’t recommend it for bathrooms, kitchens or rooms that open straight onto a pool deck. Explore your options on our carpet flooring page.

Best for: bedrooms, upstairs rooms and anywhere you want softness underfoot.

Floors to Think Twice About in Florida

• Solid hardwood: beautiful, but more likely to gap, cup or buckle with Florida humidity, and generally not suited to concrete slabs.
• Standard laminate: its wood-based core can swell if it gets wet. Some newer laminates are water-resistant, but most aren’t a match for porcelain or waterproof LVP in wet areas.

Tips to Help Any Floor Last Longer in Florida

• Keep your AC running and your home’s humidity steady, even when you’re away.
• Put mats at entry doors to catch sand and water.
• Wipe up spills promptly, even on waterproof floors.
• Make sure your installer uses the right moisture barrier over a concrete slab.

Get Expert Advice for Your Home

The best floor for your home depends on the room, your lifestyle and your subfloor. Visit our showroom in Sanford by appointment or have a Pace professional bring samples to your home. We’ll measure, recommend the right flooring for each room and give you a free estimate. Every installation is backed by our warranty.

Call (407) 509-6812 or request your free estimate online. We serve Sanford, Lake Mary, Orlando, New Smyrna Beach and communities across Central Florida.