Flooring for an Unheated Summer Cottage

Q: I am considering laminate and hardwood for my flooring choice in a lake facing home which will be left unheated for most the winter months (i live in upstate NY)
Can you recommend an approach? Laminate, hardwood, engineered, etc?
Thanks in advance.
Doug
A: In circumstances like this I would highly suggest avoiding a wood floor. Wood is sensitive to severe climate changes like you will see as the seasons shift in NY. When wood expands and contracts, typically from moisture or heat, excessive movement in the floor can cause buckling or warping. A glue down cork floor could work here, and it would add some insulation, but even cork is susceptible to the amount of climate shifts you would be seeing here.
Your best bet here would be to either install a stone or tile floor, but this floor must be normally suitable for outdoor installations which means a moisture absorption rate of no more than 3%. An easier option here which can keep with the look of wood flooring would be to look into a vinyl such as Konecto. Keep in mind that temperatures which drop below 55 degrees is not generally approved by any flooring retailer aside from stone floors and typically applications like this will void the floor’s warranty.