When it comes to designing or upgrading your home flooring, there are countless elements to consider. Including a variety of flooring alternatives. Choosing the proper floors is a fundamental element of completing the overall design of your room, and should also serve a functional purpose. It’s not enough for flooring solutions to simply be attractive; they must also fulfill the needs of your house and family.
So how do you pick the right flooring for your home? Firstly, you have to take into consideration every component of your daily routine and life. Do you have pets or children? The weather where you live. Do you want the same flooring throughout your entire home? Each of these questions can help you choose which flooring and material will work best for you.
Below are 6 different types of flooring and the pros and cons of each.
Hardwood Home Flooring
Let’s begin with the tried and true, hardwood flooring. For decades, hardwood has been one of the most popular flooring options, thanks to its beautiful appearance and timeless quality. Many historical homes come with vintage hardwood flooring which is considered a gold mine of a find, as well as purchasing a newer home with wood flooring. This is because installing hardwood throughout a property is expensive, and it’s not typically in a renovator’s budget.
If you like the look of hardwood but don’t want to spend a lot of money, use it only in your main living area. Another alternative is to pick different flooring options that resemble hardwood without the price tag, such as laminate or vinyl.
Pros: Hardwood flooring is beautiful and timeless. It can also add value to your home when deciding to sell.
Cons: One of the biggest deterrents of hardwood flooring is the expense and durability. Wood flooring is prone to water damage, scratches, and dents which may lead to having to refinish your hardwood often. Costing you more money and time.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is becoming more popular as a hardwood substitute because it provides nearly same the look at a lower cost and with greater durability. When producing it, manufacturers start with plywood or compressed fiber, then seal it with a thin veneer. Laminate can imitate a variety of materials apart from wood, including tile and stone.
Pros: Laminate flooring is an inexpensive alternative to buy and have professionally installed. It can also be customized to resemble different, more costly, flooring options. Laminate is more durable and resistant to things like pets, children, and shoes, rather than many other materials.
Cons: The plywood or fiberboard used to produce laminate flooring is susceptible to water damage, and because it’s difficult to repair, you’ll most likely have to replace it entirely if there’s been any standing water.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is a more durable and affordable alternative to hardwood flooring. This style of flooring is made up of a thick plywood base layer with a thin veneer of real wood applied on top. The fact that this material is not entirely made of hardwood, makes it less vulnerable to damage, as well as less expensive to both manufacture and install.
Pros: Engineered wood is more sturdy than hardwood and has the same aesthetic appeal. It’s frequently available in clickable boards that can be installed professionally or by you to save more money.
Cons: While engineered wood is more resistant to damage than hardwood, it can still decline over time. Unfortunately, because the top layer is so thin, it can only be refinished a number of times before needing to be replaced; if and when damage arises.
Vinyl Home Flooring
Vinyl flooring comes in a variety of styles, each of which offers something slightly different. There’s sheet vinyl, which comes in a roll and is glued into place, thicker vinyl flooring with peel-and-stick backings, and clickable vinyl planks, which can imitate more expensive flooring options. When choosing vinyl flooring, planks are the best option because they not only look nicer but have a cushioned layer beneath, making walking around more comfortable.
Thicker vinyl flooring, such as clickable planks or peel-and-stick, have rough surfaces that don’t provide the same polished appearance as vinyl on a roll.
Pros: When it comes to vinyl, there are a lot of options, which means it can accommodate a wide range of budgets. Today’s luxury vinyl options give you a far more expensive-looking product for a relatively low price.
Cons: All flooring materials have a lifespan, however vinyl is slightly shorter than wood and tile. It’s also made using petroleum, which is not as long-lasting or environmentally friendly as other flooring options.
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tile has been a popular choice for bathrooms and kitchens due to its excellent moisture resistance. It also comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, allowing you to match your tile flooring to any design aesthetic, no matter how bold.
Terracotta, porcelain, glazed, and quarry are the four main types of ceramic tile. Each variety has a distinct appearance and feel, as well as varying levels of durability. Keep in mind that if you’re putting ceramic tile in a high-traffic area of your home, you’ll want to be sure the tile you choose can withstand daily wear and tear.
Pros: Ceramic tile is a versatile material, with many patterns and style options. It’s simple to clean and long-lasting—two important factors to consider when selecting flooring.
Cons: Because ceramic tile is a hard material, it requires frequent sealing and/or other maintenance treatments to keep it looking its best. It’s also not as comfortable to walk on as other flooring options.
Carpeting
It’s rare to find a home that doesn’t have carpet in at least part of the rooms. That’s because carpet comes in a variety of textures, designs, and colors, and is also really comfortable to walk on. Especially if you invest in quality cushioning underneath. The durability of the material you choose is determined by its density. Carpets with a higher density are more resilient and will last longer.
Pros: Carpet is soft, warm, and non-slip. It’s also simple to install and can last a long time if properly maintained.
Cons: Carpet requires a lot of upkeep because, unlike other flooring options, dirt and debris can become caught in the fibers and accumulate over time. Carpet has a tendency of catching and holding on to particles floating in the air, so regular deep cleanings are especially vital if you have allergies.
Choosing the Right Home Flooring Options
When trying to pick the perfect flooring option for your home there are a few things to take into consideration. These being:
- Budget
- Children or pets
- Whether the flooring will be installed in a high-moisture area
- Whether you’ll be installing the flooring on your own or will have a professional doing the install
- How much regular maintenance the flooring will require
If you need more information or ideas about the different flooring options, contact Williams Remodel. We specialize in home and commercial flooring and can help you choose the right style, material, and everything that goes between. Contact us today!
