Your flooring choice is one of the most important home improvement decisions you will ever make. The material you choose will be a key part of your interior design. It will also determine the ease and difficulty of installation, maintenance, and how durable your Luvanto flooring will be.
There are many different types of flooring options in the market today. Before settling for a floor, ensure you educate yourself on the benefits and drawbacks of each flooring option available. Below are the different flooring options for different areas of your home:
1. Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular flooring options for homeowners. Hardwood floors are made from any tree of your choice. Most people prefer cherry, oak, and walnut trees.
The planks are generally three-quarters of an inch thick with varying widths. The standard width for hardwood planks is three to five inches, known as the standard or medium plank.
Below are the pros of hardwood floors:
- It’s visually appealing
- Has a high return on investment
- It’s available in many colors and styles
- It’s the best option for shared living spaces
- It can be resurfaced every 3-5 years
The cons of hardwood flooring include its affinity to develop scratches, scrapes, and dents with time and moisture damage. Hardwood floors are also expensive compared to other flooring types. The average cost of installing hardwood flooring is $6-$12 per square foot but could run higher depending on the design and wood you choose.
2. Engineered Wood
Engineered hardwood floors are the best flooring options for people looking for an alternative to solid hardwood floors. Engineered hardwood floors are made with numerous layers of ply plank that run in multiple directions. These floors look exactly like solid hardwood floors, but they have better moisture resistance.
Scratch resistant engineered hardwood is a good option for homes with children and pets. It’s also great for your home if you are worried about high humidity levels. You can finish the wood with a high-quality coating to make the floor more resistant to normal wear and tear.
You will also have numerous species, including cherry, oak, and hickory, to choose from. The finishes are also identical to solid hardwood.
3. Laminate Flooring
If you want to have a hardwood look without spending too much money, laminate flooring is the best option for you. It’s similar to engineered wood flooring and has a top layer that’s well finished and sealed. The slats are mounted with layers of compressed fiber or plywood, making them durable and stable.
Laminate flooring’s top layer is not made of wood. It is an image captured using photo-realism technology of different beautiful wood, tiles, stone, and ceramic finishes. The laminate flooring is covered in a plastic coating.
Below are the benefits of using laminate flooring in your home:
- It’s cheaper than hardwood flooring
- It’s durable
- Easy to install
- Offers you a variety of styles and colors like natural wood
- It’s good for high-traffic areas
Laminate flooring has numerous benefits. However, it also has several disadvantages. That’s because it’s susceptible to moisture damage; thus, they are not ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.
Laminate floors are also quite difficult to repair after the damage has occurred.
4. Linoleum
When most people think about linoleum floors, they see a kitchen from the 1970s with a beautiful and slick-looking surface. Fortunately, linoleum floor options have come a long way, with numerous attractive options available today.
Linoleum is environmentally friendly because it is made from biodegradable and renewable materials such as cork and linseed oil. It comes with sheets that are glued on the floor during installation. The sheets contain mineral pigments which creates multiple patterns and rich colors to choose from.
Below are the pros of using linoleum:
- It’s affordable
- It’s easy to install and maintain
- It versatile
- It’s great for high-traffic areas of the house
- You can do a DIY installation
Linoleum can be sealed with a protective coating to prevent it from tearing and staining. Without this protection, you may be forced to refinish your floors every two years to ensure they look fresh.
5. Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are among the most versatile types of floors. They come in numerous colors, shapes, sizes, and textures to choose from. This allows you the freedom to choose different tiles to coordinate with any room in your house.
Tiles are created from a combination of shale and clay. The resulting mixture is then fired in a kiln to harden it. The manufacturers can add some pigments to the ceramic tiles to give them a variety of colors. The pros of ceramic tiles include:
- They come in numerous designs and colors
- They are great for bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways
- Ceramic tiles are water-proof and non-porous
- They are also quite durable
Ensure you choose ceramic tiles that are rated for use on the floors. You should also ensure you go for ceramic tiles with anti-slip finishes. The tile’s slip-resistance standard must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards to ensure that your home is safe.
6. Carpeting
Carpeting is quite common among most homeowners across the U.S. It’s also quite versatile and comes in numerous colors and textures than other flooring options. Carpets are woven from different materials.
When purchasing a carpet, ensure you look at the density of the fiber to determine its quality. The more fiber it has, the more likely it will last. Some carpets have a rating system to help consumers predict durability.
The rating system is often based on a scale of 1-5. The carpets rated 3-5 are more durable and will likely withstand everyday wear and tear.
Carpets are cost-effective, a great option for soundproofing, and soft and warm on feet. They keep your home warm and come in stain-resistant varieties.
Now You Know the Different Types of Flooring
Homeownership is not an easy process, especially if you are confronted with the dilemma of choosing the right material for your floor. With numerous types of flooring in the market, it cannot be easy to settle for one.
Please read our guide above on the different types of floors available and their pros and cons. This will help you better choose the right flooring option for your home.
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