Are you planning to replace your home flooring? The selection of materials is indeed vast, which is why homeowners need to compare different options in terms of appearance, quality, durability, style, and price. Let’s have a look at comprehensive guide to choosing home flooring.
Flooring materials like hardwood, engineered wood, and laminate are better suited in living rooms and bedrooms due to their susceptibility to moisture. In contrast, stone and tiles are the perfect alternatives for kitchens and bathrooms.
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The guide below will introduce you to the most preferred choices.
Hardwood
Hardwood is unquestionably one of the most popular flooring choices, as it looks gorgeous and blends in with various home styles. The array of tones and finishes enables homeowners to install hardwood flooring in both contemporary and rustic homes. Additionally, this material is known for its long lifespan and resilience, as long as it’s cared for properly.
Moreover, hardwood comes either in strips or planks, which differ in width. The width of the former is between 1.5 and 2.5 inches, whereas the latter is wide, between four and eight inches. Different types of wood are used in the manufacturing process, such as oak, maple, purpleheart, or Brazilian cherry.
Wood flooring is available for purchase in a finished or unfinished form. By choosing the unfinished variant, you’ll have to take care of sanding and staining following the installation. The greatest advantage of hardwood is the possibility to refinish it up to five times in the years to come for the purpose of removing scratches from the surface.
Furthermore, wooden floors aren’t demanding when it comes to cleaning, as homeowners only have to mop them regularly. Find out how to deep clean hardwood floors naturally. On the negative side, solid wood tends to be pricey, depending on the thickness of the strips/planks and the core’s quality.
Additionally, hardwood is susceptible to moisture when exposed to it for a longer period, which makes it an inappropriate choice for laundry rooms and bathrooms. You need to make sure your wooden floors aren’t overly exposed to UV rays to prevent fading.
Engineered wood
Engineered wood is almost identical in appearance to hardwood, but it differs in terms of manufacturing. There’s a thin layer of natural wood on the top of the planks, underneath which plywood is used. Besides planks and strips, homeowners can install parquet tiles as well. This form of wood can be nailed down, glued, or clicked into place without using nails or glue.
Probably the biggest advantage of opting for engineered wood flooring is the affordable price when compared to hardwood. Many homeowners prefer this material because of being able to afford exotic types of wood, such as bamboo, Brazilian walnut, Brazilian cherry, Merbau, etc. These types are more resistant to dents and scratches, as well as moisture and temperature changes.
Another reason to consider engineered wood as a home flooring alternative is the possibility to install it on top of a concrete subfloor or an old hardwood floor. It means you won’t be splurging time or money on ripping the old floor out. Similar to hardwood, engineered wood is prone to scratches and dents, which makes it a bad choice for the kitchen.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is another popular alternative, constructed in a similar manner as engineered wood. Nevertheless, instead of a top layer of hardwood, there’s a photograph covered with hard plastic coating. Consequently, laminate is a specific material, which can imitate not only wood but also tiles and stone.
In addition, laminate flooring is highly resistant to stains, scratches, and dents. Homeowners adore it because it’s easy to clean and maintain. Laminate can be installed over a subfloor, which saves a significant amount of time and money. As long as you have the patience and time to conduct such a project, you can install the planks yourself.
On the negative side, laminate floors usually feel cold underfoot, as they lack the warmth of natural wood. Also, if installed improperly, the flooring will produce squeaky sounds. The following link, https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-lay-laminate-flooring-1822250, includes some handy tips for installing laminate flooring.
Stone
Stone flooring is an absolute trend in kitchens and bathrooms, touted for its practicality and long lifespan. Homeowners are provided with a range of stone options, such as marble, slate, and limestone. This material is likely to last forever, provided the tiles are laid properly. The subfloor is supposed to be sturdy so as to prevent cracks from movement on the tiles.
Considering the porosity of the material, natural stone must be sealed adequately and sealed once again following six months of the installation. It’s the only way for the material to adjust to the room temperature, which is how it doesn’t feel cold underfoot. There aren’t many disadvantages to natural stone as a home flooring option, except for its expensiveness. Nevertheless, given its long-term lifespan, the investment is worth making.
Tiles
Another sought-after option for homeowners planning to install new floors is tile. This material is stylish, long-lasting, and contemporary. Most individuals opt for tile floors in their hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms. Tiles are available in a myriad of styles, sizes, shapes, patterns, textures, colors, and finishes. Therefore, some homeowners ask for the opinion of interior designers when making a choice.
Moreover, tiles have the capacity to make small spaces look larger, as well as add warmth and character to rooms. They are easy to clean and maintain, which comes from their resistance to dents, scratches, and moisture. Standing water cannot do any damage to tiles, which isn’t the case with wood.
The disadvantages of this flooring material aren’t numerous. Just like stone, tiles can be pricey, depending on the design. Homeowners are advised to choose a more neutral style, as tile designs change often. Also, the cold feel of tiles underneath the feet isn’t exactly suitable for cold climates.
Final word
The best types of floors are long-lasting, stylish, and budget-friendly!
