Choosing new flooring can be problematic task. There are many items to choose from and each kind has a gamut of options to associate with it. Also, depending on the room along with the flow of traffic, there are various considerations to think about. This guidebook explains the eight most well-known types of flooring materials, wherein they’re best used and also their pros and cons.
Hardwood
To begin with, let’s take a look at a classic favorite: hardwood. Thanks to hardwood’s toughness and warm, natural look and feel, it continues to be the flooring of preference for many homeowners. Of the hardwoods, oak remains the most widely used choice, but other woods similar to cherry and imported unique woods such as Brazilian cherry or Tasmanian oak are absolutely worth considering. Hardwood floors also come in a variety of styles such as plank, parquet and prefinished boards where you can install yourself.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is among the the most popular flooring preferences around. It’s easier to install compared to solid-wood hardwood floors and is significantly less expensive. Laminate floors acquire their name because they’re made up of different wood-based materials that are layered, or laminated, together and then topped with a wood grain photographic imprint on the face of each and every board.
A variation on genuine laminate floors are engineered wood floors. Engineered wood is made up of a real hardwood veneer linked to a number of plywood layers. This can be a little more expensive as compared to laminate because the top layer is real wood instead of a photographic imprint. This top layer of wood provides engineered wood floors a lot more convincing sound, feel and also look than laminate.
Bamboo
In contrast to hardwood floors, the material used to build bamboo floors is not a tree, but actually a light-weight woody grass. This fast-growing, regenerating plant possesses the tensile strength of steel, which produces a highly durable floor that hinders swelling and contraction with changes in humidity. Bamboo flooring is pre-finished and engineered with tongue-and-groove joint parts, just like standard real wood flooring. Bamboo is grown in governed forests and takes just simply three to five years to arrive at maturity, as compared to old-growth hardwoods that could take 120 years to mature to full size.
Cork
Like bamboo, cork is a green flooring substitute. Another bonus of cork is that the wood’s honeycomblike cellular framework gives the flooring a cushiony feel underfoot. This unique structural characteristic also causes cork floors to absorb vibrations and sound, so they bounce back if dented. Cork flooring is offered in pre-finished tiles in a range of finishes. The tiles have an all-natural, nonslip surface that makes cork perfect for wet areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
Linoleum
Linoleum’s present popularity is primarily due to its appeal as a green flooring choice. Linoleum is recognized as eco-friendly because it’s made from all natural materials and is unable to deplete forests. It’s crafted primarily of linseed oil, rosins and wood flour. Due to the fact that linoleum is composed of natural materials, it produces no adverse health problems during production, installation, use or disposal. The bactericidal elements of natural linoleum stop microorganisms from increasing, so you often notice natural linoleum floors in a lot of hospitals.
In addition to the health advantages, linoleum flooring is antistatic, reducing the potential for electrical shock. Linoleum is also water-, ding- and scratch-resistant, convenient to clean, comfortable underfoot and comes in tiles in a wide variety of vibrant colors, which could be combined to create distinctive designs.
Tile
Porcelain is a well-known choice as is terra cotta and all natural stone, such as marble, granite, travertine or slate. When choosing tile on a budget, porcelain is considered the most cost-effective. It combines the beauty and hardness of stone, but costs significantly less and is much simpler to maintain than marble, which happens to be porous and must regularly be resealed. Glazed porcelain tile is tough enough to handle heavy traffic areas and is available in a variety of hues, textures and finishes. Release your creativity and blend tiles of various sizes, colors and textures to build a one-of-a-kind floor.
Vinyl
Probably among the most value-conscious flooring options today is vinyl. It’s a particularly popular choice for rooms which are prone to moisture problems, such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Vinyl can be easy to clean and softer underfoot than tile. Vinyl can be purchased as sheets and self-stick tiles, which is sold in a various widths and thicknesses. One rule to keep in mind when selecting vinyl is the thicker it is, the more traffic it can endure.
