The type of flooring you choose to install in your home will significantly impact your interior décor. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that the type of flooring you select is the best fit for you. But choosing a type of Industrial flooring isn’t easy. Laminate Flooring Underlay is also the best option for flooring for your home.
There are several factors to consider. These factors include room type, personal taste, ease of maintenance, budget, household needs, durability, and future floor improvement projects.
On top of that, the market is filled with many flooring options, making the entire floor selection process overwhelming. This article will help you learn more about the most common flooring options with their advantages and disadvantages.
Stone Flooring
Stone flooring is one of the most expensive types of flooring on this list. And it’s increasingly becoming popular because it offers a luxurious look and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Stone flooring is also preferred by many because it is highly durable and waterproof. The most preferred stone materials include limestone, granite, marble, and travertine. This is because they are readily accessible and durable.
Advantages
- Lasts for long
- Waterproof
- Increases property value
- Great for people with allergies
Disadvantages
- Maintenance is challenging
- Installation requires specialized expertise
- Costly
Pro Trip: Stone flooring is best for bathing, cooking, and eating areas.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is becoming increasingly rare because hardwood trees take a long time to mature. As a result, lumbering has reduced quite significantly over the years. However, if you can get hardwood flooring, it gives off a sophisticated feel and goes with almost any house design. There are several popular hardwood floor types in the market. They include cherry, maple, oak, and walnut. When you order a hardwood floor, it comes in either.
- Prefinished hardwood: Ready to install wood planks
- Unfinished hardwood: Requires to be sanded down before installation
You can convert reclaimed hardwood into flooring wood to protect our forests.
Advantages
- Long-lasting
- Increases property value
- Compatible with different types of décor
- Easy to clean
- More refinishing opportunities
Pro Trip: Best to install hardwood flooring in the living room, bedroom, and hallways.
Disadvantages
- Expensive to install
- Low water resistance
- Fades when exposed to sunlight
- Low resistance to scratching and denting
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring is a less expensive but high-quality alternative to hardwood flooring. It’s made by combining a thick layer of plywood substrate with a top thin layer of genuine hardwood.
For those who want to save on installation costs, engineered wood flooring is one of the easiest floors to install.
Advantages
- Friendly to DIYers
- Cleaning is easy
- Similar luxurious look and feel to hardwood floors
- More resistance to temperature changes and warping
- Higher resistance to water than hardwood
Disadvantages
- Less durable
- Less refinishing opportunities
- Not ideal for wet areas
Pro Trip: Engineered wood flooring is installed by nailing, using glue, or floating on top of foam layer or cork.
Tile Flooring
Tiles are popular in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms. That’s because they’re made of a mixture of clay and shale fired in a kiln, making the final product Hydrophobic. Some of the most popular varieties of tiles include ceramic, porcelain, terracotta, and quarry tiles. And they’re popular because they can come in a variety of colors and styles that suit different personal tastes.
Advantages
- Long-lasting
- Water-resistant
- Cleaning is easy
- Resistant to scratches and dents
Disadvantages
- Difficult to install
- Slippery and cold
- Difficult to fix the damage
Pro Tip: Before purchasing your preferred tiles, ensure they’re primarily used for flooring and not walling.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is made in a similar process to engineered wood flooring. However, there is a difference between the two-floor types. The top layer of laminate flooring is made of images of stone, wood, or tiles made using photo-realism tech.
Laminate flooring is excellent if natural wood flooring is too expensive or just not available, but you still want to have that rustic finish wood offers.
Advantages
- Friendly to DIYers
- Less costly
- Cleaning is easy
- Scratch and dent resistant
- Easy installation
Disadvantages
- Low resistance to water
- Easily chips
- Refinishing is impossible
Pro Tip: Laminate flooring is dependable in high-traffic areas in your home.
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum flooring (Lino) is excellent for environmentally conscious people. It’s an eco-friendly flooring option made of linseed oil and cork powder. It has been in production for over 150 years now and is known for its flexibility.
Today, its popularity is increasing because it comes in various styles and colors.
Advantages
- Affordable
- Friendly to DIYers
- Cleaning is easy
- Little maintenance
- Eco-friendly
- Long-lasting
Disadvantages
- Damages easily
- Fades when exposed to sunlight
- Not suitable for wet areas
Pro Tip: Purchase linoleum with a protective coating to increase durability.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl, like linoleum, is flexible, but it’s not made of natural materials. Vinyl flooring is made of a layer of polyvinyl chloride attached to foam or felt, giving it a comfortable underfoot.
It comes in various designs and colorful mosaics with varying thickness levels. And that’s why there are different vinyl types, including tiles, planks, and sheet vinyl.
Advantages
- Highly resistant to water
- Cleaning is easy
- Installation is easy
- Less expensive than wood and tile flooring
- Durable
- Friendly to DIYers
Disadvantages
- An unnatural look
- Not eco-friendly
- Not scratch or dent resistant
Pro Tip: Vinyl flooring is best for wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Carpet Flooring
Carpet flooring installation is a favorite among many people because of its versatility. This flooring type comes in various sizes, styles, designs, colors, and textures. On top of that, carpets are made with soft and warm materials such as wool, polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene.
However, many homeowners say carpets are more suitable for your living room or bedroom because they are harder to maintain.
Advantages
- Affordable
- Warm and soft
- Installation is easy
- Stain-resistant carpets are available
Disadvantages
- Difficult to clean
- Easily stains
- Tears and wears easily
- Not suitable for people with allergies
Pro Tip: Make sure you look at your carpet’s fiber count to determine its durability and quality.
When selecting the type of flooring to use in your home, you should consider at most two types of flooring options. Using more than two types can disrupt the look of your décor. And remember, before you select the type of flooring to use, consider your personal needs and their advantages and disadvantages. However, you can work with a reliable flooring company to guide you and help you make these tough decisions.
