Hardwood
Hardwood is the most durable of all flooring options and are more expensive, but if you consider the life of a hardwood it is not. There are several options to consider with hardwoods such as board widths, wood species, colors, textures, hardness, and finish. Narrow board widths give off the illusion of having more space while broader board widths create more of a rustic feel to your room. Wood species include Maple, Birchwood, Cherrywood, Brazilian Cherrywood, Oak, Mahogany, etc… The color and texture of your hardwood floor will be determined by wood species and finish. There are an ample amount of choices in hardwoods. Red Oak is a hard species of wood, while Pine tends to be softer giving way to scratches more easily. There are engineered and solid hardwoods. Hardwoods that obtain scratches may be sanded out and refinished over and over. The choice of engineered and solid hardwood will be determined by location, subfloor, and preferred installation method.
Laminate
Laminate can imitate several natural surfaces such as hardwood, tile, and stone for a much lower price. Laminate is durable but less durable than hardwood and has a shorter life span. It can be uninstalled more easily and is also recyclable.
Texture, finish, and shape are all options to consider when purchasing laminate flooring. Manufacturers can incorporate many ‘real’ effects into laminate such as worm holes, crosssawns, and the distressed look.
Laminate comes in a gloss or matte finish. It can come in strips and planks to mimic wood or squares that mimic tiles. Keep in mind, laminate requires an underlayment to serve as a moisture barrier.
It can be installed in any room and is very animal friendly.
Carpet
Carpet insulates your room and lowers your heating bills. Carpet fibers hold heat and insulates 17 times better than other flooring options. Carpet comes in manmade and natural fibers. Manmade fibers include nylon, polyester, Poypropylene/Olefin, and acrylics. Natural fibers include wool and sisal. Carpeting density determines the quality of the rug. The denser the carpet, the higher the quality. There are other things to consider when buying carpeting, such as the pad and the pile. Pad refers to the underlay which is normally a thin foam, fiber, or rubber layer beneath the carpet. It helps to prolong the carpet of the rug and serves as an insulator. Pile is the visible surface of the carpet which consists of fiber tufts in loops either cut or uncut. It is sometime referred to as ‘nap’. There are four types of pile:
1. Cut and Loop Pile – It combines lower loops and higher cut piles on one surface, producing pattern, textures, and sculpting.
2. Level Loop Pile – It contains short, even, densely packed loops that create a durable, easy to clean surface. Berber is an example of a level loop pile.
3. Multi-Level Loop Pile – It contains two or three varying levels of loops produce patterns both geometric and abstract.
4. Cut Pile -Features loops cut to the same height. Cut Pile encompasses five styles: Saxony, Plush, Textured, Freize, and Shag. Saxony contains tightly twisted cut piles standing straight up. Plush contains closely packed tufts all the same length (longer than Saxony) for a smooth, luxurious surface. Textured carpet mixes twisted and straight piles. Freize contains highly twisted with fibers curling in different directions for a highly textured look. Shag carpeting contains long strands that are slightly twisted and set farther apart for a shaggy appearance. Shag carpeting is not recommended for a household with dogs and/or cats.
Tile
Tile is a durable and popular choice for many households. It is made from natural materials like ceramic, stone, or glass so it is environmentally friendly and may be recycled. Tile is not just for kitchen and baths anymore. It can be used throughout your house. There are three types of tile including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone. Ceramic tile is crafted from mixed clay and finished with a protective glaze.
It is slightly more prone to wear, cracking, and chipping than porcelain tile. Porcelain tile is made by firing finely ground clays and minerals at extremely high temperatures, is harder and denser than ceramic. It is better at resisting water and stains and is often used outdoors as it won’t crack in cold temperatures, but is harder to install than ceramic. Natural stone tile is made from travertine, limestone, marble, granite, or slate.
It is the most durable and expensive. Your options with tile include size, shape, variation, grout, and accents. Larger tiles require less grout therefore they give off a smoother appearance. Tile shapes include square, rectangular, or hexagonal. Tile vary in texture and shades. Three options are low, moderate, and high variation. Low variation is smoother and sleeker while high variation is more rustic looking. Grouting is the adhesive used to adhere tiles to your unfinished surface.
It can be made to match your tile for a seamless appearance. Tile accents include borders medallions, or mosaics. There are thousands of options to choose from to enhance the look of your tile. Tile must be installed on a subfloor that is smooth, flat, rigid, and clean. Depending on the existing subfloor, a cement tile backer board may be required beneath the tile. Tile is pet and kid friendly and easy to clean.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a resilient flooring option that is easy on the budget and to install with low maintenance. Vinyl can be manufactured to imitate hardwood, tile, and stone with varying textures, colors, and depth. There are a few different options when considering vinyl such as sheet vinyl, vinyl planks, and vinyl tiles. Vinyl sheets normally come in six or twelve foot rolls. Vinyl tiles can be laid in any orientation and easily. They may also be grouted for a more ‘realistic’ look. Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) is primarily made from limestone and is low cost. Solid vinyl tile (SVT) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) contain more vinyl, for better performance and more realistic appearance. Vinyl Planks are designed to closely resemble hardwood. They come in the same size as wood planks, and have realistic features such as texturing and beveled edges. Vinyl flooring is best for kitchens, baths, entryways, laundry rooms, and playrooms. It is not a good choice for stairs. Plywood is recommended as an underlayment for vinyl. It is a good choice for a house with children or pets since cleaning is done easily by dusting, vacuuming, or mopping.