As one of the more expensive home improvement projects, installing a new floor is serious business.
But like roof replacement, floor installation doesn’t happen very often. Most homeowners are in a pickle choosing quality flooring for their homes. It’s way more complicated than just picking the most aesthetic-pleasing product.
While we can all agree that the flooring has to look good, you have to consider moisture, foot traffic, and costs, among other things. Even the amount of sunlight hitting the floor should factor into your decision.
To help you choose the right flooring for your home, we’ve put together a list of common flooring types with their pros and cons.
Classic Solid Wood Flooring
Solid hardwood flooring is classic for a reason. It has a natural warmth that can work with almost any design style. It’s very durable, and you can also sand and refinish a solid wood floor several times.
Top-quality hardwood flooring also has excellent ROI, bringing up to 1 to 1.5 (2+ according to some pros) times the cost.
As for the cons, wood flooring has more upfront costs than other types. It can also contract or expand depending on the humidity. Intense sunlight may also cause discoloration.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood floors look and feel similar to solid wood but are more affordable. They are typically made from a base core of plywood with solid wood on top. Adhesives connect the layers of wood.
Because the solid wood on top isn’t as thick, an engineered wood floor can’t be refinished as many times as solid wood flooring. But you don’t need to do it as often. Its particular construction makes it more resilient against the effects of moisture.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are similar to engineered wood in that you have a base core of plywood or fiberboard. On top is a photo-realistic layer covered by a plastic coating. High-quality laminate flooring can mimic almost any material such as wood, ceramic, or tile.
Long lasting laminate floors can resist wear and tear and sunlight better than most wood products. The disadvantage is that they can’t be sanded like wood. Also, the repeating pattern can look fake to the discerning eye.
Ceramic or Porcelain Tile Quality Flooring
With tile flooring, you can choose from a broad range of sizes, patterns, and colors. They can be installed in any room, such as the bathroom or kitchen. Tile flooring is waterproof and has high resistance to scratches and dents.
Installing tile flooring is quite a challenge, and you’ll need plenty of prep work. Tiles can also chip or crack if a heavy object falls on them. Another con is that grout isn’t easy to clean or maintain.
High Quality Vinyl Flooring
Top quality flooring made of vinyl is also known as luxury vinyl tile flooring. Like tile, vinyl is impervious to water and just as tough and durable. These days, more colors and patterns are available that can accommodate your style.
Although the best products are pretty good-looking, they can still look like vinyl up close. Sharp objects can also poke holes on the vinyl surface.
Don’t Be Floored by Your Flooring Options
Choosing quality flooring is all about weighing the pros and cons. Now that you have an idea of what each type of flooring brings to the table, you can choose the best floor for your home.
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