Flooring affects the aesthetic and every room in a house. The style of flooring you select will influence the comfort and the mood of a space. It should also boost the functionality of a room. Let’s look at the types of flooring materials that are available for your home.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is one of the most popular types of flooring materials due to its natural beauty and durability. Hardwood is attractive and easy to clean, only requiring regular sweeping and mopping.
It also boosts the value of your home, with many buyers saying they prefer hardwood floors. Hardwood is long-lasting. Even if the surface of your floor becomes damaged over time, this type of flooring can be refinished to make it look new again.
The main downside of hardwood is the price. It’s costly to purchase and install. This is not the best flooring option for rooms that encounter a lot of water and isn’t recommended in bathrooms. Hardwood is also noisy with foot traffic.
Types of Flooring Materials: Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is durable and won’t trap allergens, making it great in a home with allergy or asthma sufferers, where indoor air quality is a concern. Clean-up is easy; dust and dirt can simply be wiped away.
Because it is water-resistant, tile can be used in any room of the home. Glazed tile is best for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms because liquids sit on the surface and are easily absorbed with a towel or mop.
One of the major cons: tile is hard underfoot and can be cold on bare feet. The grout between tiles can stain or experience water damage and should be sealed regularly to prevent this.
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum is inexpensive and durable and great in homes with children and/or pets. It’s also available in almost endless colors and patterns. It’s easy to clean and water-resistant. Linoleum comes in sheets or tiles and both are installed using a special adhesive.
Installing sheets of linoleum can be difficult. The adhesive required can begin to set quickly, so installation is best left to an experienced professional. Linoleum flooring may stain and it needs to be polished once or twice each year to preserve its finish.
Cork is One of the More Eco-Friendly Types of Flooring Materials
Cork flooring is comfortable. It’s insulating, so your floor won’t feel cold to bare feet, and it has a subtle “give,” providing cushioning underfoot. It is quiet and is ideal for almost any room in the house.
It’s mold and mildew resistant and eco-friendly, as the cork tree doesn’t have to be destroyed to produce the product. Plus, cork flooring is created as a by-product of wine cork manufacturing, so it uses a material that would otherwise be wasted. Cork is relatively easy to install with a few tools.
The downsides of cork are that the softness of the material means it can be damaged by pet claws. It doesn’t offer the same aesthetic and durability as hardwood flooring.
If you’re shopping for new flooring, take a look at the pros and cons of each type of material. You’ll find one that’s right for your style, the needs of your household, and your budget.
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