Whether you plan to install new flooring in one room or your entire home, there are many flooring materials to choose from and they can really make an impact. Today, there are a wide variety of new hardwoods and even some of the old favorites are making a comeback (yes, you guessed it: linoleum has been on the radar in recent years!) No matter your budget, there are plenty of options in flooring material that will make a big difference in any room.
Your first consideration when choosing a flooring material is that you better really like it. Flooring can last quite a long time (with the exception of some cheaper carpet and vinyl products), in the case of hardwood floors, anywhere from 50 to 100 years. If you choose the latest trend or the latest fashion color, you could be outdated in a short period of time. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a bold statement with your floors, but don’t always jump to the first color or pattern. Think about it for a while, ask friends and family for their opinions, and compare it to your existing color palette in each room.
The next consideration is wear. When installing new floors, think about what kind of beating these floors will take. Is the flooring in a “wet” area, such as a front or side entry, bathroom, or kitchen where high moisture is likely? Water can do a lot of damage to a wood. If you are laying a new floor in a living or family room, will it be comfortable? Ceramic tile can be quite cold during those long winter months. Natural stone can handle a lot of traffic in a kitchen, but it can be difficult to stand for long periods of time.
Finally, consider what your budget can handle and consider the total value of your home. You may want to have marble installed throughout your home, but if you can’t afford it, well… you can’t afford it. Stay within your budget and you won’t need a second mortgage to replace or install your floor. Also, if your home is in the low to medium value range, installing expensive flooring material may not be a good idea. An incredibly luxurious floor in a sub-par home can really expose all the other foibles around it. And when it comes to selling, it will be difficult to recover the investment if the floor is in perfect condition and the rest of the house is not up to par.
So what are the latest flooring materials for your home today? Hardwood floors are still at the top of everyone’s “wish list.” Naturally. But there are a plethora of materials currently gaining popularity across the country, including: stone, concrete, laminate, vinyl, tile, and oh yeah! – Linoleum is getting stronger. And don’t leave the carpet out of the equation.
The rug has fallen out of favor in the last twenty years. But many are still taking advantage of the new patterns, colors, and styles of rugs that are available today. Gone is the boring beige carpet found in almost every apartment, condo, and model home across America. It is being replaced by stain-resistant carpeting with high-quality padding and great designs. To summarize some of the major rug styles, you can choose from Saxon, Berber, textured, tufted, frieze, and sculpted. Saxony is the plush style that shows traces and vacuum marks. Frieze is the durable style that stands up to footsteps and the short pile can really bring out the colors and textures of the rug. The Berber name seems to be everywhere these days. The berber is usually made of hypoallergenic wool with mottled colors, usually with short thick loops that make it easy to clean. It is ideal for high traffic areas.
ADVANTAGES OF THE CARPET
– Great insulating capacities; energy savings
– Soundproofing
– Excellent selection of colors, textures, styles and designs.
– Very comfortable to walk
DISADVANTAGES OF THE CARPET
– Carpets can retain odors, allergens, stains and bacteria
– High maintenance
– It is not as durable as other materials.
Hardwood floors are probably the most popular and in-demand flooring option these days. There is a wide variety of natural woods with oak, pine, birch and maple still in the lead. But these days, people are branching out (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) to new types of wood, including mahogany, bamboo, cherry, pecan, hickory, Brazilian walnut, and more. Why is hardwood so popular? Most likely, it starts with the durability of the wood. Wood flooring should last the life of the house (and in some cases, survive). It is also very easy to maintain. Even after years of use, surfaces can be easily restored to remove stains, gouges and cuts. Installed correctly, hardwood floors can not only add to a home’s beauty, but overall value as well.
ADVANTAGES OF HARDWOOD
– Easy to clean
– Eternal beauty; works with almost all layout styles
– Due to the popularity, it is a great investment.
– Promote healthy indoor air quality
DISADVANTAGES OF HARDWOOD
– Easily stained; easy to scratch
– Water is the enemy of wood; can warp or shift and even rot, if ignored
– Expensive to install; the price of the material varies, but it can cost a lot
Laminate flooring has been gaining popularity due to an increase in technology that makes it look exactly like wood, stone or tile flooring. It is actually a man-made material that comes in planks or tiles. It can be installed anywhere and is very easy to maintain. Of all the flooring materials, it is probably the easiest to clean.
ADVANTAGES OF LAMINATE
– Sustainable
– Easy maintenance
– Resistant to stains and discoloration.
– Variety of styles, designs (look like wood, stone or ceramic tiles)
– Easy and economical; must be pretty cheap to install
DISADVANTAGES OF LAMINATE
– It can be noisy to walk
– Cold and noisy for some.
– When parts wear out, you cannot replace sections but must replace the entire floor
Porcelain, quarry, and ceramic tile are all-time favorite flooring. It has been big in kitchens for years due to its durability, low maintenance requirements, and variety of designs and colors. Ceramic tiles are made from pressed clays and color is added to them. It will be enameled or have a matte finish applied. Porcelain tiles are fired at a high temperature and the color is usually consistent throughout the process (which is great if the tiles chip). Quarry is generally unglazed and maintains that flat, matte look of natural stone. Tiles are a must for water, mud and grease.
ADVANTAGES OF THE TILE
– It looks very luxurious; add value to home
– Easy to maintain
– Very durable
– Low maintenance
– Individual tiles can be replaced if damaged
DISADVANTAGES OF TILE
– Grout lines can easily stain
– Can be expensive for quality tiles; the installation is expensive
Cold underfoot; hard surface for standing for long periods
– May be slippery on glass surfaces
Stone tiles are made of a somewhat porous natural stone such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine, or slate. These stone floors are the definition of the term luxury. Many love the unique look, veining, and color changes within a natural stone surface. The material can last the lifetime of the house and most applications are generally considered permanent. Granite is nearly indestructible, but some stones can crack, chip, or even become dull from heavy foot traffic. It may be easy to clean, but… if you have marble flooring throughout your home, you probably won’t clean the floors yourself anyway.
ADVANTAGES OF STONE
– Magnificent natural look; elegant
– Very durable
– Perfect for the application of radiant heat
– Adds excellent value to the home; great return on investment
DISADVANTAGES OF STONE
– Not good for long periods of standing
– Expensive
– The porous surface must be constantly treated to avoid staining.
– Can be very slippery
Concrete? Actually? Well, we’re not talking about the cold, gray concrete in your garage. Concrete is, of course, that mix of sand, water, and cement, but it can be stained and textured in any style you like. It can be made to be smooth and seamless or have the look of a tile floor, at much less cost than tile or natural stone. Another nice custom touch is when pebbles or broken glass are added to the concrete for a truly unique floor.
ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE
– Cheap; cost effective replacement for natural stone
– Can be styled to look like aged brick, ceramic tile, or even marble flooring at a fraction of the cost
– Extremely durable; easy to fix problems or damage
DISADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE
– The surface is porous and needs to be sealed regularly
– It can be hard and cold underfoot.
– Difficulty standing for long periods
– Noisy
Vinyl flooring is next on our list. Vinyl has been around for a long time and new technologies have helped bring it back. There are more options in textures and finishes, designs and colors. Vinyl can be embedded, where the color is carried throughout the interior, or gravure, where the color and pattern are only on the surface. It can come in sheets or tiles and can be quite easy to install. It is very easy to clean and is considered somewhat durable, depending on the quality of the vinyl purchased.
ADVANTAGES OF VINYL
– Easy to stand for long periods
– Least expensive of all flooring options
– Easy to install
– Readily available in a variety of styles
DISADVANTAGES OF VINYL
– May come off if not installed correctly
– Stains easily if not treated and controlled
– Low life expectancy for low-end vinyl
– Not so visually appealing; low-end tiles can look cheap
Linoleum is sometimes confused with vinyl flooring, but it’s actually a natural material. It is made with felt or canvas covered with linseed oil, resin, and cork, making it more eco-friendly than vinyl. It also comes in sheets or tiles and looks very similar to vinyl. It’s durable enough to last 10-15 years (maybe longer with proper care). As with other materials, linoleum comes in a wide variety of bright, vibrant colors and patterns. It is very durable, comfortable and easy to maintain.
ADVANTAGES OF LINOLEUM
– Antistatic material; the surface does not retain bacteria or allergens
– Environmental friendly
– Effective cost
– Does not mark as easily as vinyl
– Waterproof if installed correctly (although not recommended for foundations)
DISADVANTAGES OF LINOLEUM
– Needs to be waxed and polished regularly
– May smell for long periods of time after installation
– Difficult to remove once installed
– Not as many design or color options as vinyl
The sheer number of flooring options has skyrocketed in the last fifteen years, so the decision can be mind-boggling: the options are probably ten times greater. When you’re ready to install a new floor, do a lot of research and visit many showrooms or websites to find out what’s available.