What type of flooring should I choose?

Do you need a floor but do not know where to start as you have many questions in mind? Here is a guide for you. Flooring covers the largest surface in your spaces, but picking the best types of flooring is not as easy as it sounds. Choosing depends on different factors like your taste, budget, environment, and lifestyle. Every floor has its unique property, determining to choose would depend on the needs, users, and location.

The best option for you might not be the best for someone else. Let’s have a look at all our options below.   

Choosing through the vast flooring options with the pros and cons

The most common flooring options include hardwood floors, laminate, vinyl, tile, stone, carpet, and engineered materials.

Hardwood flooring

Contains solid wood throughout. They consist of natural grains and come in two types, raw and pre-finished. The different varieties of terms of colors consist of cherry, walnut, or oak. It is more of a versatile option that makes it among the popular choices for homes, hence might be the ultimate choice for you.  

Pros: Traditional real wood, strong and durable, refinished and polished multiple times, long-lasting, vast options in terms of colors and designs available

Cons: expensive, not suitable for moisture areas, complicated installation process, easy to get scratches and dents in high traffic areas.

Laminate flooring

Is an alternative option to carpet, as well as inexpensive than hardwood floors and tiles. It comes in vast colors and options. It consists of a photo wood with a layer of plastic covering. It is a cheaper option that gives a hardwood floor look, so if you are looking for something like that, this is the one!

Pros: resistant to scratches and dents, easy to clean, easy to install, inexpensive, different styles and colors available.

Cons: lacks the natural feel and touch, not good for wet areas, has an odd sound, cannot be refinished, less sustainable choice due to the chemicals used in materials

Engineered wood flooring

Is similar looking to the hardwood floors and relatively cheap, so might be the option if you are on a budget. It is made out of a thin layer of hardwood that is on top of plywood.

Pros: Resistance to moisture and water, similar looking to hardwood, greater stability, and different installation methods.  

Cons: May be expensive, not fade resistant, cannot be refinished often, hollow sound underfoot.

Vinyl Flooring  

Is composed of plastic and consists of different layers that come in peel-and-stick forms like plank, tile, and sheet. It is also water resistant. Two popular forms include luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile. Comes in different varieties.  

Pros: Water and fade-resistant, durable, easy to maintain, different colors and choices available, easy installation.

Cons: Not like real wood, cannot be refinished- the only choice would be complete replacement.  

Tile

Is considered to be a suitable choice for moisture-prone areas. Comes in two types porcelain and ceramic. Ceramic is made out of water and sand which gives it a softer look and feel. While porcelain is made out of clay that is heated at high temperatures making it harder and nonporous. Comes in a variety of colors and styles.

Pros: Waterproof, durable, low maintenance, different designs and colors.

Cons: Difficult to install, expensive, slippery, needs prep work before installation.

Stone flooring

Is another timeless option if you are looking for one. Three types are used for flooring ingenious-granite, metamorphic- marble and slate, and sedimentary- limestone and travertine. Comes in different finishes.

Pros: Waterproof, durable, keeps the dust and allergens away, suitable for excessive sunlight and high traffic areas.

Cons: Does not have a soft feel, expensive, hard to install, difficult to maintain

Linoleum flooring

Is made out of linseed cork and wood products. Comes in tiles and sheets forms, it is resilient and can last a long time. Comes in different colors and styles, suitable for high-traffic areas.

Pros: Affordable, little maintenance required, eco-friendly, soft feel underfoot, comfortable, and resistant to fading

Cons:  Dents and scratches can form easily, can change color, not suitable for moisture

Carpet

Comes in a range of materials, colors, and textures. Tufted carpets are made out of nylon fibers and are thick and provide comfort. Woven carpets are made out of weaving yarn usually made out of wool.

Pros: High comfort level- soft and warm feel for the feet, gives a cozy look to a space, good for soundproofing, wide array of designs colors, and materials available. Easy to maintain- just vacuuming required.

Cons: Collects the dirt and dust and sometimes absorbs it sometimes resulting in an odd smell or allergens.

How to choose the best flooring for yourself?

As we have had a look at the types and properties above, it is time to question ourselves and choose based on our first answers. There are multiple factors to consider when you choose the option for flooring. Buyers usually focus on the price and the looks of it. Rather it is important to consider other things so the flooring gives you durability and comfort. Below are some of the factors you should consider;  

Comfort: What would it feel like when I am standing or walking on the floor? This is one key question to determine your floor choice. With areas that require long standing like kitchens and laundry rooms, it is important to get a floor that has a soft feel like vinyl or linoleum. As well as for moisture-prone or wet areas it is best to get a non-slippery option. If you are thinking of lounging it would be best to have carpets as they provide a thick tufting and are a softer feel on the foot and the body if you ever want to lay down.  

Maintenance: all floors look lovely when they are installed but you need to consider what it would take for you to maintain the floors throughout the years as you do not want to be going for options that will drill you into the cleaning. Carpets are an easier option as they just require vacuuming. Other than that, floors are also easier to wipe than the hardwoods.

Sustainability: this does not just look into saving the planet but will also have an impact on health. The less the synthetics that materials contain the healthier they are for you. Like Hardwood flooring seems to be a better choice than vinyl or laminate flooring.

Installation: how much time am I willing to give and wait for the installation? For quick installation, vinyl, laminate, and carpet might be the ones for you. If you are looking at elaborate times then you can go for stone.

Budget: am I willing to go overboard or stay within? If you are willing to spend then hardwood would be the best option, but if one a budget vinyl would be ideal. 

Taste: Am I looking for timeless or versatile? For versatility, hardwood would be the best. For timeless stone and tiles will be the go-to options. 

Let’s wrap up

Flooring is an investment so it is best to get the right one in order to save yourself from the hassle of changing it from time to time adding extra costs for you and a burden. We have established choosing a floor is not as easy as it sounds. It is vital to consider different factors, like durability, maintenance, comfort, usage, and the environments it would be installed to get the best results while enhancing the outlook of your spaces.