Flooring can add value to a home and make the space feel more comfortable and luxurious. However, choosing the right flooring depends on your budget and the area of the home you’re refreshing.
Porcelain tile is a popular option for high-traffic, moisture-prone areas of the house like bathrooms and kitchens. It’s durable and stylish.
1. Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors are a classic flooring option with many benefits. They add value to your home, are incredibly durable, look great with virtually any design style, and clean up very easily. Hardwood is also a healthy choice since it reduces allergens in your home, making it easier to breathe.
Hardwood floorboards come in a variety of types and colors, and can be stained to match any decor or design style. Oak, for example, is a popular choice due to its durability and ability to showcase a wide range of stain colors. Other popular options are maple, cherry, and walnut. Wood floors add warmth and elegance to any space, making them a perfect addition to bedrooms and living rooms.
Unlike carpet, which traps dust and other allergens, hardwood floors can be cleaned with a mop or vacuum cleaner, leaving them looking as good as new. However, the biggest challenge with hardwood is that it is prone to water damage. This can occur from spills, poor cleaning techniques with excess liquid, flooding, or simply too much humidity.
Whether your wood floors are old or brand new, they can be repaired and restored by sanding the surface and applying a protective coat of polyurethane. This process is a lot less expensive than replacing your hardwood floors, and it will restore them to their original beauty. If you’ve ever watched a home renovation show, you’ve probably seen someone gasp with excitement as they peel back a 30-year-old carpet to reveal stunning hardwood floors underneath! Hardwood is timeless, classic, and beautiful, so it’s no wonder that it’s a popular choice for renovating your home today. But, make sure you’re fully committed to maintaining wood floors because they require regular sanding and staining.
2. Tile
Tile is an excellent flooring material for bathrooms and kitchens because of its durability and longevity. It also looks great in foyers, entryways, dining rooms and more. It comes in a wide range of colors and designs, from simple patterns to intricate mosaics. Tile floors are also easy to clean and durable, making them a smart investment for your home.
Wood-look tile flooring is gaining popularity among homeowners because it provides the natural, lived-in look of real hardwood but with less upkeep and damage. Manufacturers like Mannington’s ADURA (shown here in the style Craftsbury) and Johnson Hardwood (in the oak hue shown here) have both introduced wood-look tiles that are virtually indistinguishable from genuine hardwood planks.
Porcelain tile is another popular choice because it’s available in countless colors and design configurations, including large-format tiles with minimal grout lines. It’s a water-proof, low-maintenance option that’s very durable and can be resurfaced several times with little or no cost to you. However, porcelain is quite heavy and should only be installed in a level subfloor with proper reinforcement. It’s also a labor-intensive and expensive project for a DIYer, so it’s best left to professionals.
All tile has slip resistance ratings, and it’s important to understand the differences between these. Class I – tile is suitable for walls only with light traffic; class II – moderate traffic, good for floors plus walls in areas without heavy furniture; and class III — designed for heavier traffic on floors and walls and ideal for the kitchen or any room of your house. Also, consider the texture of your tile flooring; some are more slippery than others. For instance, slate is textured and naturally slip-resistant.
3. Ceramic Tiles
The beauty of tile is a big selling point for some homeowners, as it’s available in virtually any style and color you can imagine. The cost is also typically lower than some other flooring options, making it a popular choice for those looking to save money on their renovation.
While there are many different types of tiles, two common tile flooring options include glazed and unglazed ceramic tile. Both are water-resistant and durable, but there are some key differences that homeowners need to keep in mind when choosing which type of tile to use.
For instance, unglazed ceramic tile is cheaper and easier to cut than porcelain, which can help you save on installation costs if you’re doing the work yourself. However, because it’s not as hardy as porcelain, unglazed ceramic isn’t recommended for wet applications such as bathrooms and kitchens.
On the other hand, glazed ceramic tile is much harder than porcelain, and it’s more resistant to scratching. This makes it more suitable for areas like floors that experience a lot of wear and tear, as it’s less likely to become damaged or worn down over time.
Another advantage of glazed ceramic tiles is that it’s hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for people who suffer from allergies. This is because it’s easy to clean, and doesn’t harbor allergens like carpet or wood. In fact, some people find that switching out their carpet for a ceramic floor completely eliminates their allergy symptoms. That’s why it’s a top flooring option for families with kids and pets.
4. Glass Floors
This seemingly see-through flooring solution offers a dramatic look. It is also durable and easy to clean, with a single mop enough to wipe away spills and dirt. Because glass floors reflect light, they can brighten up any room. They are popular for commercial buildings as well as residential spaces. The Ultimate epoxy flooring guide in Houston will teach you that epoxy flooring can achieve the same benefits but for way less.
While smooth flooring is still a popular option, textured finishes are taking over the spotlight. With wirebrushed looks and distressed styles that feature scrapes, knotholes and burn marks, these floor textures add character and a sense of history to your home or business.
If you want to add a touch of luxury, consider a parquet floor, which is wood strips arranged in geometric patterns like herringbone. This style looks timeless and elegant, and can be done with natural or engineered wood. Harrison-McAllister says it’s especially appealing in a dining room, living room or kitchen, as it elevates your home’s credibility immediately.
You can also choose glass flooring panels that allow natural sunlight to stream in. These can be frosted or clear and shaped to match the desired shape of your space. Glass is a poor conductor of heat, so it can help conserve energy in your home.
Glass floors can be used as a balcony for an outdoor space or in a historic renovation project to showcase something underfoot, such as old railroad tracks at a train station. It’s also perfect for commercial projects that need to highlight an underground feature, such as a wine cellar or water treatment plant. Glass floors can also be designed to be movable to accommodate ventilation or for safety purposes. They can also be fortified with films and coatings to resist fading, retain or deflect heat and glare.
5. Vinyl
The right flooring can make or break the look of your home. However, it’s important to choose a material that will stand the test of time and resist moisture without losing its shape or style.
According to flooring experts, vinyl is a popular choice for today’s homeowners. With improved technology, it now comes in a range of attractive textures, colors and designs. Plus, it’s durable, water-resistant and easy to maintain – perfect for busy households.
There are two main types of vinyl: luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP). The difference lies in their appearance; LVP and LVT come in a variety of styles that mimic natural materials such as stone, wood and marble. They are also more resilient than traditional hardwood and can withstand heavy traffic.
Another option that has gained in popularity in recent years is natural concrete floors, says Harrison-McAllister. These are typically honed and polished for a sophisticated look that complements contemporary interiors. It’s also cheaper than hardwood, low-VOC and a good option for high-moisture rooms like bathrooms and laundry areas.
One thing to keep in mind is that flooring materials that are rock hard, such as concrete and stone, tend to be uncomfortable on bare feet for long periods of time. Conversely, flooring that offers a lot of give — such as cork and vinyl — is much more comfortable to walk on, especially in rooms where people spend a lot of time standing up.