An Intro To The Top Flooring Options

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For today’s consumers, there is a wide range of flooring options. Each one offers something different. And in order to choose the right type for your needs, you’ll want to know the basics of each. So here’s an overview of the top varieties you will need to consider.

Porcelain And Ceramic Tile Flooring

Both porcelain and ceramic tiles make an excellent flooring choice, particularly in wet areas such as the bathroom. However, they are also very popular for use in kitchens, entryways, and even outdoors. Porcelain is the more durable of these two options while ceramic usually costs less. They both can be made to look just like other materials such as natural stone or even wood but without the associated price or maintenance. Tile floors are hard and will be cold under your feet.

Carpet Flooring

Unlike tile, carpeting is a choice that’s warm. And not just under your feet, in fact, carpet can help to retain the heat in your home. Other advantages of carpet flooring include being soft, affordable, and helping to absorb sound. It’s the top pick for bedrooms and is often used in living rooms. Carpet is also one of the best family room flooring options as well particularly for those who have children. Typically it’s available in cushion-back, conventional, or carpet tile form.

Parquet Tile Flooring

There’s nothing like the warmth and beauty of real wood. For those who prefer authentic wood but the convenience of a tile format, parquet tiles are one of the best flooring options available. These tiles come in eye-catching patterns that can help to portray an elegant look. And while it can seem very upscale, parquet tile flooring is often much more affordable than you’d think. Tiles come with tongue and groove edges which allow you to snap them together for easy installation.

Concrete Flooring

When toughness is a major priority concrete is a top choice. This is especially true in spaces like the garage or basement where flooring is bound to deal with extremes. Water, liquid spills, and supporting heavy appliances or machinery is not a problem for concrete.

Neither is heavy foot traffic. Concrete has actually become one of the most popular residential flooring options in recent years for creating a modern and stylish look. It can be incredibly sleek and also finished so that it mimics the look of other materials such as costly natural stone.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring options are typically very budget-friendly. They also happen to be highly durable and realistic. Laminate comes in planks that can imitate the look of all your favorite woods such as oak, maple, teak, and many more. It is often highly detailed and can even have a textured finish. Planks are designed to snap together with tongue and groove joints. They aren’t directly attached to the underlayment or subfloor but instead are floated.

Resilient Flooring

This group includes several inexpensive flooring options such as linoleum, rubber, vinyl, and cork. These are normally sold as tiles that are simple to install but also as large size sheets that will need to be cut to fit your space.

The budget-friendly prices of resilient flooring options along with the seemingly endless variety of colors and patterns make them highly sought after by consumers. They also have the benefit of being water-resistant and provide a softer and more forgiving surface to stand on.

Solid Wood Flooring

Also known as hardwood flooring, solid wood options are available in planks, strips, or parquet tiles. Popular choices include woods like oak, maple, walnut, and teak. But there are many more wood types to choose from. Solid wood is a favorite choice of those who want a natural look and feel.

While it can cost more than other flooring options when properly installed and maintained a floor can last for generations and increase the value of a home. Solid wood floors however are not recommended for areas with a lot of moisture or humidity.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is actually made up of real wood. However, it typically is comprised of plywood with a hardwood veneer. This makes it one of the most affordable wood flooring options but also a choice that looks just like solid wood to the eye.

Like solid wood engineered options come in planks or strips but are easier to install and also more resistant to wear. Their multiple layers help to make them stronger, more stable, and with higher resistance to moisture and temperature change than solid wood.

As you can see each one of these flooring options offers something different. So be sure to take your time and consider which type will work best for you and your space.