The Complete Guide to Different Types of Flooring

Are you reflooring your old home, and you’re not sure which types of flooring to go for this time? Worry not, because we have a few suggestions that will make your home look and feel warm and inviting. From hardwood flooring to laminate, ceramic tiles, carpets, and vinyl, your home will look fabulous regardless of the flooring you opt for. 

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is usually made from oak, cherry, or walnut. You can choose from three-quarters of an inch thick planks or go for planks between five and ten inches. When it comes t width, it can vary. The standard width is between three and five inches, which retailers will call a “medium” or “standard” plank. Hardwood floors can be pre-finished, meaning that they already have the finish applied before installing the planks.

On the other hand, you can shop for unfinished hardwood that you’ll need to sand down and finish, giving it enough sheen and moisture-resistant properties. Make sure you choose a wood type that will withstand the amount of foot traffic in the room with hardwood floors. That way, you won’t have to worry about excessive wear and tear.

Laminate

Laminate is a more affordable hardwood alternative. Offering the same aesthetic features of hardwood but allowing you to spend much less money. With a finished and sealed top layer, mounted over layers of plywood or compressed fibre, laminate offers stable and durable slats. Unlike real wood, laminate doesn’t have a real wood top layer, but it has an image captured using the latest technology. That way, you can have a beautiful finish of the wood, stone, ceramic tile, or stained concrete at a very affordable price without anyone knowing it’s not stone, for instance, but laminate. 

Carpets

Carpeting comes in a full spectrum of colours and textures, offering you a greater variety than any other potential choice. On top of that, it’s woven from a variety of materials, such as wool, nylon, polyester and many others. Fibre density count will help you determine the quality of the carpet you have your eyes on. The more fibres it has per square inch, the more durable the product will be.

Nylon carpets can stand up well against wear and tear. So, if you’re considering carpeting for your floors, we suggest you look for high-quality nylon carpet options and invest in strong durable fabrics. The rooms with carpets will offer better acoustic properties because carpets absorb the sound echoing from the walls. On top of that, the room will look and feel warmer with a high-quality carpet.

Ceramic tiles

If you’re thinking about the best floor option for your kitchen or bathroom, we suggest ceramic tiles. With a myriad of colours, textures, shapes, and sizes available, you’ll find the one that best fits your interior. When shopping for tiles, look for those rated for use on floors to ensure they will withstand high foot traffic. Ceramic tiles with anti-slip finishes that meet the slip-resistance standards will keep everyone in your home safe too. The best thing about ceramic tiles is that, in case of chipping, you can replace just a single chipped tile, instead of reflooring the entire room.

Vinyl

Vinyl is very resilient, and it provides a flexible and cushioned floor surface that is durable and maintenance-free. On top of that, it’s also the most affordable option. With a variety of colours and patterns, vinyl can look expensive and be able to handle wear and tear. Because it comes in so many different patterns, vinyl floors will offer the illusion of you having ceramic, marble, and other types of stone on your floor.

The top wear layer offers scratch and stain-resistant properties, and most manufacturers will include a warranty of up to 15 years. Another advantage of vinyl is that it is warm and soft enough for bare feet. Vinyl can get wet without buckling, which makes it suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and similar areas.

Final thoughts

When you decide to change the floors in your home, make sure you do your research well. Keep both your budget and the location in your home in mind, before you make a final decision on which flooring option goes in which room. Whether you go for hardwood floors, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tiles or carpeting, your home will look lovely.