Quick Review on Flooring Options for Your Home

When considering new flooring for your home, you'll discover there are unlimited options in colors, textures, styles and designs. The most suitable flooring for your home will be largely contingent on your personal style, the room the flooring is for, the amount of foot traffic the floor will be subjected to, and of course, the cost. Here are a few helpful tips for selecting new flooring for your home: 

Hardwood

Many homeowners opt for wood flooring thanks to its durability, natural beauty and versatility. It looks great in both traditional and contemporary interiors, can be stained a variety of ways, is easy to clean and even offers many health benefits to allergy sufferers. Today’s solid wood is available in a wide variety of species to complement every setting, from traditional woods like oak and pine, to more exotic species of hardwood from places like Brazil.  There are even earth-friendly alternatives to traditional hardwood flooring, like bamboo and cork, which have become increasingly viable. As long as it is installed correctly and maintained properly, it will increase the value of your home and offer a beautiful finish for many years.  

Stone

Strong, thick natural stone—like granite, marble or slate—has been used as an exterior and interior floor covering for ages, providing timeless beauty to any room. Like hardwood, stone floors can add value to your existing home, and since it’s nearly indestructible, this type of flooring can withstand a lot of foot traffic and still look great after many years. Don’t forget to factor in maintenance, including routine cleanings and repairs should the stone chip or crack. This type of flooring is generally more costly than others and also more difficult to install, but its distinct style offers sophistication and class that isn’t available with other flooring materials.

Ceramic

Ceramic is one of the most popular tile choices for home flooring due to its affordability, low-maintenance and versatility. It comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and designs, making it a suitable option for most rooms in the home, easily matching any indoor or outdoor space. Because tile resists water and stains and can hold up to heavy traffic, ceramic is especially ideal for laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. While extremely resilient and long-lasting, ceramic can chip or crack if hit with a heavy item and repairs can be difficult and costly. Overall, however, given its durability and wide selection of designs, ceramic is a wise flooring investment for most rooms in your home. 

Porcelain

Porcelain tile is harder and denser than ceramic. It’s ideal for cold-weather climates where freeze/thaw issues exist. Due to its low moisture absorption rate porcelain is less likely to crack and is more impervious to stains. Additionally, porcelain offers design flexibility when it comes to finishes, patterns, textures and variations of color.

  

Vinyl

With its endless color and pattern options, vinyl flooring has made a comeback in more recent years as a popular flooring option. Vinyl is considered to be one of the least expensive flooring materials, as well as one of the easiest to install, requiring less time and prior experience than tile or laminate flooring. Like laminate, vinyl can imitate the look of high-end flooring, such as hardwood or tile, at a much lower price point. Although not quite as long-lasting as other flooring materials, vinyl is relatively easy to care for. And since vinyl is nearly impervious to moisture, it is an excellent, cost-effective option for use in moisture-prone spaces in the home.

 Laminate

If you want the look and feel of hardwood or natural stone at a fraction of the cost, then laminate may be a good option. Laminate flooring is available in a wide range of finishes and is easy to install and clean. An added benefit of laminate flooring is that it’s durable and hard to scuff from normal wear, making it a solid choice for family-prone areas of the home. It’s an excellent choice for do-it-yourself applications, but despite its wood-like appearance, laminate cannot be refinished like traditional hardwood, and therefore its lifespan may not be as long-lasting as other types of flooring material.

Carpet

Choose carpets appropriate for particular rooms, based on whether the room is formal or casual, and how much traffic it will endure. This will tell you whether you want a smooth or textured pile. Pile is comprised of the fibers. A thick pile is more durable, and provides more cushion under the feet. Thicker pile is also more costly, as there are more fibers per inch to create a denser product.

Once you’ve determined the purpose, traffic patterns and performance expectations of the carpet, your selection can easily be narrowed by consulting the rating found on the manufacturing label. 

The final selection of your flooring should be largely dependent on a combination of factors including personal taste, your family’s lifestyle, room use and budget.  If you live in Lake or McHenry counties of Illinois and would like to schedule a FREE consultation  to determine you flooring needs, contact at KLMBuildersinc.com or call 815.678.4018.