The Best Floor for Your Home: Is it Carpet, Hardwood, Vinyl, or Tile?
Flooring choices are a main design feature in any room. It literally gives you a platform to build your style upon. It also impacts everything from energy use to upkeep costs. This is true if remodeling a room or the entire property. Finding the best types of flooring for your home is a must.
What to Look For When Buying New Flooring
Maybe you’ve recently moved into a new home. Or you simply need to give your existing property a little TLC. Especially after years of overlooking the interior design. New flooring can have a huge impact on the overall results. However, only the best flooring type will do.
When considering any flooring style, you must ask the following questions;
- What room is the flooring for?
- Is the flooring durable enough to suit my family needs?
- Will the flooring texture and color match the room style?
- How hard will it be to maintain?
- Does the flooring represent value for money?
With those questions as a guide, knowing what to look for is easy. The next challenge, then, is to find a solution that ticks every box.
The Best Home Flooring Materials Explained
Flooring choices will be influenced by the size and style of the property. Your budget and personal tastes are also factors. The most sought after materials on the market are as follows:
Carpet
Carpet is a popular flooring material for bedrooms, lounges, basements, and dining spaces. This is due to its soft touch and homely vibe. It also helps reduce noise. This makes it an ideal solution for rooms situated above the ground floor. Parents like to install carpet in their kids rooms to reduce noise. The softness also helps soften impacts from rough play. Pets appreciate the added traction for their paws. It’s all around a great choice.
Carpet keeps the warmth in. That means it can add comfort and save energy in winter. In addition, the wide range of carpet fibers ensure it can be tailored to match tastes and budgets. Nylon and wool are two of the most durable fiber types. Whether choosing the Southwind or Phenix brands, this affordable luxury is a hit with many homeowners. Carpets are now made with allergies or stains in mind. This means they’re even more durable.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles & Planks
Once upon a time, vinyl was one of the least attractive options on the market. Advancements have made it one of the most versatile solutions. They offer an affordable durability that is waterproof, pet-friendly, and kid-friendly. The wood look is especially popular in apartments. This is because a scratched up floor is preferred over a stained carpet. There are many price points for vinyl products. This makes it popular all around.
Luxury vinyl is available many forms. One is 100% virgin vinyl. Another is SPC (Stone Plastic Composite.) And yet another is WPC (Wood Plastic Composite). It is made by reputable brands such as Southwind, Cali Bamboo, and Phenix. They can be purchased as stone look tiles or wood feel planks. The possibilities for styles and looks are endless. They can also be super affordable. A big part of your project is labor. This will help you decide which plank will best fit your budget.
Laminate
Laminate is another popular flooring option. It’s a super affordable option. It offers a range of properties from warmth to scratch resistance. Most laminates not waterproof. However, it still works very well. UPDATE: New laminates are increasingly water resistant.
The flooring choice can take into account a range of design styles. Laminate is commonly found in kitchens and living rooms. Despite the qualities that it does not offer, laminate can last for a decade or longer when treated with care. It has the best scratch resistance behind tile floors. The looks and pricing of most laminates make it a popular option.
Hardwood
Hardwood is a flooring material that can be completely customized. It offers a classic look. It’s also Eco-friendly due to the use of renewable materials. Research by the National Association of Realtors highlights that it provides a positive return on investment. This makes it an ideal choice from a financial point of view. Hardwood is one of the oldest materials used for flooring. This can be seen in old buildings which have original hardwood floors.
Hardwood materials can be engineered or solid. They can also have different finishes. These include aluminum oxide or oil. Hardwood also has a range of natural woods of varying thicknesses and looks. Cali Bamboo and Wickham are two manufacturers known for producing quality hardwood flooring. If you want your hardwood to last a lifetime, picking the best quality materials AND installation are a must.
Tile
Tile flooring is another option that delivers great ROI. It is suited to a range of rooms due to the flexibility of design. It can be printed to match the look of wood, stone, or a range of other materials in various colors and pattern styles. Tile can be made of different materials. This includes stone, ceramic, metal, and plastic. The material is made more beautiful by the choice of grout. Grout and tile can be designed in beautiful patterns. The options are nearly endless. This can affect the price of your material and install.
Some tile makers are Emser Tile and Dal Tile. They are proven to create the perfect tile flooring solutions. This is made better by the fact that it can last a lifetime. The durable nature is popular in busy homes, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
Other Key Considerations
When selecting a flooring style and material, it’s important to consider the full picture. This includes production and delivery times. Ease of install should be factored into your decision as well. It’s important to choose from respected brands. In addition, you want to ensure you understand how your product will be installed. Whether you’re doing it yourself or having a company do so.
You’ll want to ensure manufacturer instructions are being followed. As well as those of professional trade organizations such as Certified Flooring Installers or Carpet & Rug Institute. If you’re having difficulty finding a reputable installer, click here. We will help you understand how to pick a reputable flooring installer.
A premium quality new floor can completely transform the look of your home. It can also help with energy and upkeep costs. Color and style preferences plus the material will always be the base of a winning choice. To discuss the options in full detail, get in touch with LaValle Flooring today.