Flooring types run the gamut from traditional hardwoods to DIY-friendly peel-and-stick sheets and so-called luxury vinyl tile. Some categories overlap, such as the laminate category which includes compressed fiberboard planks with a printed image and protective layer.
Tile floors offer incredible design options with shapes, colors and textures that add sophistication to any space. They’re moisture resistant, easy to clean and are very durable underfoot.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors are a timeless, classic choice that can be stained or left natural. They’re also incredibly versatile, blending with many different design styles. Whether you’re looking to bring out the character of old oak planks or create a clean-lined modern environment with hickory, there’s a hardwood floor for every design preference.
When choosing a hardwood, you’ll want to consider its Janka score. This rating measures the wood’s durability, with higher numbers indicating greater resistance to denting and scratches.
Other wood species to consider include hickory, maple and cherry. Kempas, a hard Asian hardwood, takes stain well and is also extremely durable, though it should be acclimatized before installation in high-moisture areas. Domestic ash is another sturdy option. It has a wavy grain pattern that disguises scrapes and dents well, plus it’s hard and shock-resistant—it’s what baseball bats are made of!
Solid hardwoods are milled from planks of real wood material, installed perpendicular to the joists. Prefinished solid wood is less labor-intensive than site-finished hardwood, as the boards are already stained and sealed in a factory setting.
Tile
Tile flooring offers a wide array of color options and textures and is super strong and water-resistant. Its durability makes it a great choice for high traffic areas, homes with children or pets and rooms that get spilled and splashed frequently.
Tile comes in many types including natural stone such as granite, travertine and slate or ceramic and porcelain tiles. The latter two are made from clay and fired at extremely high temperatures so they are sturdier and more resistant to moisture than non-ceramic tiles.
Other tile flooring is vinyl squares or planks that come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be colored and textured to look like a number of other materials such as wood, marble and natural stone. They are typically laid using a flexible vinyl adhesive. There are two main types of vinyl floor tiles – flexible and traditional luxury vinyl tile (LVT). The former consists of multiple layers including a scratch-resistant wear layer and decorative/image layer, while the latter is based on solid un-plasticized PVC and is thicker and stiffer than the other product.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a popular flooring material for homeowners. It’s durable, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. It also comes in many design options, including patterns that imitate natural materials like stone and wood.
The key difference between standard sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is in the layers of the product. LVP features a wood-plastic composite (WPC) or solid polymer core, along with a traditional thin vinyl cap to create the visuals. It’s available in various plank sizes to emulate real hardwood floors, making it a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
The WPC core makes vinyl more rigid than other types of flooring, which improves sound absorption and stability. It also allows for the addition of a cushioned back layer to make the floor softer underfoot. This option is ideal for households with young children, as it’s more comfortable for kids and can help to absorb impact shock. While it’s not as resistant to water as laminate or tile, it’s much more moisture-resistant than linoleum. It also wipes up spills and crayon scribbles quickly, making it perfect for kid’s rooms and play areas.
Laminate
If you love the look of hardwood flooring but don’t want to deal with the cost and maintenance, consider laminate. It’s a beautiful faux wood floor alternative and thanks to recent advancements, it looks even more realistic!
Laminate consists of four layers, including a protective wear layer made of aluminum oxide. This layer helps the floors resist scratches, fading, stains, and other daily mishaps. The base or core is usually a wood-chip composite. A photographic-quality image is then added to this base, allowing the floor to look like hardwood. Some manufacturers also add textures to the images for an even more authentic look.
Laminate floors come in many different styles and finishes. For example, you can choose a micro-bevel or painted bevel edge for a more pronounced look. There are also tongue and groove locking systems that can be clicked together, as well as mechanical systems that use aluminum to keep the planks in place.
Real Stone
Real stone flooring is bold and ageless, adding a touch of luxury to any home. It works especially well in large formats, with no grout lines to interrupt the flow of a room. The earthy colors of natural stone will also boost your property value.
There are many types of natural stone available in a variety of tile sizes. Limestone, sandstone and granite are common choices. These stones can be polished or honed for a sleek, sophisticated finish or left in their natural state for a textured look. Travertine is another type of natural stone that offers a warm, earthy feel. This soft, porous stone has a variety of holes and cavities that can be filled in or left unfilled for a textured surface.
Most natural stone floor tiles have a slip-resistance coefficient of at least 0.60, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use. If your stone floors are to be used in an area with high traffic, it is important to check the traction rating regularly.