When it comes to choosing your new flooring, there are a lot of factors to consider. You’ll want a material that’s durable and will stand up to the wear and tear of your household.
For example, carpet can hide dirt, grit and scratches better than hardwood floors. And today’s laminate floors use advanced print technologies to offer limestone, sandstone and slate looks as well as traditional and exotic hardwoods.
Natural stone
Natural stone tiles offer a high-end appearance while bringing warmth to an interior space. They also resist staining, acidic spills and high levels of moisture, making them ideal for areas that will experience heavy foot traffic. They’re easy to clean, but some types of stone require more maintenance than others. It’s important to balance these needs against the look you desire for your home.
Some stones are polished for a shiny surface, while others like slate have a brushed finish that looks casually worn. Others have a bush-pounded finish that gives them a more rugged texture and is a good choice for outdoor paving or cladding.
Other options include limestone that’s hard and has a neutral palette that’s easy to coordinate with any decor. Another popular option is travertine that’s soft and porous, with many small holes that can be filled in for a smooth or rough surface, or left unfilled for a more textured finish.
Concrete
Concrete is a common flooring material for commercial spaces, as it is incredibly strong and durable. It can easily withstand forklift traffic and won’t scratch or chip easily. High heels, furniture legs and pet claws all have a difficult time damaging a concrete floor.
Concrete floors can be polished, etched or stained to enhance their aesthetic. They are often used in homes with a modern design, but they can also be found in more traditional styles as well.
Concrete floors can be treated with a variety of coatings to meet the specific needs of a commercial space. Non-slip epoxy coatings help prevent injuries and falls in busy commercial areas, while other coatings offer protection against chemicals, heat, static, moisture and contaminants. Depending on the type of concrete flooring chosen, it can be relatively inexpensive to install. However, it is important to use a reputable concrete contractor as slab construction and finishing processes can significantly affect the durability of the concrete surface.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a tough flooring material that stands up well to high traffic demands and comes in a range of design options. It’s not only durable, but also a good choice for kids and pets. It’s scratch, indent and stain resistant and is easy to clean.
Unlike laminate, which is made from wood fiberboard, vinyl floors are manufactured using 100-percent synthetic materials. The base layer of standard sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles is typically fiberglass coated with PVC and plasticizers. A print layer is then applied, and a wear layer protects the floor from damage.
For a more realistic look, consider luxury vinyl plank (LVT) flooring that’s available in tile or plank formats to mimic the appearance of stone, wood and decorative tile. Its core is typically a solid polymer composite such as WPC or SPC. The top layers include a protective urethane coating that resists discoloration and staining.
Bamboo
Bamboo is harvested from renewable sources and is easier to maintain than hardwood floors. It is a great choice for those who want to save money and add eco-friendly features. Its unique beauty and timeless elegance make it a versatile flooring option that works well in both traditional and contemporary spaces.
The most common types of bamboo flooring are horizontal, vertical and strand woven. Horizontal bamboo shows off the characteristic nodes in the stalks and comes unstained or carbonized for a darker color.
There isn’t an effective grading system for bamboo planks. Retailers usually sort them into grades, but that’s an arbitrary process that doesn’t have much to do with the quality of the materials. Also, some bamboo boards are made with urea-based adhesive resins that can off-gas formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Look for a floor with an independent GREENGUARD certification to ensure it won’t release high levels of VOCs into the air.
Cork
The cells of cork make it a soft and resilient floor underfoot, cushioning impact with comfort and good thermal and acoustic insulation. The material is also naturally mold, insect and fire resistant.
Unlike vinyl flooring, the patterns and colors of cork penetrate the surface of the floors, meaning they are retained over time and resist fading. The floors are available as glue-down tiles or pre-sealed engineered planks that lock together for easy DIY installation.
The natural substance of cork contains an antimicrobial wax called suberin, which repels moisture and prevents mold, insects and fire. Because of this, cork floors are suitable for high moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Cork also is more forgiving of impacts, particularly from dropping dishes, than ceramic tile or laminate. Just be sure to install felt buttons on furniture legs and vacuum daily to remove grit that could scratch the finish.
Linoleum
Linoleum has come a long way since the retro-looking flooring of yesteryear. Today, linoleum floors are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns that can meet any aesthetic, and they offer resistance to stains and spills when sealed. They also tend to feel softer underfoot than other rigid options.
While linoleum can be prone to yellowing from oxidation over time, modern formulations have stabilizers that help prevent this from happening. And while it may not be as moisture-resistant as vinyl, linoleum floors can last for up to 40 years if maintained well.
Unlike vinyl, linoleum is made from natural materials such as linseed oil (pressed from seeds), jute, cork, limestone, and tree resins. This is mixed with a resin to hold it all together, and then it’s spread out to form sheets or cut into 12 by 12-inch tiles or planks. It can be finished with a protective surface treatment and a jute backing to add durability.