Different Types of Home Flooring Materials: What You Need to Know

Posted by Justin Havre on Friday, November 2nd, 2018 at 8:50am.

Everything You Need to Know About Your Home's FlooringThe flooring that a homeowner selects for their house will have an affect on their home's comfort, style and functionality. Some types of flooring require a lot of maintenance, others require very little. Some flooring can last for centuries, other types will only last a few years. Homeowners who are trying to make their decision should be aware of all the differences in the different types of flooring, so they can choose the type of flooring that works best for them.

Carpeting

Carpeting has the benefit of being soft and relatively warm. It also comes in a range of colours, so it can match just about any interior decor. For seniors and homeowners with small children, carpeting is often a preferred flooring material because it provides padding to anyone who falls. In a bedroom or guest room, carpeting is pleasant, inviting and comfortable to touch.

However, there are downsides to installing carpeting. Carpeting must be cleaned on a regular basis at least annually in order to maintain its aesthetic beauty. If carpeting isn't cleaned, it becomes dingy and worn fairly quickly. Even if it is well maintained, most homeowners choose to replace their carpeting every 8 to 10 years. Homeowners with pets often turn to another form of flooring, as many pets will claw or chew through carpeting, and pet urine can be very hard to clean out from carpeting fibers.

Hardwood Floorboards

Hardwood floorboards can literally last for centuries, if the wood is well-maintained. Hardwood has been used in homes for hundreds of years. In today's homes, homeowners appreciate hardwood because it is natural, attractive, durable and easily to clean. However, homeowners pay a price for hardwood: it can cost 6 times as much as carpeting.

There are some downsides to hardwood. To begin with, it must be regularly refinished. Wood flooring is louder to walk on, and it can be colder on the feet than carpeting. Homeowners often turn to hardwood as a valuable home renovation when they'd like to sell their house, since the ROI of this material is often better than the ROI of any other type of flooring.

Homeowners who don't have the budget for hardwood floors sometimes turn to laminate flooring as an alternative. Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring material that features a photographic applique underneath a layer of clear plastic. Laminate can be made to look like hardwood and requires far less maintenance.

Tile Flooring

Tile is a common material found in kitchens and bathrooms. Homeowners are attracted to tile because it is waterproof and durable. Homeowners who install tile in wet parts of the home will often turn to non-slip tiles for safety.

Tile, like hardwood floor, can be chilly on bare feet. It is also somewhat limited in its usefulness, since many homeowners will only install tile in high-moisture rooms. Tile needs far less maintenance than many other types of flooring, but the grout between tiles can become stained if it is not cleaned regularly. Homeowners can reduce the staining between tiles by sealing the grout periodically.

Homeowners who are trying to choose flooring for their Willow Brook home should start by touching samples, getting quotes and assessing their ability to maintain their floors. Only after assessing the different types of flooring available can the homeowner decide for themselves which is the best flooring for their needs.

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