Choosing the Best Flooring For House

Flooring sets the scene for every room in your home, so selecting suitable floors can be both exciting and daunting. Identifying suitable options may prove both exciting and challenging at once!

Hardwood floors increase resale value and can fit seamlessly in virtually any room, while laminate, vinyl and tile floors provide water-resistance features to kitchens and bathrooms.

Hardwood

Flooring is one of the key design components in any home, and hardwood floors can add timeless, classic beauty while adding value. They come in an assortment of colors, grains and textures; traditional domestic species like oak to exotic woods like acacia and tigerwood offer something suitable for every design vision.

Hardwoods’ hardness can be measured according to the Janka scale. Harder woods generally fare better against denting and scratching; brown or natural blonde hardwoods tend to show less evidence of wear than their more colorful counterparts, for example oak or hickory.

Solid hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times without incurring additional costs; however, this approach can be more expensive than alternative flooring types like engineered hardwood which may also be installed in areas where solid wood cannot.

Carpet

Carpet is known for its soft and cozy feeling underfoot, and comes in an extensive array of colors, patterns and textures. Additionally, it provides insulation and reduces noise levels – making it perfect for bedrooms and other rooms where people spend significant amounts of time barefoot. Carpet materials come with different fiber blends including wool as well as synthetic ones like nylon polyester polypropylene blends.

Linoleum flooring is an easy and straightforward material to install, providing water and heat damage resistance, stain resistance, easy stain removal and regular maintenance requirements are met. Linoleum offers retro, sustainable appeal in various styles that may better meet your budget needs.

Bamboo

Bamboo first emerged onto the flooring market approximately two decades ago, initially becoming expensive, soft and unstable. Today’s moso and carbonised bamboo floors surpass hardwoods in hardness performance while being capable of installation either above- or below-grade.

As homeowners become more eco-aware, bamboo has emerged as an eco-friendly hardwood alternative. Bamboo grows and matures over a five to seven year cycle and can be harvested without the need for replanting.

Engineerered bamboo uses a surface veneer bonded to a plywood or MDF core, similar to solid hardwood floors, that can be glued, nailed or clicked together as floating floors for installation onto subfloors or simply left as is for floating use. Furthermore, maintenance requirements tend to be less stringent as opposed to hardwood flooring with regular sweeping/vacuuming/vacuum mopping using non-alkaline cleaner usually sufficient.

Stone

Stone flooring is an increasingly popular choice among homeowners looking to add luxurious elements to their homes. Made of resilient yet versatile material, this floor can bring beauty into virtually every room of your house and also increase its resale value.

There is an array of natural stone flooring to choose from. Marble is known for its luxurious appearance while travertine boasts earthy tones of beige and brown that add rustic charm. Limestone floors are resistant to staining making them suitable for households with kids or pets.

Stone flooring needs to be regularly maintained. Due to being so porous, sealing may need to be applied periodically and its cold temperature may pose disadvantages.

Cork

Cork floors combine comfort, insulation, and eco-friendliness in one attractive package. Derived from cork oak trees’ bark, cork flooring can regenerate naturally over time making this an attractive green home option.

Cellular insulation makes porous vinyl tile an effective thermal and acoustic insulator, while its antimicrobial properties thwart mold and mildew growth to improve indoor air quality. Furthermore, damaged tiles or planks can be replaced individually.

Cork flooring can make an excellent addition to bathrooms and kitchens, but special moisture-resistant finishes and proper ventilation must be ensured to prevent moisture buildup that could cause warping. Cork can fade in bright rooms due to direct sunlight exposure; window treatments or artificial flooring alternatives that mimic cork’s look can provide relief from this problem.