The flooring has a major role in the overall look, feel, and the ambiance of a home. It is one of the interior elements that cover the entire area and should be taken into consideration. Aside from the budget concerns, picking the right floor should also depend on practicality and features. Every flooring type has different features and application.
Whether you are installing new floors or upgrading, you must be choosing the best flooring for home and each of your room. Here is a list of the common types of flooring, their pros and cons, and the rooms for which they are best suited.
Tile Floors
Tiles are a popular choice among homeowners because of its resiliency, adaptability, and cost. It can be installed in almost all areas of application with no worry of constraints such as water, stains or odour.
Pros of Using Tiles:
- Low in Maintenance – When it comes to practicality, tiles are generally low in maintenance. You can just wipe or mop your wet or stained floor with floor cleaners or water.
- Cost – It can be cheap depending on the material, quality or size.
- Design Choices – There are endless choices in tile designs. You can find tiles in every color, texture or print. It can also mimic natural stones or wood and you also have the option for custom design on some suppliers. With regards to texture, you can have the choice for gloss, smooth, matte or textured surface.
- Durability – Tiles are durable because of its toughness and material. (Of course, depending on the quality and installation workmanship). It can be rated depending on the type of application or foot traffic. It can last for at least 10 years or more with proper maintenance and care.
Cons of Using Tiles:
- Not good for Insulation – The installation is directly on the floor, therefore, It does not hold on to heat very well.
- Hard Surface – Tiles are hard floors. If you want to have resilient floors, tiles are not a good option.
- Replacements – Certain designs are phased out after several years. This means that if you are replacing a broken tile, you might not get the same design from your tile supplier.
Recommended Rooms: – Typically used for kitchen, bathrooms where there can be wet surfaces. It can also be used in almost all areas of your home, interior or exterior.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are also a popular choice for flooring for home because of its warmth, character and timeless style. Most homebuyers look into hardwood floors when buying a house because of its classic style and value. Hardwood flooring usually comes in three varieties: parquet, strip and plank.
Parquet – These are a type of wood flooring made from small slats of wood in geometric or repeating patterns.
Strip – These are wood strips that are shorter in length and fixed width and cut from lesser parts of the tree and contains less heartwood. Less heartwood means lesser durable than plank.
Planks – also wood strips but are cut wider, longer and are made from soft and hard parts of the tree which made it more durable than strip.
Pros of Using Hardwood Floors
- Cleaning through sweeping, steam-clean, or vacuum to remove any dirt from the floor. Therefore, It is Low Maintenance & Easy to Clean
- Durability – Good quality hardwood floors can last 10 years or more (with proper maintenance).
- Added Value to Your Home – Because of its known value and beauty, Hardwood floors can upgrade your home’s value.
- Refinishing – Hardwood floors may be resanded and refinished when the time comes. It is a great choice if you want permanence.
Cons of Using Hardwood Floors
- Cost – Hardwood floors are expensive. If you have the budget, you cannot go wrong with wood! It is pricey to buy and install a hardwood floor.
- High Traffic Areas – You might need to refinish and maintain more on high traffic areas. Foot traffic can damage or dent wood overtime.
- Color Constraints – Because of limited wood species
If you are on a budget but still want the wood flooring, you may want to check laminate flooring.
Recommended Rooms: Typically used on living room, dining, bedrooms.
Vinyl Floors
Vinyl Floors are resilient floors. It is water-and stain-resistant, versatile, and provides good durability for the cost.
Pros of Using Vinyl Floors:
- Vinyl are Durable to Heavy Traffic because of its material and its resiliency, vinyl are suited for heavy traffic areas
- Cost – Vinyl are cheaper than hardwood and tiles. It is a great choice if you want a wood or tile look because of its wide options for design
- Vinyl area easily installed by either a click lock, glue down or loose lay installation method.
Vinyl is Durable to Heavy Traffic because of its material and its resiliency, vinyl are suited for heavy traffic areas
Cost – Vinyl is cheaper than hardwood and tiles. It is a great choice if you want a wood or tile look because of its wide options for design
Vinyl area easily installed by either a click lock, glue down or loose lay installation method.
Cons of Using Vinyl Floors:
- Hard to replace if you glued down the vinyl to the floor
- Soft Surface makes it less durable to sharp and heavy objects because it will leave dents to the vinyl
- It may fade overtime especially to exposure to weather.
- Damaged Easily by chemical stains
Recommended Rooms: Recommended for Bedrooms, Kids Room/Play Room, Gym
We recommend to use floors that are practical and beautiful. Every material is different but it is also dependent on which area you will install. Choose floors that you can be proud of and what you think is the best flooring for home.