4 Terrific Flooring Materials for Your House
76% of American homeowners have completed at least one home improvement project since the start of the pandemic. This trend doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, either. If you’re looking for a great way to remodel your space, why not start from the bottom up?
Switching up your flooring can completely transform your space, but choosing the right material can make or break your renovation. Keep reading to find our list of the best flooring materials for your home.
1. Hardwood
Hardwood is among the most popular and coveted home flooring options. Not only is it gorgeous, durable, and elegant, but it can even boost your home’s resale value. The return on investment for hardwood installation can be up to 80%.
Solid hardwood comes in dozens of different species each with its own color and texture. You can choose from species like oak for warmth, maple for a natural look, or bamboo for its durability.
The main disadvantages to hardwood are its price and its upkeep. Hardwood can cost anywhere between $5 to $10 per square foot. Luxury woods can average even more at around $15 per square foot.
Since hardwood is quite an investment, it’s not something you should DIY. We recommend contacting a flooring contractor to deal with the installation.
2. Laminate
Laminate is one of the most versatile residential flooring options. It is resistant to wear and scratches and comes in an infinite amount of color and style options.
Laminate is simple to clean and won’t fade in the sun like hardwood sometimes can. It’s very affordable and simple enough to install that you could DIY it.
On the downside, laminate isn’t waterproof and can swell if water gets down to its base layer. Lower-end laminate can chip and won’t be as nice to look at. You won’t be able to refinish if damage occurs.
3. Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl sheet flooring comes in a single layer of vinyl that comes in a sheet. It’s very flexible and comes in a wide array of colors, patterns, and textures. It comes in six or 12-foot rolls that you then cut to fit the room you’re installing it in.
Vinyl sheets are completely waterproof which makes them a great pick for bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms. They’re among the most affordable types of flooring out there and are easy to install.
The biggest disadvantage of vinyl sheets is that it isn’t environmentally friendly. Some low-end options contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can affect the air quality of your home.
4. Porcelain or Ceramic Tile
One of the most beautiful types of flooring is tile. Tile comes in a wide variety of patterns, looks, and designs. It’s non-porous and waterproof which makes it a great pick for bathrooms.
There are several types of tile one can choose from including stone, porcelain, ceramic, and cement. Ceramic and porcelain tiles can be further broken down into glazed or unglazed options.
The downside of tile is that it can be brittle and stain easily. It does also require regrouting every few years.
Pick the Best Flooring Materials
The right flooring materials will transform your space and add value to your home. We hope our guide has helped make choosing the perfect flooring a bit easier.
Keep reading our blogs for more home improvement ideas and tips.
