- Home flooring is often under appreciated.Floor tiles - can be used as background image by Elnur from Fotolia.com
Home flooring contributes to a home’s style and mood. Properly chosen, home flooring complements a home’s design, giving a feeling of space, comfort and grandeur. Beyond the decorative, home owners also need to consider how rooms will be used to best match design with the properties of the particular flooring. - Hardwood floors are a classic home flooring. Hardwood floors incorporate the natural beauty of wood with the home’s decor. But because it is a natural substance, it is more susceptible to heat and humidity. Its porous nature means that liquids may damage hardwood floors; furthermore, they scratch more easily than other types of flooring and require regular maintenance, like sanding or refinishing. Because hardwood flooring comes in planks, if a part of the floor is damaged, it is relatively easy to repair a small piece of the floor. Hardwood floors come either as factory-finished or job-site finished, which means that installers sand and finish the floor after it is installed. While the latter may be more work, it allows homeowners to consider how the floors look in the new space before applying stain and finish.
- Laminate is artificial flooring originally made to look like wood. However, laminate now comes in a variety of finishes beyond wood to give the look of stone or marble. Homeowners have an easier time installing this type of flooring because it typically comes as one piece, and as the North American Laminate Flooring Association notes, “More than two thirds of current laminate flooring is glueless.” Laminate flooring may sit atop existing flooring, including a heated floor, so it is easier to change later. Laminates handles liquids well and do not stain easily. The artificial material does not fade in sunlight like real wood and it holds up to high traffic; it’s strong, scratch resistant and easy to clean. Because it is all one piece, repair is more difficult (although laminate flooring is also available in squares or planks). Laminate flooring costs less than hardwood; for home owners on a budget, this may provide an opportunity to get a desired look without the cost.
- Tile flooring presents a substantive surface with style and presence. It is resistant to water, which makes tile floor excellent for kitchens and bathrooms. The many styles and colors of tile flooring give home owners a range of options to match any design scheme. As HGTV notes, ceramic flooring tile comes in four types: glazed ceramic, quarry tile, porcelain and terracotta. Each type of tile has different levels of density and maintenance requirements, which homeowners should consider to best match the room’s needs. Because each tile is made separately and possesses its own distinct pattern, matching tiles may prove frustrating for some home owners. Depending on the type of tile used, the surface may be slippery when wet. Tiles may crack, although home owners only need to replace the one tile rather than a large section of the floor. For that reason, many home owners store extra tiles for repairs.
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