When shopping for new flooring, make sure you choose a material that is compatible with your decor and style. Then, determine the material you want and consider the pros and cons of each type. Start by deciding what rooms in your home need an update and decide which kind of flooring would be best for that room. Different materials are better suited to particular rooms, so you may want to use tile flooring in the bathroom or kitchen, but stained wood flooring is a great option for your living room.
Another option for flooring is ceramic tile. This material is made into thin tiles and is set in a bed of mortar or mastic. The joints between each tile are grouted. Different types of ceramic tiles are available, including terracotta, porcelain, and quarry tile. Despite its low cost, marble tile requires a professional installation process. Moreover, marble tiles are slippery. They are therefore not recommended for homes with children or pets.
Another popular type of flooring is vinyl. Vinyl flooring is easy to clean and requires no grouting. It is durable and suitable for high-traffic areas in commercial buildings. Vinyl flooring is also flexible and made of heavy-duty vinyl with slip-resistant grains. It is the perfect option for many types of commercial settings. Also, it is suitable for all kinds of workplace environments and can withstand high foot-traffic. For rental properties, vinyl is also an excellent choice.
Another option is suspended concrete. Similar to timber construction, this type of flooring offers superior sound insulation. However, it is not economical to build a reinforced concrete flat slab or beams. If the height of the ceiling is too high, you can use concrete blocks or pre-cast concrete beams instead. These can also be hollow beams that can house plumbing and electricity lines. The thickness of these beams is about 14mm. So, depending on how much foot traffic your room receives, you should decide the hardness level of your chosen wood.
Among the different types of hardwood flooring, hardwood is still the best-looking choice. It is also a perennial favorite with home buyers. It makes sense for almost any living space, including some kitchens and dining rooms. However, it is not an ideal choice for high-traffic rooms. Bamboo flooring is similar to hardwood in performance, installation, and cost. If you are planning to upgrade your home’s flooring, bamboo might be the right choice.
Another option for sustainable flooring is cork. Cork has a natural warmth that evokes wood, and is available in tiles or planks. Cork is a renewable material, but the downside is that it can be damaged by sharp objects, so be careful when installing cork flooring. However, it is worth considering for its ease of installation and longevity – cork will last much longer than carpet. Also, the cost of refinishing cork flooring is only $3 to $5 per square foot.