Which Flooring Type Is Best? 5 Tips to Choose the Right One for Your Home

During a home renovation, one of the most important decisions a homeowner will face is to figure out which flooring type they should use for their home.

There are hundreds of options to choose from, but not all are a good fit for the rooms in your home.

Different types of flooring

Understanding the different types of flooring can help you make an informed choice. Below are some of the most common flooring types:

Hardwood flooring

A common type of flooring material, hardwood flooring is known for its durability and blends easily with home designs. Until hardwood flooring became extremely commonplace, this flooring type was only used by the aristocracy. Most classic homes still have their fine finished wooden floors today.

Experts recommend hardwood as the best choice for homeowners who are concerned with ease of maintenance, warmth, and the cost of installing new floors. It is also cheaper to sand and refinish this type of flooring.

Meanwhile, the hardness of a hardwood floor is dependent on the species of wood used. It is important to choose a wood type that matches the amount of foot traffic the space is likely to experience. This will prevent excessive wear and tear.

Linoleum flooring

Linoleum material has been in use since the 18th century. It is manufactured using linseed oil, jute, cork powder, tree resin, and wood floors. However, the actual composition varies between manufacturers.

For people who are very picky when it comes to pattern and color, they can choose between a range of linoleum flooring. It is durable, environmentally friendly (bio-degradable), repels dust and dirt (good for allergic people), and can be easily installed.

Although linoleum ages with time, with little care, it can last up to 40 years.

Concrete flooring

Concrete flooring is no longer just a choice for garages or sidewalk flooring. Today, you can embellish concrete flooring using several methods and can make it match the preferred aesthetic look of your home.

For example, some homeowners laid tiles into their concrete flooring. It handles stains with ease and reduces the frequent need for cleaning.

Aside from the occasional resealing and cracks, concrete floors are pet-friendly and can last for over five decades (more than 50 years).

Carpet flooring

For homeowners who want greater flexibility without tampering with the existing flooring material, carpeting is an excellent choice.

Wool, tiles, polyester, nylon, and acrylic are some of the most common carpeting materials.

The texture of a carpet is affected by the kind of pile used in its making.

There are two main types of pile; the loop pile and the cut pile. In the loop pile also called Berber, the fibers are bent into series making it durable and stain-resistant. In the cut pile (Saxony), the loops are short in length, resulting in a smooth tone.

Tile flooring

Tile flooring is compatible with any room in your home ― kitchen, bedroom, etc. It comes in different colors, textures, shapes and sizes; hence offering numerous options to choose from.

Tiles are a composition of clay and shale fired in a kiln to harden. Pigments are added to make it your color of choice. Not all tiles are designed for flooring; make sure the tile you purchase is specially made to handle foot traffic.

Some of the most widely used ceramic tiles include:

Glazed ceramic: It has a glass-like appearance. Easy to maintain.

Porcelain tile: It is one of the most durable ceramic tile options. Can be glazed or unglazed.

Quarry tile: Unglazed; thus it lacks the shiny look of glazed ceramic.

Terracotta tile: It is less durable when compared to other types of ceramic tiles. Mostly used in outdoor spaces to achieve an earthy look.

Things to consider before deciding on the best flooring type

When it comes to choosing a flooring material, there is no perfect answer. Some flooring materials look great in the bedroom but are not suitable for use in the kitchen due to their inability to adapt to moisture, for instance.

Below are some tips to help you choose the best flooring type for any room:

1. Lifestyle: The activities you do in a particular room should determine your choice of flooring material. Someone who cooks a lot may want to reconsider the use of tile in the kitchen as it can be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods.

2. Location: Before choosing your flooring, consider if it will come into contact with water or other substances. Flooring such as carpet (wool) for instance should never be used in the bathroom.

3. Maintenance: Certain flooring types require higher or lower levels of maintenance. If you cannot devote a lot of time or money to floor maintenance, then you should select a flooring type that requires little or no upkeep for a long period.

4. Appearance: Most homeowners consider appearance first because they want their flooring to match the design aesthetic of their home.

5. Budget: After considering all other factors, the price of your flooring will ultimately determine which option is best for your home.