Types & Advantages of flooring materials to consider for your home

 Flooring refers to the finished covering that’s installed above your structural floor. This helps provide your space with a uniform walking surface, where different types of flooring can offer different benefits. For example, the type of flooring material you choose can have a different feeling underfoot. Some materials can be harder than others, while materials like stone can help keep your floors cooler in hot summers. Choosing the best types of flooring for each area in your home is no easy feat. There is a lot to weigh up, whether you're considering hardwood flooring, tile, vinyl, or a classic stone floor... It depends on the room itself, your household needs, and your budget. You'll find that the more durable, beautiful, and resilient the type of floor material, the more expensive it becomes – naturally. But, in saying that, there are now less costly alternatives available for the bathroom, kitchen, living room, and beyond.

Hardwood Flooring Types: Super popular in homes everywhere not only because wooden flooring like timber is gorgeous and suits many a different interior design scheme – be that more polished and contemporary or rustic farmhouse – with varying grains, tones, and finishes, but also because hardwood is very durable and resilient when treated and cared for properly. Timber is usually lacquered or oiled, depending on the look you prefer. Advantages_ Hardwood flooring is versatile in its look and can complement all types of interiors. It's long-lasting and will withstand up to five refinishes to remove surface scratches. Andrew Barker, Founder & CEO of HomeownerCosts(opens in new tab) adds that Real estate experts say that hardwood flooring could increase the resale value of your home as it's such a sought-after feature for many. Please visit this link Tile Flooring and you know more about Types & Advantages of flooring materials to consider for your home.

Tile Flooring: Tile is the most obvious choice for kitchens and bathrooms, as it is naturally waterproof and fairly indestructible. Some tile trends include realistic stone or wood looks. New homes tend to include timeless looks like marble, limestone, or slate. If you’re looking for a more contemporary aesthetic, concrete-look tiles are a solid choice, no pun intended. Depending on your climate, you might know the struggle of walking on an ice-cold bathroom tile after a hot shower. If this is a problem for you, consider adding a heating system underneath your tiles. For something less expensive (and less cold) than tile, look to vinyl or laminate flooring.

Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring: There’s no question that when you’re building a new home, you want it to last a long time. You’re going to live there for the foreseeable future, and you want to increase your home resale value. One of the most resilient flooring options is vinyl flooring. Not only are vinyl floors waterproof, stain-proof, generally more affordable, and more comfortable underfoot, but they can mimic much more expensive material options, like marble and hardwood. There’s a reason vinyl flooring has seen a spark in popularity in recent years. Laminate flooring is vinyl flooring’s doppelgänger. They’re comparable in average cost, lifespan, and stain resistance. They also look very similar, with laminate flooring slightly more closely mimicking hardwood, stone, and other materials.

Engineered wood flooring: Engineered wood floors feature a real wood veneer over a middle core of heat-formed wood and a base-supporting layer (used where shrinkage might be a problem). The stability of engineered flooring makes it a perfect choice over underfloor heating if the guidelines are followed, plus it is easier to lay than solid wood flooring. Advantages_ Because of how they are made, engineered wood planks are usually more dimensionally stable and less likely to expand or contract with temperature changes or fluctuations in humidity.

Real stone flooring: Real stone flooring types offer a stylish and really practical long-term flooring solution, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. When it comes to types of stone flooring, options include limestone, slate, marble, and terracotta tiles, each of which brings character and warmth to a kitchen, bathroom, or hallway and can look very elegant in a living room. Advantages_ As long as stone flooring is laid correctly, it should last forever and is often perceived to add value to a property – but ensure that it is installed on a sturdy and sound sub-floor as any movement will cause cracks.  As natural stone is a porous material, it must be adequately sealed when it’s first laid and re-sealed at least every six months thereafter. It is the porosity that allows the stone to take on the ambient temperature of a room, so it never feels as cold or hard underfoot as ceramic tiles.