Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Home

There are many choices of flooring these days, but the four major choices are wood, tile, carpet, and vinyl. Perhaps you admired beautiful bamboo or pine or mahogany floors in a model home or some other kind of flooring on display by a manufacturer. And while appearance seems to be the number one factor in choosing a flooring, maintenance must also be considered.

So before you run out to have new floors installed, you may want to consider the pros and cons of each type of material because there’s more to choosing flooring than what looks good. Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Which room is this? You may choose different flooring for an entryway, living room, kitchen, stairs or the bedroom. What about cost? How long will it last? What about maintenance?

Wood
Wood floors are very popular today and there are so many choices. Wood floors are durable and, when properly sealed and finished, can be cleaned with a wet mop. Woods, such as oak, cherry or fir don’t dent as easily as pine and can be repaired easily. Supposedly, they don’t attract dust, bacteria or dust mites the way that carpet can. However, you must consider the traffic area. If located in the front of the house, they can catch dirt and dust easily. But to be in vogue by choosing “green” materials, you may want to consider bamboo or cork. A less-expensive, durable, and easy to maintain choice would be a laminate wood floor.

Tile
Ceramic tile is rugged and hard, functional and beautiful. Because it is non-porous, ceramic tile withstands moisture, and is well suited for bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. Its beauty makes it an elegant choice for living areas, as well, although it doesn’t provide a warmth and cozy atmosphere, which may be important in colder climates. Tile is an excellent choices in warmer states with indoor-outdoor living year round, such as California, Arizona, and Florida. If you live in a cold-weather state and you are set on installing tile, you can also choose tile with radiant heat.

Vinyl
Vinyl is the least expensive and the most durable. And with some of the latest applications, they can mimic tile or even wood. While not the most attractive in highly-visible areas, they are a good choice in kitchens and bathrooms for maintenance and durability.

Carpet
Carpet is not in vogue these days because of known allergies for some people and for the difficulty in cleaning up after pets. But in some locations and climates, you may want carpet for comfort, coziness, and warmth.

For details, check with your flooring professional.