Choosing the Right Flooring Materials for You

Your choice of flooring is one of the most important decisions you have to make when it comes to improving your home. Flooring materials are an integral part of your interior design, and your choice of material also determines the difficulty of installation, how you can use your floor, and the kind of maintenance you'll need to perform. Because of all this, it's wise to educate yourself on the different flooring options available as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each. Here's a list of the most popular flooring materials on the market, and why or why not, they might be the right fit for your home.

• Hardwood flooring continues to be a homeowner favorite. The reason is simple: this is hands down one of the most beautiful flooring materials you can purchase. Hardwood floors can be custom designed with different woods and finishes, and if you're looking for something even more original, you can purchase boards that have been hand scraped, distressed, or even reclaimed. With all those design possibilities, it's easy why suppliers claim there's a hardwood floor out there to suit everybody's fancy. The two main downsides of these floors include initial price, which can be substantial, and durability. Hardwood flooring will develop scrapes, scratches, and dents over time, though keep in mind you can refinish these floors several times before you need to replace the flooring entirely.

• Laminate flooring has become one of the most popular flooring materials in the industry due to its price, ease of installation, and incredible durability. Laminate products can mimic everything from hardwood to ceramics to stone tile, they beat out just about every other material in price per square foot (with the exception of vinyl), and they are perhaps the toughest flooring you can buy. For kids and pets, you won't find a floor better suited to take the beatings they provide. And with the introduction of snap together installation, laminate is a DIYer?s dream.

• Vinyl flooring isn't the cheap alternative it used to be. Like laminate, new lines of vinyl flooring do an incredible job of mimicking other materials like wood, ceramic, and stone. And also like laminate, vinyl flooring is a breeze for even an inexperienced home handyman to install. The one downside to vinyl is durability. No matter how thick of a vinyl you purchase, it is still more susceptible to scratches, scrapes, and even tears than other flooring materials.
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• Ceramic tile flooring offers so many different styles and looks that it's impossible to mention them all here. Regardless of the type of tile you choose, however, ceramic tile is a tough, durable, and most importantly, beautiful flooring choice for any home. It is more difficult to install than some other options, so you'll probably want to hire a professional tile installer, and it can chip and scratch under heavy use. Unlike larger flooring systems, however, you can replace individual tiles instead of an entire floor if any of your tiles get seriously damaged.

• Stone tile flooring has a lot in common with ceramic tile, with the exception that stone is much tougher. Granite, marble, travertine, and sandstone are just a few examples of stone that is commonly made into flooring tile. Keep in mind that different finishes require different amounts of care, so be sure to take that into account before you purchase. A polished marble surface will show scratches and scuffs much more readily than a tumbled one, for example. Stone is also one of the most expensive flooring options you can choose, though the unrivaled beauty of stone tile is worth every penny if you can afford it.

• Carpet remains a favorite for many homeowners. It's soft, warm, comfortable, and it helps cut down on noise in the home, especially if you've got kids or animals. It does require a little more upkeep than other options, though newer stain resistant varieties make keeping your carpet looking good much easier than in the past. To maintain a soft, attractive, and sanitary carpet, you should have your carpets cleaned professionally at least once a year.

If you're currently shopping for flooring materials for your home, talk to a professional experienced in home design and flooring installation about which is going to be the best choice for you.