The flooring may appear to be the least important consideration in the construction process. However, this has proven to be incorrect over time. The expansion of the flooring industry alone demonstrates this. Flooring is now an important component of your building and interior design.
The choice of flooring for your home can significantly impact how it looks and feels when anyone enters it. It’s also something you’ll want to get right the first time because you’ll have to live with your decision for a long time. This is because the cost of changing it every three or six months is not 20 dollars!
Different Types of Flooring- What You Need To Know
There are many different types of flooring available. Each of them has its unique advantages and downsides. It is important that you know all these when choosing the perfect flooring for your space.
1. vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring is a product made of various greatofmining layers of various materials merged to create a floor covering that is incredibly durable, useful, and reasonably priced. The two most common types of vinyl flooring are luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and vinyl rolls. There may be others, but these two are the primary types. Although LVT and vinyl roll are made of the same materials, they are manufactured differently to achieve different results.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT Tile): LVT is a vinyl flooring form that mimics natural options like ceramic tile and hardwood. Vinyl floors can now appear and feel almost exactly like what they’re imitating. This is a result of technological advancements and improved design capabilities. To replicate the appearance of tiles or wooden planks, LVT flooring is available in a wide range of classic and contemporary designs in both tile and plank forms.
Additionally, it is available as stiff or flexible tiles and planks. LVT’s modular design makes it simple and quick to install, which is a huge benefit when remodeling a house or a room. There is no longer a need to disrupt the daily routine for too long by shutting off a few rooms because you are flooring. It may amaze you that refurbishment can be done while your furniture is still in the space.
Vinyl Roll: This is a large, continuous, flexible sheet of vinyl flooring with a fiberglass cushion backing. Available in an almost endless variety of designs, from traditional and realistic to more whimsical ones. Vinyl rolls are also one of the least expensive flooring options for homeowners. Additionally, vinyl rolls have low VOC emissions and are 100% phthalate-free, which helps create healthier indoor environments.
Why Vinyl Flooring?
LVT flooring at the entry-level is hugely inexpensive. All vinyl is waterproof, scratch, stain, and dent resistant, making it suitable for bathrooms and basements. Particularly with adhesive tiles and floating planks, installation is simple. LVT is a heavy-duty tile that feels and looks like real wood. In fact, when put to the test, our product specialists frequently struggle to tell LVT from real wood.
Cons of Vinyl Flooring
It cannot be refinished, so once it begins to wear out, the only option is to replace it entirely. LVT is also shockingly expensive if you choose a high quality, frequently rivaling the price of real wood. It can also be unfriendly to the environment.
2. Stone Flooring
Stone is a classic flooring option that almost always increases a home’s value, much like wood. Stone floors are pretty, natural, and always fashionable. For flooring, three types of stone can be used. Travertine and limestone are sedimentary stones founded by layers of dissolved minerals and marine organisms. Granite is an igneous stone formed by hot temperatures and volcanic activity. Marble and slate are examples of metamorphic stones that have changed from one state to another due to extreme pressure and heat.
Why Stone Flooring
- The cool, hard surface is perfect for hot climates because
- It doesn’t collect dust or allergens
- Stone floor has a variety of styles, colors, and shapes
- Lasting and water-repellent
Stone Flooring Challenges
- Expensive
- Difficult to install- must be installed by a professional
- May be difficult to maintain
- It may be slippery to walk on stone floors
- Not perfect for children because a fall can be more dangerous
3. Concrete Flooring
This is a never-dying flooring type. Building Designers and high-end builders have seized this common building material as a stylish option for floors and kitchen countertops. A floor made of poured-in-place concrete alinaimagine can be dyed, or it can be regular gray. It can also adopt various surface treatments, such as acid stains and rubber-stamp stencils, to produce a genuinely unique effect.
Advantages of Concrete Flooring
- Can be customized to any budget
- Easy maintenance
- If properly sealed during installation, concrete floors are long-lasting and resist Moisture.
- Concrete floors are a good choice if you’re considering radiant heating, in which hot water tubes are inserted into the floors during installation because the material conducts heat well.
Demerits of Concrete Flooring
- Requires periodic resealing
- Patching can be difficult.
- Area rugs may be required for comfort and warmth.
- Can become slippery when wet, and cracks can develop over time.
4. Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors are constructed from various solid pieces of milled wood. The most popular hardwoods are maple, oak, cherry, and walnut. Hardwood floors are simple to maintain and add a classic touch to any room. They are among the most pricey flooring materials and necessitate professional installation.
Advantages of Hardwood Flooring
- Increases the value of a home
- Strong and long-lasting
- High rate of return
- Can be refinished several times
- There are various choices available.
- Excellent for allergy sufferers
Limitations of Hardwood Flooring
- May sustain moisture damage. So, not suitable for bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements
- Expensive in comparison to those other top flooring types
- Over time, it is prone to scrapes, scratches, and dents
5. Tile Flooring
Tile flooring is a catch-all term for any hard-wearing flooring created of tiles, with the gaps between tiles filled with grout. Tile flooring is often made of ceramic, a clay-based material. The terms porcelain or non-porcelain are frequently used to describe these tiles. Moreover, porcelain tiles are typically denser and more long-lasting than non-porcelain tiles.
Advantages
- classic look
- Several designs and colors
- Maybe more water-resistant than other flooring types
- High durability
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Installation is difficult
- Before installation, a significant amount of preparation is required
- It can be cooler and slippery
What Do I Have to Consider When Choosing a Flooring?
Yes, it is possible to get carried away with the aesthetics of a floor type and forget some critical factors. Below is a compiled list of things to consider the next time you decide to redo your flooring.
6. Space
The first thing to consider is the room or rooms where the flooring will be installed. The size and shape of the room, as well as how the room is lit, can all play a role in making the right choice. It may amaze you to know that flooring functions similarly to wallcoverings and paint. Light colors help make small rooms feel larger, while darker accents add warmth if needed.
7. Style
This is one aspect that many people overlook but later regret. What is your personal style? The style of flooring you want to choose, does it fit your interior design and furniture? When narrowing down your options, remember that they must be compatible with existing items. If you don’t, you might also have to go to the furniture store later on!
8. Activities
Consider the amount of traffic your flooring will receive and the types of activities that will take place in that specific room. Is it likely to see a lot of traffic, like a hallway, or will the space be used only occasionally?
You’ll also need to consider what’s going on in the room. Spills and stains are common in kitchens, so you’ll need a durable and easy-to-clean product in these areas. Similarly, bathrooms require flooring that can withstand the constant moisture levels that are associated with them.
9. Budget
Marketers will always do what marketers are supposed to do. They will always try to entice you with their luxury vinyl tiles and other expensive flooring options. Though these may be very high quality, you have to know your budget! Knowing your budget is important, but sticking to it is probably even more important. Set spending restrictions and abide by them.
Conclusion
The best living room design ideas must include lovely, aesthetically pleasing, and functionally efficient flooring. This is why some of the best floorings and their Pros and cons are selected in this article. Also, you have to know what to look out for when choosing your flooring design, from your space to your style to your budget. Good luck!
