When choosing a type of flooring, there are many things to consider. The four most common types of flooring choices are carpet, wood, tile and vinyl. Other choices include, cork, concrete, marble, granite and synthetic material. In most cases, you have some choices as to which flooring you could use. When deciding between various options, we have considerations for you to ponder.
Not all flooring choices are suitable for all locations. For example, carpeting is not a good choice for wet locations or locations subject to spills. Wood floors are not suitable for installation on floors below grade, although some engineered wood products can be used. The point is, you need to consider the room where the flooring will installed when selecting a type of flooring material. The function of the room is the primary consideration followed by the characteristics of the flooring material.
Some things to consider:
Resistance to foot traffic
Ease of maintenance
Life-span and durability
Comfort
Sound absorption
Installation
Slip resistance
Flooring Type
Pros
Cons
Carpet
Comfortable
Quiet
Insulates from cold floors
Large selection of colors and styles
Can be installed nearly anywhere
Harbors dust
Can cause problems for allergies
Shorter lifespan than some other choices
Not well suited for wet areas
Prone to stains
Vinyl
Inexpensive
Easy to maintain
Prone to dents & tears
Tile
Wide variety of styles
Easy to maintain
Long lifespan
Can be slippery
More expensive than some other choices
Grout can require maintenance
Wood
Large range of choices
Different products suitable for most rooms of your home
Some products suitable for do-it-yourself installation
Can be very expensive
Prone to scratches and dents
Bamboo
Derived from a renewable resource
Suitable for most rooms in a home
Some products suitable for do-it-yourself installation
Less expensive than some wood floor products
Prone to scratches and dents
Cork
Derived from a renewable resource
Naturally hypoallergenic
and mold-resistant
Provides thermal and acoustic insulation
Resists dents and scratchess
Durable
Lightweight
Slip-resistant
Resistant to water and oils
Biodegradable
Relatively expensive
It can be gouged
Can be stained if not properly sealed
Rubber
Stain resistant
Comfortable under foot
Provides thermal and acoustic insulation
Resists dents and scratchess
Durable
Lightweight
Slip-resistant
Resistant to water and oils
Variety of textures available
Relatively expensive
It can be gouged
Limited color selection
Concrete
Low maintenance
Can be colored for an attractive appearance
Hypo-allergenic
Cold underfoot
Hard surface is less comfortable than other choices
Can be slippery
Granite
Beautiful appearance
Elegant
Long life-span
Withstands heavy traffic
Expensive
Cold underfoot
Hard surface is less comfortable than other choices
Can be slippery
Requires periodic sealing
Marble
Beautiful appearance
Elegant
Long life-span
Withstands heavy traffic
Prone to staining
Expensive
Cold underfoot
Hard surface is less comfortable than other choices
