Anyone who has ever had to replace an outdated floor knows there are many options to consider. Whether you are looking to update that ugly brown ’70s linoleum or just want something a bit more durable, there is a flooring material out there for everyone.
Hardwoods elevate living spaces and match almost any design style. Choose solid wood milled from a single piece for supreme quality or engineered hardwood with plywood or HDF cores topped with a hardwood veneer layer for a budget-friendly option. For more information, click the Precision Hardwood Flooring LLC to proceed.
Wood flooring has always been a popular choice for those looking to bring warmth and natural beauty into their home. With many options available in both solid and engineered hardwood, there is sure to be an option to meet any style or budget. Hardwood can be installed in almost any room of the house and is a great compliment to both modern and traditional decor.
Solid wood floors can be sanded and refinished several times over the years to refresh their appearance or to change the color scheme of a room. This type of flooring can be found in a wide range of colors and species. Popular choices include red oak, maple, and hickory.
Hickory is one of the hardest and most durable of all wood flooring types. It is able to stand up to heavy traffic and the rigors of children and pets. Its grain pattern helps hide scratches and dents well. It is also a good choice for high humidity areas as it can withstand greater fluctuations in moisture levels than other hardwoods.
Cherry has a warm hue that can lean towards red or orange depending on the stain used. It has a medium durability that makes it suitable for most areas of the house and is also easy to clean.
Softer woods such as Pine have a more traditional look and gorgeous grain patterns but can dent and scratch easier. They require more care and skill to maintain and refinish but can look beautiful in older homes.
Engineered hardwood, or manufactured wood planks, have a top layer of genuine hardwood that is adhered to multiple layers of plywood. This construction allows the floor to withstand higher humidity levels than solid wood and still be sanded and refinished a number of times over its lifetime. This type of flooring is also available in a wider variety of widths than solid wood.
Factory-finished hardwood is pre-stained and sealed at the manufacturer and comes in a wide variety of finishes. Some manufacturers offer handscraping to give the floor a more worn look that can not be achieved by sanding alone.
Tile
Tile flooring is a versatile and affordable choice that can add a sophisticated look to any room. It’s also durable, easy to clean and a great option for high-traffic areas like bathrooms and entryways. While there are many different types of tile available, the two most common are ceramic and porcelain tiles. The former is a hard and durable material that can be glazed to add color, texture or luster. The latter is a versatile product that is able to mimic the appearance of wood, stone or even concrete.
One of the most significant advantages of tile flooring is that it is fairly water resistant, making it ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens. This makes it a good choice for families who are prone to spills or who have young children. Additionally, tile can withstand a lot of foot traffic and is generally long-lasting, though the grout will need to be replaced regularly.
Another benefit of tile is its design flexibility, which allows you to create a bespoke aesthetic. There are endless options for color, pattern and shape, allowing you to transform the look of any space. You can also pair tile with other materials to create a more unique look, such as adding natural stone to your floor for added elegance or incorporating glass tiles into a mosaic pattern to create a contemporary and modern look.
Before installing your tile, you should prepare the area by cleaning it thoroughly. Apply a layer of adhesive to the floor and lay your tiles in a grid pattern, using spacers to ensure even spacing. After a period of time, the tiles should be grouted and sealed to protect against staining.
The primary limitation of tile is that it can be cold and uncomfortable underfoot, especially for those who prefer to walk barefoot. Luckily, this can be mitigated by the addition of radiant heating or soft, warm area rugs. Tile floors also don’t do a good job of muffling noise, so you may want to consider other options for bedrooms and living rooms.
Stone
Stone floors bring the natural colors and textures of the outdoors into a home. They are primarily available in tile form, though some types of stone can be made into slabs or even a poured installation. Stone floor types include igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic stones, all with unique characteristics due to their formation and geological history.
Most stone flooring types are durable and easy to maintain. The level of maintenance required depends on the type of stone and its use. Granite, for example, is a popular choice for kitchen floors because it is resistant to wear and scratching. It can, however, be damaged by water intrusion, so it should be sealed to prevent staining and other damage.
Other popular choices for stone floors include limestone and travertine. Limestone is a common building material that is composed of calcium carbonate formed at the bottoms of lakes and seas. It is often enriched with fossil inclusions that make it attractive for decorative applications in interior flooring. Limestone has a vitreous absorption rating and is suitable for low to medium traffic areas.
Travertine is a type of limestone that has been shaped by hot springs or other flowing water. It has a cleft or pitted appearance that gives it a rustic charm and makes it suitable for walls, showers and some outdoor patios. Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic stone that has great strength and versatility. It is commonly used as roofing tiles, but can also work well for kitchen floors and bathrooms.
All stone flooring types require some degree of regular care and maintenance. Most are vulnerable to staining and may require periodic sealer application. To minimize stains, avoid abrasive cleaners and scouring powders. Instead, wash stone floors frequently with a neutral pH detergent or soapless cleanser. It is important to blot spills as soon as they occur to help prevent moisture damage.
A key advantage of most stone types is their heat resistance, which can be beneficial in rooms like the kitchen or bathroom. However, it’s important to keep in mind that stone tends to stay cool to the touch and can feel chilly on bare feet.
Cork
Cork is an eco friendly, sustainable flooring option that has gained popularity recently. It is soft & warm underfoot & helps to regulate temperature by insulating against cold & hot floors. Its natural cell structure makes it resilient & able to bounce back after being dented by lightweight to moderately heavy furniture (though we always recommend the use of pads on the feet of heavier pieces).
Cork floor is made either as solid slices of agglamorated cork – ground cork pressed with resins into blocks then sliced – or as engineered cork planks that are ‘floating’ and click together without glue, much like laminate or luxury vinyl planks do. Both types of flooring can be installed over concrete or plywood. If you are installing it over existing flooring, it is important to get the subfloor very clean and dry, sanding any rough spots to help with the adhesion of the new cork flooring.
The benefits of using cork include a reduced carbon footprint, as no deforestation is required to harvest the material. It is also renewable & can be harvested many times over. In addition it is a good insulator, keeping your home quieter & warmer.
It is easy to maintain and will last a long time with the proper care, including dust mopping & vacuuming (preferably with a hard surface setting that doesn’t engage the beater bar). Regular polyurethane refinishing (about every 5-10 years) will keep it looking great.
One thing that can be challenging with cork is that it takes a while for the flooring to dry after being wet from cleaning or spills. If you have a large area that gets wet often, it is a good idea to place fans around the area to speed up the evaporation process and prevent warping.
Refinishing cork is a fairly simple DIY project, but if you are not familiar with working with a belt sander and applying polyurethane, it is best to hire a professional. It is best to sand the old finish off before starting to ensure you have a smooth, even surface to apply the new polyurethane.