Choosing the right flooring for your home can be a challenging task. Knowing which floors are best for which rooms is a combination of research and taste, what you like and what you can have are often 2 different things. For example, installing carpet in a bathroom or basement would not be a good option: basements are prone to sewer overflows or accidental flooding, and bathrooms are often an area that is exposed to moisture and water, which can ruin your home. an expensive rug. On the other hand, ceramic, porcelain, or granite tiles would be an excellent choice for these areas, due to their near invulnerability to water. We’ll examine the pros and cons of different types of flooring, to help homeowners and contractors alike in the decision-making process of choosing the right types of flooring for the home.

The most common types of soil are:

1. Rug
2. laminate
3. Bamboo
4. tile and stone
5. vinyl sheet
6. vinyl tile
7. hardwood/engineered wood

Rug.

advantages: Comfortable to walk; It has a wide range of patterns and colors; reduces noise in a room; Hides imperfections in the subfloor; It can vary in price, from cheap to expensive.

cons: Shows considerable wear in high traffic areas; tends to stain, even stain-resistant carpets; It is easily dirty and damaged by water.

Maintenance: Frequent vacuuming; Spot cleaning with stain remover; Periodic cleaning with shampoo and steam; Anti-stain application every 3 cleanings, if necessary.

Laminate.

advantages: Inexpensive alternative to hardwood floors; Easy installation, either with glue or floating method; Easy to clean.

cons: Can chip and scratch easily; Prone to water damage; Difficult to replace damaged sections without taking up the entire floor.

Maintenance: Periodic cleaning with manufacturer’s recommended laminate floor cleaner; Water, soap and a damp cloth for spot cleaning; Striped areas can be blurred with special markers.

Bamboo.

advantages: Durable and flexible flooring material; Various patterns, strains and variations of wood; Moisture resistant; At a reasonable price.

cons: Prone to knocks and bumps; Some installations are similar to hardwood floors, requiring specialized tools such as miter saws and table saws; Poor installation can cause a tendency to swell.

Maintenance: Special cleaning products; Wet mopping.

Tile And Stone.

advantages: Wide range of colors, sizes and designs; Suitable for high traffic areas, especially tile or unglazed stone; Long-lasting; Excellent resistance to humidity and water.

cons: chips, cracks and scratches, especially glazed tiles; slippery when wet; Hard surface to stand on for long periods of time; Grout collects dirt over time; Amplifies room noise.

Maintenance: Sweep or damp mop; Apply grout sealer every 3 months or as directed, reapply grout as needed.

vinyl sheet

advantages: Practical and economical; May cover subfloors with slight imperfections; Comfortable underfoot; Price comparable to quality.

cons: Tends to stain; Shows wear in high traffic areas; It tends to scratch, puncture and tear over time.

Maintenance: Sweep; Damned mop.

vinyl tiles

advantages: Can be putty or peel and stick; Easy to install and repair; Low in costs.

cons: Limited colors and designs; The seams between the tiles fill with dirt; Mosaics may appear; High traffic areas show wear over time.

Maintenance: Sweep; Damned mop.

Hardwood/Engineered Wood

advantages: Natural and lasting beauty, especially oak; Timeless appeal; It comes in strips, planks or parquet tiles.

cons: Not waterproof; scratches and scuffs; Requires re-sanding and re-finishing after years of use; Moderate to difficult to install.

Maintenance: Sweep or Vacuum; Clean according to manufacturer’s directions.

Flooring can be one of the best investments you can make for your home. Combined with other enhancements, such as painting or decorating, it can totally transform the look of a room. There are many different types of flooring available on the market today, so shop around, ask questions, and choose wisely.