Dart Frog, LLC

What are the various types of flooring I can use in my new home and what should I choose?

Before you commit to any one type of flooring you should weigh the costs, benefits, and the downsides of each type of flooring before you move forward.

In this article we will simply cover some of the more popular types of flooring available to you today and discuss the potential costs for each along with some pros and cons.

Let’s start with Hardwood flooring.

Costs:  It depends on the type of hardwood you choose.  Hardwoods could cost anywhere from $3 to $12 a square foot.  You can select engineered hardwoods which will cost you less money but keep in mind you’ll not only have the cost of the hardwood or the material cost in general, but the cost of the installation as well and that could go into the thousands of dollars.

Pros:  Hardwoods look great and they have a great resale value!  And they are easy to clean and maintain.

Cons: The cost is the largest drawback.  Like tile, hardwoods are loud to walk on.  Also, real hardwoods will need to be re-finished every few years, especially in high traffic area’s and you have to be careful to maintain them properly.  Issues with standing water can ruin hardwoods.

Now let’s move onto Tile flooring.

Costs:  There are many different types of tile to choose from and can range from $1 to $20 per square foot.  Installation could cost in the hundreds for a professional, it just depends on the size of the space.

Pros:  Glazed ceramic tile is extremely durable and scratch resistant and it is water resistant.  Tile comes in a wide variety of sizes and materials and it is very easy to clean and is stain resistant.

Cons:  Tiles, like hardwoods, can be very loud to walk on.  Also, tile flooring is a colder surface and heating units can be very expensive.  It’s important to clean the grout between the tiles to avoid it staining and should a tile break, it can be difficult to fix and replace the tile.

Next is Laminate flooring.

Costs:  Again, there is a wide range in pricing from $0.50 to $3 a square foot and you will need to pay for installation.

Pros:  Laminate flooring does not easily scratch and if it does, it’s very easy to remove it from the floor.  Laminate is great because it can look like real hardwood or tile floorings and it is very easy to clean and great for pets.

Cons:  Standing water will ruin laminate flooring.  Laminate flooring cannot simply be repaired or refinished, if something happens you’ll end up replacing the whole thing.

Now we come to Carpet.

Costs:  Again, there is a wide variety of pricing and quality to be found.  You should expect standard carpeting and padding to cost anywhere from $2 to $5 per square foot.  Installation can be found relatively inexpensively with Lowe’s and Home Depot sometimes running sales of $50 for installation.

Pros:  Carpet is warm and gives a warm feeling to any room along with being quiet to walk on.  Carpet is installed very quickly and can even go over uneven subfloors.

Cons:  Carpet can stain very easily, even with the advances in fiber technology and can be difficult to clean properly.  Carpet should be steam cleaned every so often and even with constant vacuuming, carpet can still hold hidden dust.  Carpet is also very harmful to people who suffer from allergies.

Let’s talk about Vinyl flooring.

Costs:  Installation for vinyl flooring would typically run a few hundred dollars.  The material itself can cost anywhere from $1 to $6 dollars per square foot.

Pros:  Like carpet, vinyl is quiet and easy on your feet and it is inexpensive compared to other flooring types.

Cons:  Vinyl can be a challenge to clean along with denting and tearing easily.  Also, it does not look as good as the real thing.

Finally, let’s talk about Cork flooring.

Costs:  Again, there is a wide range from $2 to $8 per square foot.

Pros:  Cork is a great flooring option for a lot of reasons.  Mainly because it is environmentally friendly.  It is very warm and absorbs sounds and it’s a great insulator.  Also, cork is antimicrobial and resistant to mold which makes it safe for the whole family.

Cons:  Cork has been known to yellow over time and it can fade easily in direct sunlight because it is a natural material.  Cork will also swell when there is standing water and because it is a soft material, it can dent and bend under pressure such as area’s where furniture is situated.

There you have it.  Some of the more popular flooring options available today for you to consider in your new home.  Just remember, you should always talk about your flooring options with your builder before making any purchases or decisions so that he can help you understand what type of flooring would be best for each room and also help you make the best decisions for your needs and your budget.