One of the most important challenges that homeowners face when remodeling or building a home is finding the right flooring material solution for them. You can replace or redo paint, furniture, and most other accessories within a pretty reasonable budget. But replacing the entire flooring of a home is costly, so you’ll want to get it right on the first go. Some factors to consider when choosing flooring include budget, style preference, cost of maintenance, and general durability of the materials. Each type of flooring has its pros and cons. With this in mind, FMH Flooring has put together a list of low-maintenance flooring choices to consider.
Ceramic Tile Varieties
Ceramic flooring tiles are composed of a combination of shale and clay. You can find a variety of high quality ceramic tiles on the market in all different colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns. Most ceramic tiles fit into one of four categories: quarry, terracotta, porcelain, and glazed tiles. Quarry tiles usually come unglazed and have a rougher surface. There are also fewer color varieties of quarry tiles. These are useful in areas that may pose a slip and fall risk. Terracotta tiles, like the plant pots, are not known for their durability. These require a lot of maintenance and come in mostly earthy, unglazed tones. Porcelain tiles are the most durable type of tile. If you’re looking for something that requires little upkeep and will give you years of service, porcelain tiles are for you. These come glazed and unglazed and are suited for indoor and outdoor use.
Luxury Vinyl
Love the look of hardwood flooring but worry about the maintenance? If not, hardwood floors are worth the investment. However, luxury vinyl is a great alternative that provides the same classic look of hardwood but doesn’t require regular care. This is a fantastic, affordable option, especially for households with pets, small children, or higher impact settings. This flooring material is much more scratch resistant than its authentic counterpart, hardwood flooring.
Engineered wood
Engineered wood is on the rise in flooring trends this year, and it’s made differently from natural hardwood flooring. Engineered wood is a cheaper alternative to natural hardwood and usually has two types of wood combined into each plank. The bottom sides of the planks are made of cheaper wood material like plywood, while the top, visible layer is usually made using natural hardwood. This composition allows for only half of the expensive materials yet still produces the same expensive look. Engineered wood offers the same variety of textures, finishes, and board dimensions as natural hardwood.
Linoleum
If you’re interested in vinyl flooring but want to be a little more environmentally friendly, linoleum floors are a great substitute. Linoleum materials are produced using natural, renewable resources like linseed oil and cork powder. Many consumers have reservations towards electing vinyl flooring due to the harsh chemicals involved in the manufacturing process. Because of this, linoleum has emerged as a frontrunner in the flooring industry over vinyl as its production is much more eco-friendly.
Your budget, style preferences, and household members will all dictate which kind of flooring is the right fit for you. The goal is to find the perfect balance between durability, style, and cost, and our team at FMH Flooring is ready to help you find the perfect balance when you’re ready. Contact FMH Flooring today to speak with a professional about your home!