TOP 6 FLOORING OPTIONS FOR HOMES:
Flooring is one of the top home finishes. While selecting the floor finishing, people just think about the looks. This is a wrong approach as they should also consider the quality and durability. Always select the top flooring as it can sustain the effects of wear and tear. If you are planning to buy the flooring for your home, then learn about different types of floor finishes. Here are the top 6 flooring options for homes.
OPTION #1: BAMBOO FLOORING:
The main source of bamboo flooring is the bamboo plant. It is a type of grass that has high growth rate. Bamboo flooring is the engineered wood that is produced by processing the bamboo strands. The patterns of the flooring boards depend on the nature of the bamboo plants.
Pros of Bamboo Flooring
- Bamboo flooring is very eco-friendly as it is produced from bamboo plants that can be grown in just 3-5 years.
- Bamboo flooring is very easy to maintain. You can clean it by sweeping, vacuuming or mopping.
- Bamboo flooring is very hard, strong and durable. It can even last longer than normal wood flooring.
- Bamboo flooring is affordable as compared to the hardwood flooring.
Cons of Bamboo Flooring
- Bamboo flooring has low variety. As bamboo plants are almost same so the flooring has less shades and textures.
- Bamboo flooring is made of grass plants so it naturally absorbs water. It is not recommended for humid regions.
- Although bamboo flooring is very hard but low quality boards are susceptible to scratches.
- Baboon flooring is widely used in contemporary homes but it doesn’t matches with all decors.
OPTION #2: CERAMIC TILE FLOORING:
Ceramic tile is made of the clay. The dried clay tile is then burned in the oven to make it hard. Finally it is coasted for the glaze or shine. Ceramic tiles are used in almost every part of a home. But their most common use is in bathrooms and kitchens due to their beautiful looks and designs.
Pros of Ceramic Tile Flooring
- Ceramic tile has large variety as it comes in many colors, designs, shades and textures. Even you can print the patterns of your choice.
- Ceramic tile is very durable and long lasting. Even many original ancient ceramic tile works can be found in Egypt and Italy.
- Ceramic tile is very resilient. It can easily resist the chemicals, water and fire.
- Ceramic tile has low maintenance. You can clean the ceramic tile floor by just sweeping as it requires less mopping.
Cons of Ceramic Tile Flooring
- Ceramic tile has low work-ability. Only experts can install or replace a ceramic tile as it can easily break.
- Ceramic tile has low load bearing capacity. It breaks when a heavy object falls on it.
- Replacement of ceramic tile is a big issue as every lot has size and color variation. So always keep extra tiles in store for the replacement.
- Ceramic tile has hard surface therefore it is not friendly for kids. You need to place a cushion over ceramic floor to make it soft for kids.
OPTION #3: GRANITE FLOORING:
Granite is a natural material that is produced by the quarrying of rocks. The stone is then processed in factories to make granite tiles. It is one of the oldest finishing materials. Granite is widely used in homes for flooring, stairs and counter-tops in baths & kitchens due to its hardness.
Pros of Granite Flooring
- Granite flooring has large variety. It has natural shades, colors and patterns that can easily match with different home decors.
- Granite flooring has high durability. You can see many Byzantine and Ottoman buildings in Turkey that are built of granite.
- Granite flooring is highly resistant to water, heat, cold and acids. This is why granite flooring can be found across the world.
- Granite flooring needs very little care. You can easily clean it by mopping. After cleaning, the granite flooring will start shining again.
Cons of Granite Flooring
- Granite flooring is very expensive as it has high producing cost. This is why it is just used for stairs or counter-tops.
- Granite flooring has very low work-ability. Only experts can install it with great care after spending lot of time.
- Granite flooring is very heavy. You should consider its weight while selecting the flooring for first floor.
- Granite flooring has high maintenance. You need to spend lot of money and time to polish the granite floor.
OPTION #4: MARBLE FLOORING:
Marble is a natural material that is quarried from rocks. The stone is then cut into different sizes to make the marble tiles. Mughal Emperors of Subcontinent have widely used the marble for flooring and cladding of domes & walls. In contemporary architecture, marble is widely used for flooring.
Pros of Marble Flooring
- Marble flooring has wide range. It has such a large variety that every marble tile has different pattern from other tiles.
- Marble is a heat absorbent natural material. It radiates heat during night which makes the space very beautiful.
- Marble flooring comes into pieces. You can easily replace a marble piece instead of replacing the entire flooring.
- Marble flooring is very durable and lasts for lifetime. Due to high durability marble was extensively used to construct the most beautiful building of the world, Taj Mahal.
Cons of Marble Flooring
- Marble is a sustainable material as it can be reused. But due to the high cost and heavy weight, it’s hard to replace marble.
- Marble flooring needs lot of care. Acidic spills cause strains on its surface.
- Marble flooring is hard to maintain as polishing cost is very high.
- Marble flooring is one of the most expensive floor finishes. It is not recommended for a tight budget home construction.
OPTION #5: VINYL FLOORING:
Vinyl flooring is produced by the composition of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and fillers. Vinyl comes in tiles and sheets. It is widely used for the budget constructions. It can be produced in different textures, shades, colors and thickness. Vinyl flooring is relatively a new floor finish as it was invented in 1920’s.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring
- Vinyl flooring has large variety. As it is produced in factories so you can get the design, shape, texture and pattern of your choice.
- Vinyl flooring is very affordable as it is cheapest of all floor types.
- Vinyl flooring has high durability and can last for 20 years. It is also a water resistant material.
- Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain as you can clean it by mopping.
Cons of Vinyl Flooring
- Vinyl flooring is not a heat resistant material. It can easily catch the fire.
- Vinyl flooring color fades with passage of time. It gets dull due to wear and tear.
- Vinyl flooring is very soft. It easily gets punctured by the sharp objects.
- Vinyl flooring has artificial look. It is ideal to build a budget house. But no one will buy the house that has vinyl flooring.
OPTION #6: WOOD FLOORING:
Wood flooring is made of wood that is obtained by cutting the trees. Wood is air or kiln dried for great strength and durability. The seasoned wood is then cut into timber pieces. In turn timber is processed to produce the wood flooring. Engineered and solid wood flooring are its two main types.
Pros of Wood Flooring
- Wood flooring has beautiful natural look. It increases the aesthetics of home decors.
- Wood flooring is very durable and can last for lifetime. Centuries old original wood flooring can be seen in old villas.
- Wood flooring has large variety to choose from. It comes in many colors and textures depending on the source tree.
- Wood flooring is a class of its own. Due to great appreciation, homes with wood flooring have high resale value.
Cons of Wood Flooring
- Wood flooring is very expensive. This is because of the high production cost.
- Wood flooring absorbs water. It is not recommended for the humid areas.
- Wood flooring has high maintenance cost as you have to refinish it occasionally for better appearance.
- Wood flooring is very noisy. Your steps will be very noisy when you walk on it.
WHICH FLOOR TYPE TO SELECT?
Every flooring option has advantages and disadvantages as discussed above. The selection depends on the people according to the suitability. Some people prefer the quality and style. Whereas others consider the affordability as they have limited budgets. Ideally you should consider your budget before buying the flooring. As a rule of thumb, never go beyond your budget.
Top 6 Flooring Options for Homes