Choosing a flooring material for your home or office isn’t as simple as merely picking a good color or texture. Each type of flooring has different advantages in terms of energy expenditure, maintenance, and price. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the advantages and disadvantages of six different types of flooring.
It’s wood! It’s tile! No, it’s laminate flooring. The most versatile in terms of its looks, laminate flooring is also one of the least expensive materials. However, while it’s difficult to dent, scratch, or otherwise ruin laminate flooring, it’s not the best in terms of insulation. Those who install laminate flooring in a home should definitely plan on putting an underlying layer of insulating foam to keep the floor from being ice cold in winter or blisteringly hot in summer. With that caveat in mind, laminate flooring is perfect for pet areas or for a children’s zone where a lot of objects get thrown around.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $1 to $2 per square foot on the low end; $7 for especially high quality laminates. Maintenance: Low. Comfort: Medium (best for high activity zones). Soundproofing: Low. Waterproofing: High. Insulation Properties: Low.
Much like laminate, vinyl flooring offers a variety of intriguing looks at a low cost. Vinyl flooring also has much better insulation properties than laminate, especially for basements and other rooms that have more extreme temperature ranges. Most importantly, vinyl flooring is one of the best soundproofing materials. Many professional sound recording studios prefer vinyl to any other type of flooring. While it’s a good idea to have a professional installer install a specially made cushion under the flooring to keep the material feeling relatively springy, vinyl doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance as long as it’s not being overly stressed. Vinyl doesn’t hold up quite as well as laminate when it comes to kids and dogs. This floor is designed for quiet contemplation.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $0.50 cents to $5 per square foot. Maintenance: Low. Comfort: High. Soundproofing: High. Waterproofing: Medium. Insulation Properties: Medium.
Bamboo flooring offers a rare combination of density and smoothness that makes it an excellent insulator and an aesthetic marvel. Bamboo comes in different levels of quality. On the low end, there’s engineered bamboo, which consists of separate layers spliced together, versus the enviable solid bamboo. Whatever you do, don’t buy any bamboo flooring that has less than 1/4” thickness on the top layer. Bamboo that is thinner won’t hold up to pressure and can dent or chip easily. In terms of maintenance, bamboo is about as demanding as other hardwood flooring. It requires the occasional oiling and soaping, but the gorgeous effect is well worth it. As an insulator, bamboo is far more energy efficient than laminate or tile, and will provide a warmer, softer feel. In terms of soundproofing, bamboo will keep your conversations private, but heavy dropped objects will reverberate as dull thuds through the material. Bamboo flooring is best for adults who don’t have any pets.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $3 to $5 per square foot on the low end; $9 to 12 on the high end. Maintenance: High. Comfort: High. Soundproofing: Medium. Waterproofing: Medium. Insulation Properties: High.
From slate to marble to porcelain, tile flooring can be made from a virtually unlimited variety of materials. Depending on the quality of the tile and the grouting, tile flooring will last for literally decades. The only downside is that tile produces an echo effect, which makes it a very noisy surface, especially for interior spaces. Also, tile can chip very easily. It’s best for patios and bathrooms, or other areas with a lot of naturally occurring moisture. Tile is incredibly waterproof, and will resist all kinds of spills and leaks. Because tile flooring can be made from so many different types of materials, the cost per square foot can vary widely. Terracotta tends to be the cheapest material, while marble is one of the more expensive varieties. Tile does absorb heat, which makes it ideal for those who enjoy walking on sun-warmed tiles in the middle of a summer evening.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $1 to 2 per square foot on the low end; $10 to $15 on the high end. Custom made tile can cost as much as $25 per square foot! Maintenance: Low. Comfort: Medium. Soundproofing: Low. Waterproofing: High. Insulation Properties: Medium.
Lush, comfortable, and extremely adaptable to any layout or room size, there is no mystery as to why carpet is one of the most popular flooring choices. Carpet flooring has the added advantage of providing a high degree of insulation, keeping energy bills low in all seasons. This is partly because carpet flooring "breathes" more than any other flooring due to its fiber content. Depending on the thread count and type of fiber, carpet usually is priced in the mid-range in terms of expensive flooring material. For those who hate chores, it’s important to note that carpet requires regular vacuuming. It’s also important to occasionally rotate your furniture so that the carpet fibers don’t become crushed into a particular pattern. Depending on its color, carpet can stain easily unless it is treated with special waterproofing agents. Carpet can also be a great soundproofing material, although vinyl has the advantage in this area. Carpet is not a great waterproofing agent, however. Unless you have a waterproof liner underneath the carpet, massive amounts of water will soak straight through into your foundations. Unless it is being professionally cleaned, wet carpet can molder and result in unpleasant smells. While the occasional spill won't endanger your home, it will usually leave a mark.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $1 to $3 on the low end, $5 to $6 on the high end. Maintenance: High. Comfort: High. Soundproofing: Medium. Waterproofing: Low. Insulation Properties: High.
Perhaps the most elegant and desirable flooring, hardwood is durable, beautiful, and requires relatively low amounts of maintenance. Depending on the amount of moisture in the environment, hardwood floors should be thoroughly oiled and cleaned every few months in order to retain their natural moisture content. Hardwood flooring can be made from original planks of timber, or can consist of several different varieties of wood that have been engineered into a composite. Solid hardwood is the most durable and tends to be the most expensive, while composite woods are much more affordable. Some hardwood flooring is actually recycled, which creates an unusual and visually compelling assortment of colors and textures. Because of the density of wood, hardwood flooring is not necessarily the most soundproof material, although if it has been lacquered properly it is extremely waterproof. Hardwood floors can be great insulators if they are thick enough and have been joined properly to prevent heat from escaping.
Material Price & Installation Cost: $7 to $8 on the low end, $10 to $15 on the high end. Maintenance: Medium. Comfort: High. Soundproofing: Medium. Waterproofing: High. Insulation Properties: Medium.
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