While carpeting will probably always be a popular flooring option, hard floors are trending in home fashions and have been for several years. Hard floors offer many advantages over carpet. For one thing, they do not collect allergens the way that carpets do, and they are easier to maintain and keep clean.
There are lots of different types of hard floors available. This gives you a lot of options, but it can also make the choice more difficult. Here is an overview of the different hard flooring options available.
Wood
Wood floors can consist of either wooden boards or engineered wood, such as the Monarch Plank Storia II. Engineered wood is made of several different layers, including a top layer made of solid oak or another quality hardwood. Engineered wood is more stable than hardwood planks, meaning that it is able to go in places that hardwood cannot.
Laminate
Laminate is similar to engineered wood in that it is made of multiple layers. The top layer is not made out of wood but of a high-resolution photograph of a surface covered by a protective overlay. This means that laminate can resemble any type of material you want, including wood or stone. Though laminate has a somewhat sketchy reputation, it has undergone advancements that make high-quality varieties nearly indistinguishable from the material it is mimicking.
Concrete
If you’re thinking about the floor of your garage, think again. Concrete artisans have developed floors with different colors and designs to add a stylish touch to your home. Concrete can be a unique, relatively simple option, but it is not right for every home. Parents of young children should be especially cautious about concrete floors because of the chance of injury when the kids fall down.
Brick
Brick floors can be very attractive. They are waterproof and create a non-slip surface. However, they also have significant disadvantages. Anything that you spill on a brick floor may seep into the material due to the absorbency, and because the bricks are heavy, only floors with a high load-bearing capacity can support them.
Tile
Tile floors are quite fashionable at the moment. There are floor tiles available in a wide range of materials, but the most popular may be porcelain and ceramic tiles. Tile is easy to clean and generally durable, but you must make sure that you choose a tile rated for use on floors or it may not stand up to the stress it will be subjected to.
Remember that you probably will not be able to cover the whole house in the same flooring. Different materials are better suited to different rooms.