Remodeling your home can be a daunting task, especially if you are looking to redo the flooring. There is nothing quite as difficult or challenging; it can be a time-consuming process and if done poorly, can bring down the property value. Or, it can be truly unsafe. Also, redoing floors is quite costly, unlike changing furniture or painting the walls. This asks for a complete remodeling of one of the foundational physical characteristics of your abode.
However, you don’t have to stick to that terrible vinyl style flooring from the 1970s if it has outworn its utility. There are quite a few beautiful yet practical options out there, and they fit different budgets. The following is a list to help give you a couple of ideas for your remodeling project.
Hybrid Flooring
The latest in flooring innovations, a hybrid floor basically combines the best attributes of laminate and vinyl to create a rigid floor that can be installed upon an already existing base, one that is perfect for the entire home – high traffic areas with higher humidity such as bathrooms. The experts from IntegraDirect.com.au strongly recommend this kind of flooring as an affordable yet resilient material that is completely waterproof. It can also withstand extreme temperatures both cold and hot, solving several problems with one stroke.
Hardwood Floors
This is an oldie, but a goodie. Hardwood floors have long been a classic and for good reason. The wood is beautiful, and there are different kinds to choose from such as oak and cherry. Of course, it is best for the kind chosen to be finished wood rather than unfinished, since the former is cheaper than the latter, which necessitates that you sand down and treat the wood before installation.
Hardwood floors are also a favorite since the effect is pretty long-lasting and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are another incredibly popular choice. There is a wide range of colors and styles to choose from, and there are also different kinds of ceramic, such as glazed or terracotta.
Ceramic is incredibly durable and can stand up to a variety of variables in the environment such as weather – they can definitely withstand the elements. That being said, it can be rather pricey, depending on the size of the tile you want to cut, and of course, the design.
Laminate
Laminate flooring looks like wood but is actually made of a clear plastic coating. They are mostly available in the form of planks, rather than tiles. Laminate is a great, easy fix since it can be installed over an existing floor, which makes it less of a time-consuming and expensive beast to wrangle with when remodeling.
However, it can get nicked pretty easily, and it looks faded if used in a high traffic area.
Vinyl Flooring
Made from a durable yet softer feeling kind of plastic, vinyl can mimic the look of wood without its usual drawbacks. Different styles are available on the market, from those that look more like a hardwood floor, to those that seem closer to stone. Since it is a tough material, it can stand up to moisture and heavy foot traffic. Furthermore, they are fairly easy to install, making them similar to laminate.
Marble
This is one of the most ultra-lux and high-end floors one could purchase. It is smooth and beautiful with a reflective, glass-like surface close to a mirror. There are different models and colors available, and it is easy to clean the surface. However, marble is very pricey and laborious to install, so consider yourself warned.
Porcelain
Porcelain is closest to marble but slightly more affordable. It provides beautiful flooring for any modern home since it contains the best qualities of a ceramic tile, but made from a finer, denser clay. However, the raw materials can be rather rare to find, and the installation process is cumbersome. That being said, porcelain tiles are more resistant to scratches and stains, so they will last a long time.
Linoleum
Similar in feel to vinyl, this flooring is actually made from cork and other naturally found raw materials as opposed to plastic. It has been around for a long time, which makes sense since it is durable. Unfortunately, it can be vulnerable to everyday wear and doesn’t do well in high traffic areas.
Researching and checking-with local hardware stores before coming to a decision are important when deciding upon something as crucial as new flooring. Some can easily fit within your budget and time frame, while others require a more drawn-out process and easy access to funds.