Flooring Options

Every home has one or more types of flooring. There are numerous flooring options to choose from and many of these floors can be put in by the homeowner. When selecting flooring options for your home, the first step is understanding the types of flooring available. Changing the flooring in your home makes an instant change to the look and feel of a room. Find out the different types of flooring available and make the choice that's right for both your home and your budget.

When you are looking for flooring options that will be affordable to you, you may want to consider going to a discount flooring store. There are many different flooring outlets that you can check out, and usually the prices at these types of stores are much cheaper than regular flooring stores. Even though you get a better deal out a flooring outlet, you will still get the quality flooring that you want and need as well. You can find wood, vinyl, and even tile flooring at a discounted cost. While real hardwood floors can cost you about $5 per square foot, you can get the same look with laminate flooring for less than $2 a square foot, which is a tremendous savings. Another great thing is that the laminate flooring is much easier to take care of as well.

Concrete floors can be casual or elegant, they last for life, and they are very hard to damage. A common misconception about concrete flooring is that all concrete floors look the same. This, however, is not true. The customizable options for concrete floors are nearly endless. A popular option that many homeowners are going with is the wet look, which is accomplished by applying a high-gloss clear coat finish. This option also makes the room appear bigger than it is by reflecting more light around the space in the room.

There is nothing quite like carpet flooring to really transform a room from a simple living area into a focal point for family and friends to gather. Apart from the obvious aesthetic values of carpet flooring, they all feel great to walk on and these days even with children and pets to worry about, today's stain protection is extremely good. Even stains caused by the dreaded red wine are no longer a worry. When considering a new carpet, give some thought to where it is going to be used and what the traffic flow will be like over it.

Everyone has heard someone refer to laminate floors as “Pergo”. However, Pergo is just one of many companies such as Armstrong, Wilson Art, and Formica who make this virtually indestructible floor. The floating nature makes it quite simple to install, and the range of styles and colors is virtually endless – from simulated wood and tile to creative and decorative choices that will provide any home with an amazingly durable and beautiful floor.

Tile has been traditionally used in kitchens and bathrooms. Today, you can see tile creeping into living rooms and other areas where carpeting was once used. Tile is incredibly versatile. A tile floor can be made from one single type of tile. Tile floors can also be made using patterns or mosaics. Since tile can be made to resemble stone, you can have a tile floor that looks like a stone floor installed at a much lower cost than real stone. You can choose a glass tile floor if you like or a tile floor made from metals such as stainless steel. You can mix and match for an eclectic appearance.

Floating floors get their name from the fact that they are never fastened onto the subfloor. This option is good for homeowners who don’t have the time, money or expertise to dismantle an existing floor; floating floors can be installed right on top. The material is usually a wood or cork laminate, but linoleum or vinyl have become increasingly common. It’s easy to install; just lay it flat and snap it together. On the downside, if you don’t install floating floors properly, your guests might have the seasick feeling that they are floating away.