You walk into a flooring store and see rows upon rows of different types of flooring. It can be overwhelming finding the flooring you’re happy with. Nowadays there are hundreds of types of flooring available. Which one gives you the best bang for your buck? Which flooring should you avoid? Here are some facts about certain types of flooring that can help you make the right choice.

Tile – Rectangular or square-shaped, tiles are usually made out of porcelain or ceramic. Now there are vinyl tiles also available. Tile has been used in construction for hundreds of years from humble houses to extravagant palaces. It is highly prized for its hardiness and practicality. Messes come off it easily! They can be installed inside or outside. Thanks to advances in technology, tile now comes in hundreds of different colours and unique designs. It is hard to stain, and it’s easy to fix. The only downside is that the grout in between the tiles can be stained and can be hard to clean depending on the type of grout you use. It is also not glass friendly. Hard tile is unforgiving if things get dropped on it. Vinyl tile is available now about which one homeowner in an interview said looks just like regular tile but is forgiving when it comes to dropped glassware. Tile can be cheap or expensive depending on the type you want. Installation can also be very difficult. But it works great with air conditioning as it definitely helps keep the house cool.

Laminate flooring (floating wood tile) – It’s flooring that is made to look like wood or rock. It looks really good without the hefty price tag of real wood or stone. It can be made out of different material like fibreglass or cork which are sound absorbent (great for noise reduction). What’s also great about this type of flooring is its implicitly during installation. No need for nails and some don’t need glue too! These come in planks that are fitted or snapped together like an easy puzzle. However, this type of flooring is not great for areas that have a lot of moisture or that get wet often. The material easily absorbs water and can get warped.

Carpet– If you’re looking for something easy on the eyes and warm on the feet, this is the pick for you. This also reduces noise in a room. There are now also many stylish patterns and material to choose from. You will have to have a good vacuum or carpet cleaner as it is the most difficult flooring to clean. Carpet doesn’t age well and stains easily. It’s also costly compared to other flooring.

Real hardwood– This flooring is what many people dream of and wish to have. Looks great and is the real deal. Each piece is from a solid piece of wood from either pine, oak, ironbark, or spotted gum tree. Though hard to install and is costly, this type of floor is the most durable. It lasts a lifetime. It’s the most easy to clean. If it starts to look weary or the finish is marked up overtime, these can look brand new again with sanding and new finish. Our sanding experts at ACFloorSanding can help you make your hardwood look new again.

Composite wood – this type is flooring is engineered to have a thin layer of real hardwood on top of many layers of cheaper wood. It’s way easier to put in than real hardwood and can go over almost any subfloor. You can install it real quick. However, it can cost just as much as hardwood but won’t last as long. Because of its thin hardwood top, it can limit sanding and finishing to only one time.

Vinyl – Nice processed plastic that comes in innumerable designs and patterns. It’s usually the cheapest type of floor and the easiest to put in by gluing or nailing it down. It doesn’t absorb water or moisture. Because it’s made of plastic, it’s hard to fix if it gets scratched or marked up.

Rock/Stone – This is the most expensive type of flooring because of the large amounts of labour that goes into processing and installation. It does literally last forever and looks good no matter how many years go by. It gives your home a natural appeal and goes great with all types of decor. It can be difficult to clean as it is porous. Things also can break easy when dropped onto this type of flooring.

Those are your most common options for flooring. If you’re looking for more environmentally-friendly options, do some research on cork and bamboo flooring which are highly sustainable materials.

We hope this article has helped you clear the muddy waters of picking the perfect floor for your home. If you ever need floor sanding for your home, you know who to call!