You’ve started spring cleaning and… oh no! Your carpet is matted, and your dog has scratched the floor into an unrecognizable mess. It might be time to switch up your floor type with a little renovation!
Still, that’s a big decision! You could get tile, hardwood, linoleum, concrete, stone, etc. Additionally, each material has strengths and weaknesses that you’ll want to consider to find the perfect material for you.
So, before you renovate, you should call a professional and ask if they can refinish your floor. If your floor can’t be refinished, or refinishing will cost more than a floor replacement, then it’s time to choose your flooring material.
Read on to find the best flooring replacement for you.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is the bad boy of flooring types—it needs a lot of help, but its cool factor is off the charts.
We’re not going to sugar coat this, hardwood takes a lot of maintenance, and the initial installation price is high. You’ll need to mop regularly, use a wood polish, and more. Still, when you’ve taken care of your floor correctly, it will last longer than anything, and it will carry a natural glow that you can’t beat aesthetically. Plus, you can refinish your floor over and over again.
Breaking hardwood down, it’s…
Good because of its: Longevity, aesthetics, versatility, and ability to be refinished.
Bad because of its: High cost, high maintenance factor, and susceptibility to warping.
How much does hardwood flooring cost?
Hardwood flooring costs around $3 to $8 a square foot.
Laminate Flooring
If Hardwood is the bad boy of flooring materials, laminate is the responsible middle child.
It’s tough, resistant to wear and tear, and easy to care for. Great for pets too.
Laminate flooring is excellent for anyone that can’t decide what they’re looking for in their home because it comes in practically any style you can imagine. It visually mimics hardwood, tile, ceramic, etc. Better yet, it can be installed over existing flooring—saving you time and money.
So, breaking laminate flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: Toughness, low cost, versatility, water resistance, and DIY friendliness.
Bad because of its: Slightly artificial feel, slipperiness, and inability to be refinished.
How much does laminate flooring cost?
Laminate flooring costs $1 to $7 a square foot.
Linoleum Flooring
If your flooring was a cool, Harley riding grandma, it would be linoleum.
Linoleum flooring Seattle is, in many ways, the predecessor to laminate flooring in that it’s hard, kind of slippery, cheap, and easy to install.
However, linoleum has several advantages over laminate. Linoleum is much easier to install, and it specializes in a tile-like appearance to an extent that laminate can’t match. Linoleum also feels better to walk on than laminate.
If you were anybody in the ’70s, you 100% had a linoleum floor.
So, breaking linoleum flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: Toughness, pleasant underfoot feel, low cost, DIY friendliness, and tile-like appearance.
Bad because of its: Plasticity gloss, low durability, slipperiness, and inability to be refinished.
How much does linoleum flooring cost?
Linoleum flooring costs $2 to $5 a square foot.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl and laminate are two sides of the same coin. Both are resilient, both get a little slippery when wet, and both can mimic other types of materials. Vinyl is laminate’s fraternal twin (the only way to have two middle children at once).
However, where laminates aren’t great at mimicking textures, vinyl is incredible. Where vinyl is excellent at visual reproduction, laminate is lacking.
So, when you’re choosing between vinyl and laminate, ask yourself, “What do I value more, looks or ease of installation?”
Vinyl is also relatively cheap. Check out the prices here at the Online Flooring Store.
So, breaking vinyl flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: low-cost, durability, versatility, and water resistance.
Bad because of its: synthetic look, not DIY friendly, slipperiness, and inability to be refinished.
How much does vinyl flooring cost?
Vinyl flooring costs $1 to $5 a square foot.
Bamboo Flooring
Your uncle who’s abnormally proud of his ponytail and a little too into the spiritual side of yoga? Yup, that’s bamboo! It’s a fantastic, sustainable flooring option; it’s just not what you see every day. (And you shouldn’t get too into the fact that it’s BAMBOO, it’s just great material.)
Bamboo flooring is cool. Bamboo is renewable, its coloration is wonderfully warm and soft, and it will match with all lighter, airier open concept designs. Better yet, it’ll compliment any plants that you put into your space. The only downside is that, because bamboo is technically a grass, it’s a little softer than its hardwood counterpart.
So, breaking bamboo flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: incredible aesthetics, ecofriendliness, and water resistance (compared to hardwood).
Bad because of its: low scratch resistance, DIY unfriendliness, higher cost.
How much does bamboo flooring cost?
Bamboo flooring costs $3 to $8 a square foot.
Porcelain Tile Flooring
Porcelain tiles is your fashionable and responsible older sibling. Porcelain tile is ultra-durable, easy to clean, extremely versatile, and aesthetically; it’s one of our top contenders.
You’ll commonly see ceramic tiles in designer bathrooms or on backsplashes. Still, a larger-sized tile is an incredible addition to a kitchen, a home with pets, or if you have heated floors.
The only downside to ceramic is the high cost, and the work needed to keep your grout looking fresh can be a lot.
Breaking porcelain tile flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: excellent conduction for heated floors, scratch-resistant, easy to clean, varied and colorful aesthetics, water and stain resistance.
Bad because of its: high cost, sometimes extensive cleaning needs, and DIY unfriendliness.
How much does porcelain tile flooring cost?
Porcelain tile flooring costs $1 to $20 a square foot.
Natural Stone Flooring
Natural stone is the rich grandmother who lives in a New York City high rise. It’s posh but resilient. Natural stone flooring is best relegated to outdoor spaces and mudrooms unless you’re building a marble entryway or sitting area.
Natural stone is best when it’s a statement piece and not a universal feature due to its porous exterior and high price.
Still, if you want to be transported to Tuscanny or the halls of Rome, then you can’t beat what natural stone has to offer.
Breaking natural stone flooring down, it’s…
Good because of its: high scratch resistance, aesthetics, stain resistance, and ability to be refinished.
Bad because of its: high cost, low water resistance, and DIY unfriendliness.
How much does natural stone flooring cost?
Natural stone flooring costs $5 to $15 a square foot.
What Floor Type Do You Need for Your Renovation?
What flooring do you think will live in your space the best? Is it the aloof stone tile… maybe a resilient laminate? Wait, no! You’re hoping to find hardwood under that matted carpet in your living room.
Whatever you decide, be sure to read more of our blog to help you plan out the rest of your remodel. We know you’ll find the floor type that’s right for you!
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