When it comes to flooring, there are endless options of materials, styles, and colors to choose from. Whether you have pets, enjoy working on cars, or in need of a home gym in the basement, be sure to keep these flooring materials in mind so that you can the most out of your renovation and your eventual return on investment.
1). Hardwood Flooring
$2-$15 / sq. ft.*
Hardwood flooring is classic, timeless, and capable of withstanding the test of time. For homeowners looking for a great return on their investment, hardwood?flooring is definitely a material to consider. Certain types of wood flooring can be refinished 4-5 times. If you decide to change the style of the room years down the line, you?ll also have the option of changing the sheen of your?floors.
Below are two types of wood?flooring to know:?
Solid Hardwood – These boards, as the name suggests, are made from one?solid?piece of wood. The benefit of this type of wood is that it can be sanded and refinished many times over the course of its lifetime.?
Engineered Hardwood – Less expensive than solid hardwood, engineered flooring is made from thin layers of wood bonded together. The surface layer is typically pretty thin, however, which means that engineered wood can only be refinished once, maybe twice.?
2). Laminate Flooring
$1-$7 /sq. ft.*
Laminate flooring can provide homeowners with the look of real wood, stone, or tile, but at a much more affordable price. Made from bonded wood fibers and?protected by a strong layer of plastic, laminate flooring is waterproof, scuff & scratch-resistant, and noise reducing. This type of material is a great?option for those with pets or children!?
With interlocking groves on the side of each piece of plank, tile, or square, laminate flooring can save homeowners a great deal of installation time. For those who enjoy DIY projects, laminate flooring can make your job a whole lot easier. If you?d like a professional to complete the project, however, don?t hesitate to give us call!?
Styles of Laminate Flooring Include:
- Grain Styles
- Stone
- Marble
- Limestone
- Slate
3). Vinyl Flooring
$1-$6 /sq.ft.*
Vinyl flooring is a very?cost-effective material that is great for heavy traffic areas including kitchens, laundry rooms, and hallways.?Vinyl planks are typically made from very durable plastic or acrylic. Similar to laminate flooring, but perhaps a step below in terms of durability, Vinyl?flooring is waterproof and scratch and scuff resistant.
With a peel-and-stick feature, Vinyl can be easily installed directly over most existing surfaces.?When shopping for Vinyl flooring, be sure to pay attention to the thickness of the top-layer, a.k.a the wear-layer. The thickness can range from 5-45 mm.?
Styles of Vinyl Flooring Include:
- Stone
- Wood Grain Styles
4). Tile Flooring
$1-$19/sq. ft.*
A perfect option for rooms that often get wet or contain a lot of moisture, tile flooring comes in a wide range of styles and colors. A new trend that has come across our radar is tiles that are textured liked cloth! What will they come up with next?
Although not as durable as other flooring materials, the elegance and luxurious appearance of tiles make it an attractive choice. The feel of tiles is also much softer than other materials.?The required maintenance is also minimal with some needed grout cleaning every so often.?One precaution to keep in mind is the tendency for tiles to crack or chip.?
Styles of Tile Flooring Include:
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Natural Stone
- Mosaic Glass
- Marble
5). Polished Concrete
$3-$7/sq. ft.*
An economical, yet exceptionally durable option is polished concrete flooring. This type of flooring is usually used in garages or basements, but with the farmhouse trend arising, concrete flooring is becoming a more widely used material. What polished concrete lacks in styles and colors, it makes up for it in longevity, stain-resistance, and an easy-to-clean surface.?
The installation of concrete flooring is on the difficult side, however. We recommend contacting a professional. If you would like a free on-site estimate for your flooring project, please give us a call.?
6). Rubber Flooring
$2-$14/sq. ft.*
If sound-proofing, shock-proofing, and durability are what you are looking for, you may want to consider rubber flooring. The material comes in a number of colors and is a very practical option for basements and garages. However, rubber does not offer a high-end look so it is less suitable for areas like the kitchen or bathrooms.?
Rubber flooring is available in sheets or tiles usually sized 12″x12? or 24?x 24?. With interlocking patterns on the edges, rubber tiles can be easily and quickly installed with a little sweat and TLC. If any major spills occur, the tiles can be replaced in no time.?
*All Prices Listed Are For the Cost of Materials (Excludes Labor Costs)
Questions about home renovations or repairs? Give our office a call or send us a message to schedule a free on-site estimate. J.G?s Home Improvement is licensed in the state of West Virginia. We have proudly served the eastern panhandle for over 20 years! Located in Charles Town, our team is always available to respond quickly and reliably.