Every homeowner will eventually meet the time when they need new flooring, which is why the flooring industry is expected to reach over $400 billion for the first time in 2021! Luckily, it doesn’t have to be a poor experience.
If you know about the different types of flooring options and what they can offer you, then you can make the right decision and turn your home into what you always wanted!
Let’s talk about the best types of flooring to choose from!
Types of Flooring Options
Remember, the smart homeowner always looks at their options, weighs the pros and cons, and considers the price before making a decision. Here are some of the best flooring options available today!
- Hardwood
When we talk about the best flooring options, what’s the first type that comes to mind? If you didn’t say hardwood flooring, then we want to know what else you’re lying about.
Hardwood flooring has a reputation as the best in the industry as it drives up home values and lasts forever. Let’s talk about some of the key benefits.
Benefits of Hardwood Flooring
One of the major benefits of hardwood flooring is the look. Hardwood floors add an extra layer of value to your home and are a nice addition to any aesthetic.
Because it’s so sought-after, the ROI tends to be rather high on hardwood flooring, between 70% and 80%. Hardwood floors are a major selling point for potential buyers, so if you want to drive up your home value and improve your aesthetic, hardwood flooring is the way to go.
Also, another reason why people love them is the fact that hardwood flooring is strong, durable, and easy to maintain. A quality hardwood floor will last a lifetime, and all you’ll need to do is buff it once every five to ten years.
Colors don’t fade like they do with carpets, refinishing is easy, it improves the acoustics in your home, and more.
Lastly, hardwood flooring does not trap dust or dander, which will improve air quality in your home and allow you for easier cleaning. All of these benefits put hardwood flooring at the top of our list.
Price of Hardwood Flooring
While prices will vary based on the company and type of flooring, the average cost is between $6 and $12 per square foot. If your home is 1,200 sq ft, then you will expect a bill between $7,200 and $14,400. However, factoring in the improved resale value, hardwood flooring could save you money in the long run.
- Carpet
If there is a tried and true flooring option, it’s undoubtedly carpet.
Although hardwood flooring is regarded more highly than carpeting, there are some serious benefits that different styles of carpeting offer that other flooring types can’t beat. There are plenty of reasons why more than half of US homes have carpeting in them, and here are just a few examples!
Benefits of Carpet
The primary benefit of carpeting is that it’s one of the cheapest options for flooring. Carpeting a house or even recarpeting is a lot easier and more cost-effective than laying down hardwood flooring.
Also, you can choose from plenty of different styles of carpeting to match whatever aesthetic you want. Also, it’s a lot more comfortable to walk, sit, or lay on, especially in the winter. Anybody with other types of flooring knows how it feels to walk barefoot in January!
Speaking of temperature, carpeted floors also provide better insulation than other types of flooring, regardless of the type of carpet, which is excellent if you live in a colder climate.
Lastly, carpet offers an extra layer of safety, especially on the stairs. If you have children or elderly people living in your home, carpet is much safer for falls and accidents than harder flooring material.
Price of Carpet
Types of carpets vary widely, and so does the cost. The prices range anywhere from $0.65 to $12 per sq ft. However, you could expect to pay an average of close to $2.50 per sq ft, meaning that an average 1,200 sq ft house will pay around $3,000.
- Laminate
For those who like the hardwood style but want a more modern look to their homes, laminate flooring is an excellent choice. While it isn’t as popular as hardwood or carpet, it has a lot to offer!
Benefits of Laminate Flooring
There are two primary benefits of laminate flooring. First, they have a similar appearance and function to hardwood flooring, but with a wider variety to appeal to different aesthetics.
Laminate flooring is also extremely durable. It’s a very comparable material to hardwood flooring, offering many of the same benefits with the addition of being stain-proof and moisture resistant.
Also, quality laminate flooring offers a more modern aesthetic to a home. If that’s your style, then laminate flooring is a great alternative to hardwood!
Price of Laminate Flooring
If there’s a major downside of laminate flooring, it’s the price. On average, you should expect to pay between $8 and $15 per sq ft. That means $9,600 to $18,000 for a 1,200 sq ft house.
However, it does have a high ROI for its longevity and aesthetic, and there is no need for maintenance. Consider it a “buy once, cry once” type of investment.
- Vinyl
A cheaper and comparable alternative to laminate flooring is vinyl, which is increasing in popularity over time. Here are some of the key benefits.
Benefits of Vinyl Flooring
There’s a reason vinyl is so sought-after for siding on homes. It’s extremely durable, tolerant of harsh weather elements, easy to clean, and lasts forever.
Well, the same logic applies to vinyl flooring. Also, when it’s inside, it’s even easier to maintain over the long run. Vinyl flooring is very similar to laminate and can be made into any shape or style of your choice!
There are no pressing downsides to vinyl flooring, as they are strong, come in a wide array of styles and finishes, and even have insulating properties!
Price of Vinyl Flooring
Lastly, the biggest benefit of vinyl flooring is the price, between $5 and $12 per sq ft, meaning it’s similar in cost to hardwood flooring with the same durability. However, vinyl is more resistant to moisture and even easier to maintain!
- Linoleum
Linoleum is very popular for kitchen and bathroom flooring, but it’s often overlooked for the rest of your home. With many unique designs offered, linoleum is an inexpensive and great way to replace your entire flooring.
Benefits
Linoleum is a cheaper alternative to tile or laminate flooring and can fit any aesthetic you want. It’s also easy to clean and maintain and it will last a long time.
This type of flooring is durable, affordable, and usually comes with a 20-year warranty. Another major benefit of linoleum is that it’s a lot easier than other options on this list for DIY projects.
Price of Linoleum Flooring
There are several styles of linoleum flooring to choose from, so prices vary widely depending on your tastes. For normal linoleum sheet flooring, you could expect to pay between $3 to $4 per sq ft, which is very affordable compared to others on this list.
However, some types of linoleum flooring can run you as much as $7 to $8 per sq ft, so you will have to do some shopping first!
What Else Do You Need?
When choosing new flooring, it’s a great idea to shop around and see what works best for your personal tastes, needs, and the current aesthetic of your home. There are also some new materials you will need for your new floors.
First, you will need the proper cleaning supplies. If you’re getting carpet, you may want a special vacuum or carpet shampoo, especially if you have pets.
Next, the only downside with hardwood floors and their knockoffs is that it’s more difficult to hide certain things on the floor. Because of the uniformity of the flooring, holes for pipes and wires stick out more than they would with carpeting. However, you can always get pipe covers to make them less noticeable.
Pipe covers also work for laminate flooring and other flooring types that have something to hide, so they’re important for improving residential floors’ appearance.
Also, you will want to compare prices and see how much you can save. Redoing the floors in an entire home is expensive, so even if you can save 50 cents per sq ft, it adds up quickly!
Lastly, you may want to consider using different types of flooring for different rooms. We didn’t mention tile or a few other types of flooring only because they aren’t feasible for an entire house, so talk to your flooring team and determine what will work best for your home.
Get Your New Flooring Today!
Now that you know how to choose between the different types of flooring options, you can shop around and turn your home into a dream home! Remember to compare prices, ensure the job is done right, and mark the installation date on your calendar!
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