Vinyl flooring is a cheap alternative to hardwood and tile flooring. Also, it’s easy for the do-it-yourself homeowner to install. By not having to hire a flooring expert, you can save money to put toward other home projects. Below are a few tips about why vinyl flooring may or may not be right for you.
Pros – Inexpensive, durable, easy on the feet, quiet. It’s also water and stain resistant, and very low maintenance. It’s easy to install – especially tiles. 12 foot wide sheets means seamless floors in small rooms. You can create patterns with the tiles.
Cons – Prone to dents and tears. Moisture can get into seams leading to mildew and lifting. Glossy finishes are slippery when wet, and can dull easily unless waxed regularly. Vinyl flooring doesn’t really add anything to the resale value of your home.
There are several types of tile. Ceramic tiles are made from pressed clays covered with a glaze of metallic oxides and ceramic stains or finished with a matte surface. Porcelain mosaic tiles are baked at a higher temperature, which makes them thicker. Their color also goes through the tile, rather than only covering the surface. Quarry tile is an unglazed mix of shale and clays that also has color throughout.
The spaces between the tiles are filled in by grout. An epoxy grout is recommended to help resist stains. It’s usually best to choose a grout that closely matches the color of the tiles.
Pros
- There are many sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from.
- Tile is durable.
- Glazed tile resists staining and doesn’t require special cleaning or other maintenance.
- Tile is suitable for radiant heat.
Cons
- Glazed tile with no texture may be slippery and pose a safety hazard for the elderly and young children.
- Unglazed tile needs to be treated occasionally with sealants.
- Tile, like stone, can be a little hard on the feet if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
- Individual tiles may crack over time so try to get some extra ones with your original batch so that the replacements will match the other pieces.
Because laminate floors are less costly than hardwood they have become quite popular. Although,  laminates don’t have the proven track record of older, natural materials, many people swear by them. Most common is the wood-look-alike, but there are also laminates that look like marble or ceramic tiles or even terra cotta. Because of its versatility, laminate can go with just about any decor or style of home. Another reason it’s popular is because laminate can be installed by the average do-it-yourself homeowner, which obviously makes it cheaper to install than floors that require specialists. But is it right for you? Here are some pros and cons to installing laminate flooring.
Advantages of Laminate Flooring
- Laminate does a good job realistically portraying more expensive types of flooring materials.
- It’s easy to install.
- Cleaning and maintenance are low-stress.
- There’s a good price range, so you can find a laminate to suit your budget.
- Laminate floors work well in family rooms, children’s rooms, and hallways.
Disadvantages of Laminates
- It lacks the warmth of natural wood.
- The boards can warp or otherwise be damaged if exposed to moisture often (i.e. in bathrooms).
- It isn’t particularly sound absorbent.
- Laminate isn’t as durable as wood, linoleum, and higher-quality vinyl, and because it hasn’t been around that long yet, we haven’t seen how well it stands up over the decades.
Hardwood flooring is one of the best options out there, and it’s tough to make a decent pros and cons list, because there just aren’t many cons. Unlike some of the new manmade flooring materials on the market, hardwoods have been proven by the test of time. There are homes that are more than a century old with original hardwood flooring that still looks fabulous. Of course, they’ll need to be refinished now and then, but few flooring materials have the proven track record of natural wood.
Advantages
- Hardwood floors are durable and easy to clean.
- They look beautiful, offering a warm and natural effect.
- They match homes of all ages and styles.
- Hardwood floors increase the value of a home.
- They’re particularly suitable for living rooms, dens, hallways, and stairs.
Disadvantages
- Hardwoods can be noisy if they’re not sound insulated.
- They can be drafty and dusty if placed directly onto joists.
- Hardwood flooring does require periodic maintenance, and it can be scratched (think pet claws) and dented.
- Wood isn’t the best choice in rooms that are likely to get wet frequently, like a bathroom or foyer.
- Wood flooring and installation can be costly. Especially when compared to laminate or tile.
Decorating with Rugs
An area rug can pull all of the design elements of your room together. In addition to adding some wonderful color and design they also serve to keep those expensive floors safe from wear and tear.
To place a rug in a room start by choosing a rug which will allow eight inches of wood to be exposed around the rug’s perimeter.
For cozy nooks in large rooms, create small sitting areas by gathering furniture around a 4’ by 6’ or 5’ by 8’ rugs.
For a dining room rug, measure your table top; then  add four feet to the width and length to find the minimum size of your dining room rug. This extra length and width helps with pulling chairs out from under the table.
You can brighten up small areas, like your bathroom or kitchen by using smaller accent rug in bold colors.
Remember to keep your family safe by making sure that rug corners do not extend into high traffic areas and always use a rug pad to keep the rugs from sliding around on hardwood floors. the pad will also help to cut down on the wear and tear of your investment by keeping the rug in place.
