The Pros and Cons of 3 of the Most Common Types of Home Flooring

A home is more than just a set of rooms. But no home will be complete without a good flooring. When looking for homes to buy, you'll most likely encounter different types of flooring styles. These can vary significantly in cost and quality.

But regardless of the type, each flooring type has an advantage and disadvantage on its own. Take a look at some of the common flooring types to see which one is best for you!

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is slowly becoming a go-to alternative to the more expensive hardwood flooring. It's loved for a variety of reasons. First off, because it can be manufactured to look identical to any wood flooring, second, it's more durable than it looks.

Laminate flooring is made using a thin slab of compressed plywood and adding veneer. This type of flooring isn't only limited to wood. Laminate flooring can also be made to resemble other materials, including stone and tile.

Pros: The advantage of laminate flooring is that they are inexpensive. According to fixr.com, laminating flooring can cost around $8-$15 per square foot. It also comes in a variety of designs and can last a long time.

Cons: Materials like fiber and plywood can be prone to possible water damage - even if it's already sealed with veneer. This can also be much harder to repair.

Ceramic Tile Flooring

Ceramic tiles are made from sand, water, and clay. After being gathered, these elements are shaped and molded to become flooring material before being baked. The results can be matte or glossy, depending on what other processes the materials had to go through. In order to protect the final product, the ceramic tiles are topped off with a protective glaze.

Pros: Ceramic tiles are durable and also come in a variety of designs and styles. They are also a good choice if there are naughty pets and kids at home since they don't easily get scratched. As a bonus, ceramic tiles are also resistant to germs and are also easy to clean.

Cons: Ceramic can be very slippery so that it can be accident-prone of liquid is spilled on it. It's also better to install it in rooms with minimal sunlight since UV rays can fade out its color. In wintertime, these types of ties can absorb the temperature, so it may be hard to walk on this type of floor in the cold season.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring tipped out of style a long time ago. But since trends come and go, here they are coming back in style. Wood flooring can come in two types, either in solid or engineered wood. Some of the common wood choices are pine, cherry, oak, walnut, and maple.

Pros: Most homes with hardwood flooring can go for good resale value. Even though it's basically wood, the variety of wood types makes it easy to be customized. This also insulates the home while adding a touch of warmth to the eyes.

Cons: Liquid elements may easily damage or stain wood floors. They are also expensive to repair.