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One of the most important aspects when remodeling a room is the flooring.  The right floor can make the difference between a nice room and a spectacular one.  Yet, how do you decide what type of flooring to choose? Time after time I have been asked by customers “what kind of floor should I use?”  They turn to me because they know that I am a handyman and that I have quite an extensive background in flooring. 

Unfortunately, the answer is not easy because there are many things that need to be taken into consideration.  Things like how much and what type of traffic the floor will be getting along with the part of the house the floor is located in are all questions that need to be answered. And, along with that there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration.  Other factors like budget and understanding that the floor that you may like best may not always be the best choice. 

I know of one home that has laminate flooring installed in their basement.  Now, anyone who has any experience with flooring will tell you that a laminate floor is a poor choice for a basement, because should their ever be a flood the laminate will get ruined.

But, the good news is choosing the right flooring does not have to be that difficult if you just have a proper understanding of the different floors available along with the pros and cons of each one. So what I have done is create a short list of the 5 most common floors available along with their benefits and drawbacks.  Let’s take a look.

Carpet - the usage of carpet varies by locale, but carpet is a soft fabric that works great in any room.  Carpet is made by inserting or as it is known in the trade, tufting small pieces of fabric, usually nylon, polyester, olefin or wool into latex backing.

The pros - carpet comes in many styles to fit almost any décor and budget.

The cons - although some carpet fibers wear better than others, carpet does not wear as well as other flooring choices.  Also, it is easily damaged and is more difficult to clean than other flooring materials.

Laminate - laminate floors, although made to look like natural products (wood and stone) are actually comprised of a synthetic or of a synthetic and natural base material coated with a synthetic covering with a picture of the material that they are supposed to replicate slipped in between.

The pros - laminate floors are less expensive than real woods or stone and at least for wood, more durable.  Laminate floors are very easy to clean and require less maintenance than wood or stone.

The cons - they do not quite look like real wood and stone although some of the latest products are getting very close.  They also can be damaged and as for wood are more difficult to repair.  Also, you do not want to use laminates in any area that may be subject to water because due to their construction they cannot get wet.

Tile and stone - tile is created out of a mixture of clays that once formed into shape are baked with a glaze applied to the top.  Tile is also being created out of porcelain.  Stones come in many materials including marble, granite, travertine, limestone and slate.

The pros - tile and stone floors are extremely durable.  They also give off a very elegant look and feel.

The cons - stones can be stained if not protected and can both tile and stone are subject to cracking.  Natural stones and better grade tile can also be costly.  Installation is also difficult because of the weight.

Vinyl - comes in two forms, tiles and sheet goods.

The pros - vinyl comes in a wide variety of choices and is inexpensive compared to other flooring materials.   Vinyl also wears well and is easy to maintain.

The cons - vinyl can be slippery and although vinyl tiles are easily installed by do it yourselfers, vinyl sheet goods are best off being left to the professionals.

Wood - comes in a variety of species and is broken down into two type’s – engineered and hard wood.  The difference between the two is that engineered wood flooring is produced by adhering layers of plastic laminate veneer with real wood.  Hard wood is solid wood.

The pros - wood is very elegant and easy to maintain. Wood also is very soft to walk on as compared to other materials and is a good insulator.

The cons - wood is easily damaged, but unlike laminate is easily repaired.  Also like laminate flooring you need to be careful where it is installed because it does not hold up very well to moisture.

So there you have it, the five main categories of flooring along with the pros and cons of each.  Many people do not realize it, but when choosing a floor there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.  I hope that this post eases the confusion. 

 “Also, feel free to try Donald Gardner for help with *floor plans*.”