What to Look for When Shopping for Home Flooring - Your Complete Guide to Floors
March 04, 2010 For the Home 1 comment
The right flooring can pull a home together. From carpeting to wood flooring - and everything in between - there is something for everyone. So which type of flooring is right for your home? Well, when you're shopping for flooring for your home, it comes down to style, function and budget. Here's a break down of the top flooring options on the market and why you might love (or hate) these floors.
Shopping for Concrete Flooring?
Concrete isn't just for your garage and basement anymore. Concrete can be used as a flooring material for the living areas of your home, too.
Pros:
- Super stain resistant - clean up on cement flooring is easy
- Various finishes are available so concrete flooring can match any home decor
- Generally less expensive than wood or other traditional flooring
- Concrete floors are environmentally friendly
Cons:
- For cold weather dwellers, cement floors can be chilly in winter months
- Concrete is a very hard material and might not be suitable for a family with young children
Where to install concrete floors: living room areas, kitchens, hallways, foyers
Where to avoid concrete floors: bedrooms (unless you have large area rugs)
Shopping for Cork Flooring?
Cork flooring is a popular choice when it comes to refurbishing your floors. Cork floors come in a variety of styles and is easy to install yourself, which makes it a hit among homeowners.
Pros:
- Holds up to damp environments
- Variety of styles can compliment the look of your home
- Cork floors are warm (unlike vinyl flooring and wood flooring)
- Cork flooring is environmentally friendly
- Cork floors are easy to clean - spills aren't a problem
Cons:
- The biggest problem with cork flooring is the price - it's as expensive as wood flooring
- Cork flooring is also soft so consider investing in some padding for furniture in cork floored rooms
- Cork flooring can fade in direct sunlight
Where to put use cork flooring: Basements, living areas, bedrooms
Where to avoid cork flooring: bathrooms
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