Floors
Flooring is one of the most important additions you can make on a house or business and it is important to understand the pro's and con's of each type so you can make an informed decision. When you are choosing what flooring material to use, keep in mind the budget, whether you have animals or children, and what you want the room to look like.
Carpeting
Carpeting is one of the most popular flooring materials because of how comfortable it is. Instead of walking of hard, cold floors, some people prefer the warmth and insulation of a carpet. It is also a good at absorbing sound, which is helpful in noisy homes or environments. Unfortunately, carpet gets more staining and gets dirtier easier than most other flooring materials. Carpeting also comes with a bottom layer of foam to add extra insulation if it is desired, unfortunately after years of wear and tear, this material can be harder to clean back up when the carpeting is removed.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is made bamboo grass and is a very durable and thick material to use. It wears around the same as maple and oak but due to the density of bamboo grass, the need to refinish this flooring is greatly reduced. They are easily installed using the tongue-and-groove method, which is when one end of the bamboo piece has a notch and the other has a tongue. So, the bamboo flooring would be installed in a puzzle-like way.
Cork
Cork flooring not only dampens sounds and vibrations but it it known for it's comfortable feel when walked on, which makes it perfect for homeowners or business owners. It can be used upstairs in a child's playroom or downstairs in the living room where there's more company than normal. The fact that cork has anti-allergenic properties and that it is insect resistant make it one of the safer materials to use in flooring. Cork is often available in tiles and can either be glued to the floor or put down without glue.
Tile Flooring
Tiles are available in a wide variety of materials, colors, and designs such as porcelain tile and ceramic tile. Tile is durable if it's well-made and most types are easy to maintain. Though tile is easier to maintain than other flooring, the grout in the tile can become discolored and the tiles can become cracked or chipped. Once tile is cracked or chipped there's very little that can be done to fix it besides replacing the damaged tile(s). Tile is the perfect flooring for an area where spills occur often or in a room where the floor gets wet often, but it requires a lot of maintenance to keep it looking first-day clean.
Hardwood Floor
Hardwood flooring is elegant and matches most wooden furniture but it also happens to be one of the most expensive types of flooring. They also require a large amount of uptake between pet claw scratches, scuffs, and spills. Any spill or moisture has to be cleaned up immediately or the floor can crack or buckle. Hardwood is an easier flooring to clean, and maintenance is necessary for any flooring, but the homeowner has to be willing to take special care of their hardwood flooring.