Budget and Lifestyle are Key Factors in Choosing a Flooring Option

Quality should always top your list of priorities when trying to identify the right flooring for your home. However, it is wise to be conscious of your budget in every step of the process to avoid selecting products that you can’t afford.

Different flooring products are available at different prices depending on factors such as material, durability, and comfort. Some require area rugs and other accessories and treatments, which must be obtained separately. You need to have comprehensive knowledge of all flooring options at your disposal to avoid surprise expenses in the future. Here are some of the most common types of flooring and everything you should brace for as regards costs and your preferences.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is unparalleled when it comes to warmth, aesthetics, and longevity. It is also easy to refinish and repair in case of scratches, making it a cost-effective investment in the long run. What’s more, most contemporary wood flooring options are not entirely wood. They have an underlying synthetic material, which significantly reduces the cost without necessarily compromising the look and feel of classic hardwood.

Ceramic Tile

The numerous advantages of ceramic tile, especially the porcelain variety, make it arguably the most common modern type of flooring. It comes in many shapes, colors, and designs, and has been shown to be more robust than granite. This makes it one of the most durable flooring options.

That said, ceramic has a lot to beware of on the flipside. It is a weighty material that can weaken a poorly constructed structure if used on the walls. Also, it can cost you quite a lot both to purchase and to repair in case of damage. Be sure to take all these costs into account before settling for ceramic as your preferred choice of flooring material.

Vinyl

PVC flooring comes in different shapes and patterns. It acts as a great mimic and can be used as an alternative to another more expensive material such as wood, tile or marble. Advancement in material and manufacturing technology has also made PVC products to look like ceramic, which is an aesthetically superior flooring material. Vinyl floors can fit into the tightest of budgets, but you have to be ready for repair costs if you’re going to install it in a high-traffic space.

Laminate

Laminate is similar to vinyl in many aspects including affordability and how it is manufactured. It is, however, superior in durability and resistance to staining, scratches, chipping, and fading. Perhaps its most significant downside is that once it sustains scratches, it cannot be refinished like hardwood or granite.

Mosaic tile flooring

Mosaic tiles bear the most artistic leeway as each tile can be made to take a unique pattern. They are made from hundreds of micro-tiles arranged in specific patterns to achieve different guises. They are also very durable and can fit in any room as long as the color and pattern are chosen carefully.

As regards cost, you can comfortably say mosaic flooring offers value for money to its users. They can, however, be very fragile and prone to breakage, making them a relatively costly investment.