• I’m sort of new to the flooring market, what are my options?

So glad you asked! Well, there are five main categories of flooring: hardwood, tile, carpet, resilient, and laminate. In addition to these, there are alternative flooring materials also available such as linoleum, cork, and bamboo to name a few. Within each of these categories, there are a variety of options!

Hardwood

When we say hardwood, we are talking about a genuine piece of wood, not particle board. Hardwood is the real deal and comes in two main forms: solid and engineered.

Solid hardwood is the same piece of genuine wood throughout while engineered hardwood consists of multiple layers of high-quality plywood glued together with a thin top veneer of solid hardwood. In the top-quality products, the top layer of hardwood is 1/4 of an inch thick.

Recently, manufacturers have begun producing engineered hardwood with more dense cores to improve dent resistance or even manufacturing engineered hardwood with a vinyl layer to make them more water-resistant.

Hardwood also comes in various species (oak, maple, cherry, pine, etc), textures (hand scraped, wire brushed, smooth, etc), colors (stain), and finishes (protection).

Tile

When we say tile, we’re talking about ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone products. In other words, we're talking about both man-made and naturally occurring stones from the earth.

Ceramic is a man-made tile consisting of clay minerals, feldspar, sand, quartz, and other additives that are pulverized, then pressed together at pressures ranging from hundreds of pounds per square inch (PSI) to 100,000 PSI. These formations are then printed upon, glazed (or not glazed), heated and fired in a kiln between 1,200 to 2,000 °F, and then cooled before packaging. Ceramic is probably the most common type of tile as it’s the most affordable of these three categories of tile.

Porcelain is also a ceramic tile created from higher quality raw materials, more refined, heated in a kiln at higher temperatures (between 2,200 and 2,600 °F) thus yielding a higher quality finished product. The end result is a through-body material that is considered “impervious” to moisture because of its extremely low water-absorption rate. Porcelain boasts a very high break strength making it suitable for high-traffic areas and even stiletto heels.

Both ceramic and porcelain come in many shapes, sizes, and looks. You can find wood-look and stone-look tiles on the market and many other styles.

Natural stone is a product quarried from the earth and cut into slabs of specific length, width, and thickness and then finished for its final presentation. Within the category of natural stone are granite, marble, slate, travertine, and limestone. Each of these options come in varying shapes, sizes, and finishes. There’s no need for printing designs because you’re getting the real thing!

Carpet

Carpet is the softest of all flooring surfaces and is made from woven fabric and typically shaped to fit your room (wall to wall). Most carpet today is a tufted product which means the yarns are threaded through a backing system that holds them together. Carpet comes in two basic styles: cut pile (plush) and loop (also known as berber) as well as a mix of the two.

The most common thread material on the market today is nylon though that may be changing. Other materials with their own strengths and weaknesses include polyester (PET), polypropylene (olefin), wool, and last but not least, PTT (Triexta Polyester). PTT is becoming a contender in the carpet market for the best performing thread system. One of the main companies using PTT fibers in their carpets is Mohawk.

Carpet, like other flooring options, comes in various colors, designs, and formats (broadloom rolls or carpet tiles). Each yarn type performs differently in terms of crush resistance, color-fastness, and stain-resistance.

Resilient Resilient flooring includes a wide variety of materials including vinyl composite tile (VCT), sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), luxury vinyl tile (LVT), linoleum, rubber, and cork products.

Luxury vinyl flooring has become the most popular hard-surface product in the US probably due to its low price point and the advancements in printing and manufacturing techniques creating more realistic looks. Vinyl’s durability and water resistance and also make it an attractive option. Additionally, newly developed rigid core technology makes this flooring choice even more appealing with its higher dent resistance.

Sheet vinyl is just as it sounds. It’s one continuous roll of vinyl, typically 12 feet wide. It’s comprised of four layers: a top wear layer (urethane), a print layer, the vinyl core (polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers), and the fibrous backing. Vinyl comes in a variety of designs that typically mimic tile or hardwood floors though an endless selection of other designs exist as well.

Cushioned vinyl sheet was developed in the 1960s and provides an option with more give and spring.

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) is unique from the other vinyls with its through-body design, which means it is the same color on the surface and all the way to the back. Scratches can be buffed out and the surface refinished. VCT needs to be polished to keep looking its best and resist wear. While up-front costs are low, the cost comparison between VCT (that you want to keep looking and performing well) and LVT over a 10-year period is markedly different.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are similar to sheet vinyl with their multiple layers. The main difference is that they come in planks or tiles to better imitate the hardwood or tile floors. Because they come in individual pieces, manufacturers have been able to add rigid cores for stability and dent resistance, locking systems that provide the option to float the floor, high performing backing materials to deaden sound, reduce telegraphing and balance the subfloor. LVP and LVT also come in any look under the sun with wear layers warrantied for commercial settings.

Linoleum is another resilient option, but it differs from vinyl in that it’s made entirely of natural materials. Linoleum is comprised of linseed oil (also called linoxyn), tree resins, recycled wood flour, cork dust, and mineral pigments, all of which mounted on a jute or canvas backing. Due to its construction, it’s completely eco friendly and won’t emit any toxic VOCs. It also has through-body design like VCT, which means it can be repaired, saving customers from a more-costly total replacement.It’s gaining popularity in today’s more green-conscious market.

Rubber flooring is a great option for gyms for it’s resilience and dent resistance. We just installed some Ecore recycled rubber flooring in a gym in our area.

Cork flooring is another eco-friendly option for its sustainable sourcing.

Laminate

Laminate is a high-density floor covering made of particleboard wood with a high-definition design layer printed on it. Each piece is covered by a protective wear layer and a backing protecting against moisture and balancing the floor underneath. Competitive for its low price point and durability (highly scratch and dent resistant), laminate remains an attractive option. Higher-end laminates have more convincing looks while others have new water-repelling technology.

You can purchase laminate in just about any design imaginable thanks to its printed design layer. Various sizes and shapes are also available. Additionally, laminate is installed as a floating floor, not needing to be nailed to the subfloor, which makes it a great DIY option.

• How do I know which type of flooring to choose?

Because of the many options, it can be hard to know where to start. We recommend answering these four questions to get off on the right foot:

1. Where will it be installed and how will it be used?
2. What’s my budget?
3. What type of look do I want?
4. What is the maintenance regimen?

Where will it be installed and how will it be used?

Depending where your new flooring is going to be installed, you’ll know right away which options are in and which options are out. Solid hardwood, for example, is not recommended for basements or areas with high amounts of moisture. Do you have kids and pets? Stone, laminate or a rigid-core vinyl with a high-quality wear layer would be a great choice for their durability, scratch and stain-resistant qualities. Tile in kitchens and bathrooms is wonderful, but if you want something softer and warmer underfoot, a resilient product like vinyl or linoleum would be recommended. Low traffic areas like bedrooms are a great place for carpet. Do you have an outdoor space you’d like to beautify with flooring? Natural stone, porcelain tile, ceramic quarry tile, and exterior carpet are great options for that.

Knowing the material, their strengths and limitations, is critical to making the best decision for flooring in a particular space. Our sales team loves walking customers through all these options to help them make the best decision for their needs.

What’s my budget?

Prices for flooring material can vary from less than $1/square foot to $15/square foot. Installation costs (labor) can range from $0.90 to $15 per square foot.

Here is a general idea for the price range for material and installation costs:

• Carpet: $3 to $10 per square foot
• Sheet Vinyl: $3 to $8 per square foot
• Laminate: $4 to $9 per square foot
• Luxury Vinyl: $5 to $12 per square foot
• Linoleum: $5 to $10 per square foot
• Hardwood: $8 to $18 per square foot
• Tile: $10 to $25 per square foot
• Tile on walls (showers): $17 to $35 per square foot

Depending on the amount you’re looking to spend on your new floor, this price range can give you an idea of what works for you. To help our customers with the cost, we offer free financing for 6 and 12 months.

What type of look do you want?

For the most convincing looks, nothing beats genuine hardwood or natural stone. So if those two options passed your first two questions, then you may have your answer! Still, the other options have rather convincing looks as well.

As mentioned earlier, hardwood offers the real thing along with various colored finishes and textures. Here are the different texture options:

• Smooth - boards are sanded flat and typically prefinished at the factory. It adds elegance to a room but can show scratches and dents more quickly.
• Hand-scraped gives that hand-made look and adds character. This method includes several indentations and a wave like appearance created with the wood scrapers. Additionally, the more handscraped texture a hardwood floor has, the more it will hide scratches and dents.
• Distressed or Reclaimed - typically an antique look with marks that include dents, burns or blackening of edges. This texture is perfect for heavy trafficked households or homes with lots of pets, as the polished distressing helps to camouflage any actual dents and scratches that may occur.
• Wire Brushed - this is a middle ground texture — between smooth and handscraped. The wire-brushing process is just as it sounds; the finish is lightly scraped with a wire brush, creating long and linear strokes. This wire-brushed texture really accentuates linear grain patterns, like that of oak flooring and it makes a hardwood floor a little bit more interesting than if it had just a smooth surface.

Similarly, natural stone has several finishing options. These include:

• Polishing - A polished finish is high-gloss and reflective. Once polished, an added benefit is that granite is more resistant to stains
• Honing - A honed finish is similar to a polished finish but presents a matte appearance. This finish is achieved simply by stopping at an earlier stage in the polishing process. A honed finish is recommended for flooring because of its ability to better hide foot traffic and the evidence of wear as well as reduce the risk of slipping.
• Flaming - A flamed finish is achieved when extremely high temperatures (often supplied by a blowtorch) are introduced to the surface of the granite, causing the individual grains to burst and change color. The result is a rougher and more natural look.
• Leather/brushed - A leathered finish is similar to honed in that is presents a matte look without the reflective element of a polished finish. Unlike a honed finish, however, a leathered finish leaves pits and fissures on the surface giving a slightly bumpy texture.
• Tumbled - This presents a more rustic or worn look. This process consists of placing the marble tiles into a rubber drum that also includes things like rocks, sand, and water to create this type of finish.

Ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, and laminates simply try to mimic these looks. Both with the glaze/finish/wear layer and the printed design layer, many of these alternatives come pretty close to looking and feeling like the real thing. They can also create completely abstract looks or linear/woven patterns like we mentioned earlier.

Linoleum has its own look entirely. We see this look in VCT as well, but because of how linoleum is made, it either has a linear or marbled pattern in its finished product in any color you’d like.

What is the maintenance regimen?

The most easily-maintained flooring option is probably a glue-down LVP or LVT or a laminate product.

Natural stones require periodic resealing.

Tile grout might need to be cleaned unless you installed a sealed epoxy grout that better resists staining.

Hardwood flooring dents and scratches easier (especially easy if your protective layer is cheap).

Carpet will need to be regularly vacuumed and professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months.

Linoleum and VCT needs regular sweeping and mopping as well as periodic waxing to protect and preserve their looks.

Cork needs a special cork cleaning solution in addition to normal maintenance.

Shaw Floors has a lot written on the subject of maintenance. Visit their site for their comprehensive guide!

• How much does an installation cost?

As mentioned earlier, installation costs (labor) can range from $0.90 to $15 per square foot. The cost of the installation is a combination of factors listed here:

• Removal and disposal of the old floor
• Replacement of subfloor
• Labor and extra wood—small spaces with intricate corners/angles, floor registers, staircases take more time
• Moving furniture (do this yourself and save money)
• Your location
• Installation materials - glue or nails

• How durable is it?

• Most durable: Porcelain tile and concrete, and natural stone are the hardest and most durable flooring options.

• Overall best: LVP, especially rigid core due to its high performance and low price point

• Cheapest option: Polypropylene (Olefin) carpet

• How long will it last (longevity)?

There are several factors that play into longevity, so there’s not really an easy answer. If we had to pick the most long-lasting flooring that we install, our choice would probably be solid hardwood. People are refinishing hardwood floors from as far back as the 1700s.

The longevity of any material depends on the quality of the material, the environment where it’s installed, and how well it’s maintained. When comparing Laminate and LVP, for example, it’s true that they are similar in durability, but in a kitchen or bathroom, LVP wins for sure for its resistance to damage from moisture.

Here’s a rough ranking of flooring material and how long it can last:

1. Solid Hardwood (100+ years)
2. Tile (50 years)
3. Bamboo (50 years)
4. Linoleum (20 to 40 years)
5. Cork (25 years)
6. Vinyl (20 to 40 years)
7. Laminate (10 to 30 years)
8. Carpet (10 to 25 years)