What are the characteristics of hardwood flooring? There’s nothing like a hardwood floor for natural beauty, warmth and ease of cleaning. Its distinctive grains and swirling burnished figures add a classic touch throughout your home. Hardwood’s rich character never goes out of style. Good looking, long lasting and a great investment in your home’s overall value, hardwood flooring is the perfect marriage of practicality and elegance when it comes to home improvement.Oak and maple are the most popular. New: pre-oiled exotic woods, available with semi-gloss and gloss finishes.Wood flooring is available in several styles:Strip FlooringThe flooring comes in strips with widths that range from 1 1/2″ through 2 1/2″ and thicknesses of 5/16″ through 3/4″. Strip flooring creates a traditional look, and can produce an illusion that a room is larger than it is.Plank FlooringPlank flooring also comes in strips, but they are wider, usually from 3″ through 8″. Plank flooring can be used to create a more rustic or earthy look as well as a historical appearance with antique applications.Handscraped FlooringHandscraped hardwood floors have become one of the most sought after looks in flooring today. Replicating the look of reclaimed wood or of centuries of lived-on wear, handscraped hardwood floors beam with character and charm while boasting today’s most enduring urethane finishes.Wire Brushed FloorsWire brushed floors imitate the lived-on charm of handscraped hardwood floors with a less obvious level of distress applied to the faux wear markings. These floors, too, offer the enduring beauty of today’s innovations in urethane finishes.
What are the pros of hardwood flooring? Forms a warm, natural atmosphere.Never goes out of fashion.More comfortable for legs and back than harder surfaces.Durable if properly sealed.With oiled floors, a sanding and a coat of mineral oil will hide scratches.Look for longer boards to avoid a patchwork effect.
What are the cons of hardwood flooring? Requires resealing every few years, but floorboards with a factory-sealed finish can be extremely resistant if they’re good quality.Dirt can accumulate in too-wide joints between boards.
What are the characteristics of carpet? There are a number of reasons why carpet is a great choice for many of the rooms in your home.Carpet offers a variety of colors, patterns and styles to satisfy any personal style and match any decor.Carpet’s cushioned surface absorbs sound and is less noisy to walk on than hard surface flooring.When considering affordability, carpet is one of the most economical flooring products to have installed.The insulating properties of carpet provide additional warmth underfoot during cold seasons.Carpet is a non-slip surface that is safe underfoot and provides a cushion to prevent breakage when delicate items are accidentally dropped.Most synthetic carpets are treated with static, stain and soil resistant treatments, making them easy to clean and maintain.Select the Right Fiber for YouTo pick the right fiber, consider how you live in each room. There are basically four types of fiber:NylonNylon is the most durable and stain resistant carpet fiber available, when treated with stain protection. It is the fiber of choice for homes with pets and children and for those who entertain a lot. Perfect for heavy traffic in hallways and stairs.PolyesterPolyester is known for its luxurious look, feel and wonderful selection of colors and styles. It’s a good value for homes with a normal amount of traffic.OlefinOlefin offers good stain and moisture resistance, but scores below nylon and polyester for wearability It is best suited for loop pile construction or high, very dense cut piles.WoolFavored for its natural beauty. Wool carpet has natural soil resistance qualities, but is not inherently stain resistant. Wool looks good for a long time and is well constructed.
What are the pros of carpet flooring? Available in a variety of patterns, colors and styleEconomical and fashionableAbsorbs sounds, less noisy than hardwood floorsCarpets provide better insulation than any other flooringComfortable and CushionyDelicate or fragile items is less likely to break due to its cushiony properties
What are the cons of carpet flooring? Stains and heavily soiled areas are hard to cleanFrequent vacuuming is required to clean the carpetRequires deep cleaning once every three months depending on fiber propertiesCan be cut, teared and burnt
What are the characteristics of laminate flooring? Laminate’s smartly balanced durability, good looks and value pricing means you can expand your decorating ideas without increasing your budget or sacrificing quality. Today’s laminates are available in a broad variety of handsomely crafted designs. You’ll find laminates in vivid, swirling wood grains so natural looking you’d swear they were solid hardwood.Others re-create the ornate appeal of tile or stone, while still providing the rugged durability at a value price that makes laminate flooring so practical for any room in your home. Whether you prefer the natural look of wood or stone, or the effect of colors and geometric patterns produced by artisans, you’ll find a long-wearing laminate to accomplish your decorating ideas within the budget you’ve set.Rest assured the beautiful design you love today will remain beautiful in the years to come.All laminates are constructed of four layers: wear, design, core and back.The wear layer is a clear layer of aluminum oxide that protects against fading, stains and surface burns.The design layer contains a high resolution photograph of the floor’s surface appearance and provides you with a variety of looks from the burnished swirls of natural hardwood to the earthen textures of ceramic or stone tiles.The core layer is a construction durable high-density board which protects against indentations and moisture.The back layer is a stability layer, which protects the planks against moisture and helps balance the floor.Thanks to layered construction, laminate flooring absorbs the heavy traffic and day-to-day use of an active family, while it continues to look as good as the day it was installed.
What the pros of laminate flooring? Resists stains, scratches, dents, even cigarette burns.Relatively easy to DIY (Do It Yourself), often directly on top of existing floor.Click-into-place styles can simply be dismantled and taken with you when you move.Good-quality laminate can last up to 25 years.
What are the cons of laminate flooring? Not recommended for bathrooms or other damp areas.Must be replaced when worn.
What are the characteristics of tile flooring? With its timeless beauty and long-wearing durability, ceramic, porcelain and stone tile flooring create a unique look that’s as practical as it is personal. It’s perfect in kitchens and baths where moisture resistance and easy maintenance are essential. And its impact and scratch-resistant properties make it ideal for family and recreation rooms that get heavy-duty use.You’ll find innovative designs in ceramic, porcelain and stone tile that are as affordable as they are appealing. Today’s broad selection of ceramic, porcelain and stone tile is suitable for both casual and formal settings. You’ll find a stunning array of choices including glazed and unglazed finishes; deco, rustic and contemporary styles; and porcelain, slate and terra cotta tiles. And, you can create endless designs throughout your home with perfectly matched decorative accents and trim pieces.
What are the pros of tile flooring? Huge selection of colors, styles and sizes.Can easily be coordinated to tile backsplash.Available in Porcelain, which is stronger than ceramic, durable and low maintenanceAvailable in many different materials such as Marble, Granite, Travertine and Mosaic
What are the cons of tile flooring? Can cause discomfort to legs and back after prolonged standing.Not all tiles are equally wear-resistant; high-traffic areas like kitchens call for stronger ceramic.Can crack or chip.Needs a level subfloor.
What are the characteristics of vinyl? Ease of installation, carefree maintenance, overall durability and value … with all these great features and a great price, vinyl can’t be beat. Its rugged versatility and water resistance accounts for its widespread use in kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, dens, playrooms, finished basements and workshops. Vinyl stands up to moisture, heavy household traffic, and the active play of children and pets.No matter where you install vinyl, it never needs waxing. You can wipe away scuff marks and food spills with a damp paper towel! Now, that’s easy clean-up. Available in high-fashion designs made possible through innovative manufacturing techniques, today’s vinyl combines a luxurious appearance and cozy, foot-cushioning resilience to make a truly elegant – and comfortable – floor covering.It’s vinyl like you’ve never seen it before! The look of vinyl has changed drastically in the last few years, making your design possibilities limitless. Along with traditional and contemporary fashion colors and geometric patterns, vinyl is now available in natural wood and stone looks. The remarkable variety of decorator designs makes it more practical than ever for your home’s formal as well as casual settings. Remarkably realistic, vinyl flooring that reflects the timeless beauty of wood and stone retains all the other traditional advantages of vinyl, including low maintenance and affordability.The top layers of construction are identical in both felt and fiberglass vinyl:Protective top coat:Urethane or another high-performance top coat provides ease of maintenance by resisting scratches and scuffs in a wipe clean finish.Protective clear vinyl layer:This thick layer of protection enhances performance and adds durability by protecting against rips, tears, and gouges. The thicker the clear vinyl layer, the more durable and lasting your vinyl floor will be.Printed vinyl design layer:The rotogravure printing process allows an unlimited array of patterns and designs in vinyl flooring. In fact, some of today’s top-selling styles feature very realistic interpretations of natural materials including wood and stone.The bottom layers for both constructions differ:Felt:Sheet vinyl with a bottom layer of felt adheres directly to the subfloor.Fiberglass:Sheet vinyl with a bottom layer of fiberglass provides for greater dimensional stability. This means fiberglass vinyl will not curl, lays flat, and installs without glue. Additionally, the fiberglass backing provides a cushiony, soft feel underfoot.The type of backing determines how your vinyl floor can be installed.
What are the pros of vinyl flooring? Can cause discomfort to legs and back after prolonged standing.Not all tiles are equally wear-resistant; high-traffic areas like kitchens call for stronger ceramic.Can crack or chip.Needs a level subfloor.
What are the cons of vinyl flooring? Vulnerable to scratches, tears, stains and wear.If not property installed, the vinyl tiles can come loose and bumps could develop.
