When choosing flooring, there are many factors to take into consideration. How a floor looks is one of the first things to think about, like how it will work with your wall colors and furnishings. Then there is function. Function is about where the floor will be located, which dictates interaction. And that brings us to the question of durability. Lastly, homeowners need to consider the amount of time they have to keep it clean. Because a clean floor withstands the test of time.
Looks, function, durability, and ease of care need to be top of mind when choosing between wood, vinyl, and tile flooring. Each type of flooring has its pluses and minuses.
Wood Flooring
There is a reason that wood flooring is currently the number one choice for homes. It enhances the look of any room, it is warm and inviting, and it is pretty easy to keep clean with a good sweep every day. Wood flooring also adds value to your home.
When choosing a wood floor, there are two types to consider, natural or engineered. The first is made of a single piece of wood, the latter only has a layer of wood over the top of other materials.
Real wood flooring can be refinished and last for years and years. Old hardwood floors in homes that are over 100 years old can look like new after being sanded and refinished. But solid wood floors need to be laid on a wood subfloor because each board is nailed into the subfloor.
Engineered wood is made so it can lay over many different substrata. An engineered wood floor locks together and floats over the subflooring which only needs to be level. It cannot, however, be refinished.
Water is the bane of wood floors. That is why wood floors are not good for bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, or any place that gets lots of wet shoes tromping over it. Doesn’t matter if it is engineered or not. Wood soaks up moisture and buckles.
Softwoods also don’t like high heels. A heel will make a dent it a soft pine floor. Some may consider it a kind of patina, others won’t.
Vinyl Flooring
Sheet vinyl flooring is not a thing of the past, and it has its place, but luxury vinyl flooring can have the look and feel of a real wood floor while being waterproof. This makes vinyl flooring perfect for the areas where wood just doesn’t stand up. Vinyl looks lovely in a bathroom or laundry room.
Like engineered wood flooring, vinyl comes in planks that click together, making it easy to lay over any type of old floor, be it concrete, wood, tile, cork, or old linoleum. It is easy to clean. It is beautiful. And it is less expensive than the real thing.
Luxury vinyl tile is made to not only look like wood, but also like natural stone, slate, and marble. This allows for more flexibility than wood.
Unfortunately, vinyl tile fades over time in the sun. Making it a bad choice for a sunroom. It can also be punctured by sharp objects, and dragging furniture with any kind of sharp edge will cut it pretty easily. While you can fill in scratches in wood with a little touch-up, vinyl can’t be touched up. It has to be replaced.
Tile Flooring
Tile is beautiful. It is durable. It is waterproof. It washes up well. There are many pattern options. Flooring tile can come in wood-look planks like luxury vinyl. It can also come in a variety of other patterns, like Saltillo and faux marble, two hot patterns right now. It can be glossy or matte.
Impact will break tile. Broken tile has to be replaced. It can’t be fixed. And while laying and replacing tile is pretty simple, it is not easy.
When it gets cold outside, your tile floors will get cold. They also stay cool in the summer.
They can be laid on may things, and they are the only flooring of the three that can be used outside. However, they are heavier than other types of flooring.
Choices, Choices
Overall, tile offers the greatest flexibility. Vinyl is warmer than either option in the winter. And wood offers beauty to be unsurpassed.
Make sure to balance the pluses and minuses for your space. A perfect floor is one that adds beauty to your room while providing durability and ease of care.
Want more tips? Check out our blogs on wood floors, vinyl, and tile.
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