From classic hardwoods to the latest in concrete staining, choosing the correct flooring for your new home or office building is an exciting endeavour. Selecting the correct product is no longer just a matter of cost, or of choosing a preferred color or material. With so many different options, variations and materials on the market, narrowing down the correct choice can become a considerably large task.
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We are going to briefly cover four of the more common types of flooring (hardwood, laminate, concrete, and tile). We will also talk about heated flooring and a few other unique options.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring has been a reliable and attractive flooring choice for centuries and offers a high quality, ageless look. In the past, hardwood was notoriously more difficult to install when compared to other flooring types. However, today’s hardwood can be available in a click-lock, glueless tongue-and-groove locking system, eliminating the need for nails or glue.
Features:
- Two types of hardwood floor construction: solid and engineered
- Can be purchased finished or unfinished
- Can be used over radiant heat (with some limitations)
Benefits:
- Can be refinished to restore the original beauty of the floor
- Adds value and character to your home
- With proper maintenance and care, lasts more than a lifetime
- Natural and non-allergenic product
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a great DIY option, as it is easy to install with no glue or nails necessary. However, it also offers a durable, professional alternative to other higher maintenance flooring materials.
Features:
- Uses a floating installation method (simply lay atop the subfloor)
- Two common types of laminate flooring installations: glueless or factory pre-glued
- Most options can be used over radiant heated concrete slabs
Benefits:
- Often a less expensive option
- Can accurately mimic the look of wood, stone, or tile
- Resistant to impact, scratching, stains, and sun fading
Concrete Flooring
Advances in concrete staining techniques have greatly lowered the cost of this process, while simultaneously improving the end result. Acids penetrate the surface and react chemically with the concrete, the results become permanent, never fading, chipping off or peeling away.
Features:
- Two types of finishes: acid-etched or polished
- Environmentally friendly and energy efficient
- Can be dyed, stained, stamped, or mixed with other materials
- Optimal for heated flooring
Benefits:
- Highly durable and low maintenance
- A wide range of pricing options
- Countless colour, texture, and surface combinations to fit any home design
Tile Flooring
Features:
- Three types of finishes applied: natural, honed, or polished
- Ceramic tiles
- manufactured from quarried clay materials that are formed into a mold
- porcelain or non-porcelain
- glazed or unglazed
- Natural stone tiles
- Quarried stone that is then slabbed, finished, and cut to size
- Most common types are granite, marble, limestone (including travertine), and slate
- Thousands of varieties and characteristics depending on where and when the stone was quarried
Benefits:
- Practical, durable and easy to maintain
- Stone tiles can boost property value and are optimal for underfloor heating systems
- Ceramic tile can be printed numerous colours, patterns, and textures, offering unique opportunity for accenting, mosaics, or motifs
One feature you could add in with some types of flooring is to have heated floors. Check out our post on heated floors to learn more!
With nearly 30 years in the industry, Westmark has developed a keen understanding of the process and a stockpile of knowledge. We are happy to discover your unique needs and share our viewpoints to help you make the best possible selection for your project.
Have a residential project or commercial build on the burner?
Sources
- https://www.homeflooringpros.com/blog-guides/types-of-flooring-that-can-be-installed-over-radiant-heating/
- https://concretefloorsydney.com/features-benefits/
- https://www.my-home-improvement.com/2012/09/05/leather-flooring-pros-and-cons/
- https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/underfloor-heating/
- https://buildipedia.com/at-home/floors/tile-flooring-101-types-of-tile-flooring
- https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/floors/the-pros-and-cons-of-concrete-flooring
- https://www.floorfacts.com/compare/laminate-floors.asp
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_flooring
- https://www.floorfacts.com/compare/hardwood-floors.asp
- https://www.thespruce.com/ceramic-flooring-pros-and-cons-1314687
- https://thestonegallery.co.uk/news/title/natural-stone-tiles-benefits
- https://www.doityourself.com/stry/pros-and-cons-of-polycarbonate-panels
- https://www.torlys.com/builder/products/leather/
- https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/cork-flooring-pros-cons/
- https://www.bobvila.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-cork-flooring/#.WK9VovkrKUl
