When we think about our home’s image, flooring may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Flooring is rather important for a number of reasons, both practical and aesthetic. In a lot of ways, it can set the tone for your home’s look. For example, you wouldn’t have stone floors in a house if you wanted it to resemble a log cabin. Similarly, you should consider having different types of flooring throughout the house. If your kitchen is going to see heavy use, it will probably grow dirty before the flooring in the rest of the house. Indeed, you can use different types of flooring to tie in with different aspects of the home. There’s a reason why a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders reports that 62% of all millennial home buyers prefer granite and natural stone slabs for their countertops. This can really pull together different design accents and create a look that is more cohesive. A lot of factors can determine what you favor in terms of luxury stone and tile and other types of flooring; let’s look into some of those flooring types and their different qualities.
1. Natural Stone
Among the different types of flooring available, natural stone stands as unique in several ways. For one thing, there are different types of stone floors available, all comprising the various luxury stone and tile choices. Some are made of marble, while others may be made of limestone or other materials like travertine, basalt, slate, and granite. Furthermore, stone can be cut down into pieces, like tile or slabs. The variety offered by stone is appreciated by a lot of homeowners, especially as these different types of stone also come in different colors. Gray, beige, black, white, and brown are common colors found among luxury stone and tile options, and they can express different kinds of vibes and atmospheres. A brown stone may come off as warmer than a black stone, and in the same sense marble can come off as more elegant while granite is more rugged, though both are equally attractive. Different types of stones are more durable than others, but in general, stone is seen as one of the tougher flooring materials. Keep in mind, however, that granite and slate are tougher than marble and limestone.
2. Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is classic, and with good reason. People love the idea of wood flooring, as it’s strong, easy to clean, and attractive. Keep in mind, however, that wood flooring can be more prone to scratching, and can sometimes show dust and other types of debris furthermore. Wood flooring also can be more difficult to clean, as it may show stains as it is cleaned. Hardwood floors can be used, but if they’re used in high traffic areas they will be more likely to show their damage. The good thing about hardwood floor is that it can be refinished more easily than stone or tile floors, but the chances are high that this material will indeed need to be refinished over time.
3. Tile
Like stone, tile flooring comes in many different forms. As previously mentioned, luxury stone and tile floors are readily available. But in a broader sense, porcelain tile and terracotta tile floors are also rather popular, and with good reason. These floors are attractive, especially in kitchen and bathroom areas. It’s easy for tiles to collect dirt in the grout, however, and they need to be cleaned fairly frequently. Another issue that can crop up with tile is that because it’s broken up into smaller pieces, some types of tile like porcelain and ceramic are more breakable than others. As long as the tile is carefully laid down, however, it should be safe and reliable.
There are so many different types of flooring available that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices. But once you’ve decided on the type of flooring, make sure that you find the right flooring company and have it well-cared for.
