Materials Basics
Beautiful and professional flooring solutions
Hardwood
Laminate
Ceramic & Porcelain
Vinyl
Carpet
Stone
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwoods are an excellent material for different usage from—cooking, fuel, tools, building boats, barrel making, furniture making, and construction.
Hardwood as a material for home improvement adds value to your homes by providing a classic look that fits with different home interior styles.
Hardwood is a strong and versatile option for your choice of home improvement materials. As a result, this material has a significant purpose in home improvement, especially for construction, wood flooring, and other DIY projects.
Qualities of Hardwood
- Appearance
- Water and heat resistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Durability
Appearance
Hardwood provides a classic and recognizable look to everyone, with its main appeal being natural wood and attractive patterns depending on the type of wood.
Water and heat resistance
Although wood flooring is an excellent flooring option for your house, it is inadvisable in locations within the house where moisture and water spills and present.
Hardwood is susceptible to intense heat as it may scar the wood and show scorch marks through it. This can be remedied by sanding out and refinishing the hardwood.
Cleaning and maintenance
Hardwood’s care and cleaning procedure involve sweeping and regular vacuuming to remove the dirt. For a more thorough cleaning procedure—use a damp mop with a wood cleaner to clean the hardwood.
Durability
Hardwood can last for decades, and signs of wear can be sanded down and refinished to remedy the wood. During full-scale sanding jobs for the hardwood, the surface should be renewed regularly every few years.
Types of Hardwood
- Yellow Birch
- Oak
- Hickory
- Teak
- Rosewood
- Alder
- Southern Yellow Pine
- Poplar
- Pecan
- Brazilian Cherry
- Black walnut
Yellow Birch
The Yellow birch is a heavy, strong, and even-textured hardwood. The yellow birch wood, however, is susceptible to decay and predatory insects. It is commonly used for furniture, cabinetry, interior finish, interior doors, boxes, and veneer.
Black Walnut
The Black Walnut wood is a relatively rare hardwood in the wild. It is an expensive wood with deep rich brown color that is used to make furniture, guns oars, coffins, and flooring.
Oak
Oak wood is a durable and long-lasting class of hardwood with aesthetically attractive wood grain. The oak is commonly used for furniture making, flooring, paneling, and decking.
Hickory
Hickory wood is a robust, shock-resistant hardwood used for tool handles such as hammers, axes, etc. Hickory wood is considered to be difficult to work with. However, it is still used for flooring and furniture during home improvement projects as it gives off a rustic aesthetic with light colors.
Teak
Teak is a hardwood found within the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. Teak gives off a golden or medium brown wood color that eventually darkens over time. Teak also contains a higher oil content than any other hardwood which helps it protect from insects and decay. Teak is known to be water-resistant, and due to this, it can be effectively used for wooden carvings, outdoor furniture, sculptures, and boats.
Rosewood
Rosewood is a hardwood that gives off a dark brown to purplish red. Similar to Teakwood, Rosewood also has a high oil content that protects itself from decay and gives off that natural luster. Unfortunately, rosewood is considered to be endangered and can only have a limited amount of supply from the market. Rosewood is a strong wood used for decorative items, furniture, and musical instruments.
Alder
Alder is one of the softest types of hardwood, giving off light brown wood color. It is excellent for the use of bedding, cabinet, and different types of furniture inside the house.
Southern Yellow Pine
The Southern Yellow Pine is a hardwood that has a strong, durable, and long-lasting quality.
Southern Yellow Pine is used for utility purposes by construction workers to build sturdy structural elements such as stairs, joinery, flooring, furniture, decking, and sheds.
Poplar
Poplar is a light-colored texture of hardwood. Considered to be soft, and medium than the other hardwoods on the list. As a result, it is much easier to work with. Poplar wood is used for high-end plywood and construction-grade lumber.
Pecan
Pecan hardwood is a subgroup of the hickory. It has weaker wood products compared to hickory wood which can also be hard, and difficult to work with. The pecan hardwood is used for furniture making.
Brazilian Cherry
The Brazilian Cherry or the Jatoba is a native of the Brazilian rainforest. The Brazilian cherry is not a member of the cherry family, but the term came from the reddish hue of the wood. The Brazilian cherry has flexible and termite-resistant qualities which makes it an excellent flooring material.
Laminate Flooring
Finding ways to achieve the classic look of the hardwood without it is possible by using laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is synthetic flooring made up of layers three to four layers. The layers consist of— plywood or fiberboard as a base flooring.
Depending on the laminate flooring there would be an extra backing layer on the bottom for extra protection. Glued above the base or core layer is a printed, high-resolution image of a wood flooring or a material of your choice. On the top layer would be a thin transparent layer made of plastic to protect the high-resolution printed image and the other layers below it.
Laminate flooring is a cheaper alternative for homeowners who fancies the classic look of hardwood, stone floors, and any other flooring aesthetic of their choice. Laminate flooring can be considered artificial, but it is low maintenance and durable option for homeowners.
There is no shortage of choices of flooring aesthetics when it comes to laminate flooring, as printing technology has gone a long way to produce high-quality photo-realistic images of wood and stone flooring.
Pros and Cons of laminate flooring
Pros
- Easy to install
- Durable
- Cheap
easy to install
Laminate flooring is a convenient flooring option to install. It can easily be treated as your next DIY to install the laminate flooring in your home improvement projects.
Durable
Laminate flooring does not disappoint with durability considering it has an average life expectancy of fifteen to twenty-five years. Laminate flooring is exceptionally durable even with all the traffic; It can withstand time with less damage. Unlike hardwood, it doesn’t get discolored or scratched easily. Laminate flooring has the added protection of the plastic layer on the top, and is resistant to UV lighting.
cheap
Laminate flooring is a much cheaper alternative than any other flooring option on the market. Hardwood, for example, is an authentic and organic material that would cost more than laminate flooring.
Cons
- No option for refinishing
- Liquid Damage
- Artificial
No option for refinishing
There is no option of refinishing the laminate flooring whenever it is damaged; On the contrary, you can refinish hardwood to fix or remove the damage from the material. Laminate flooring consists of layers, where once there are damages or signs of wearing out, there is a need to replace the laminate flooring.
Liquid Damage
Laminate floors are susceptible to anything that is liquid, not just to water. Liquid can cause stains and break down to the laminate flooring if not properly maintained. There are waterproof laminate floors available on the market to resist water damage; however, it is still advisable to avoid exposing the laminate flooring to liquid damage as much as possible.
Artificial
No matter how much the quality resolution images of the laminate flooring, it will never compare to an authentic counterpart of the given flooring. On closer inspection, laminate flooring would show pattern repetition compared to its organic counterpart of hardwood or stone flooring.
Ceramic and porcelain Tile Flooring
Ceramic & porcelain tile flooring is one of the staple options for home improvement projects. A versatile flooring option for bathrooms and kitchens, the ceramic and porcelain tile flooring can go along with your preferred interior design options.
The tile flooring works well for its durability and offers a wide array of different designs and styles. Ceramic & Porcelain tiles can come in different variations in their design, hardness, size, and even shape. Even if you have bought the cheaper ones, ceramic and porcelain tiles can deliver aesthetically within the house.
Tile floorings are essentially made from either porcelain or ceramics, with clay materials for the base. It is best to know more about which of these types of tile flooring works for your home improvement project.
Porcelain Tiles
The porcelain tile can be considered a durable option compared to the other options on the list. The porcelain tile is made from fine clays packed at high pressures and heated at higher temperatures, which results in a much more durable product than its ceramic counterpart.
Ceramic Tiles
The ceramic tile is the cheaper option compared to the porcelain counterpart. This tile can be easier to work with as it is much easier to cut and more flexible; Regardless, of the ceramic tile being the cheaper option between the two, the ceramic tile still won’t disappoint aesthetically with your home improvement goals. It can still provide a classic and glossy feel with an added texture for visual effects for your house.
Wall tiles
Apart from the other types of tile flooring, there are also wall tiles that can go thinner, and lighter than your regular floor tiles which are specifically made for foot traffic.
Pros and cons of tile flooring
pros
- Long-lasting and durable
- Water-resistant
- Low-maintenance
Long-lasting and durable
Tile floorings can be a long-lasting flooring option for you. Tile floorings can provide a timeless look for your homes and extend to around 15-20 years due to their durability.
Water-resistant
Tile floorings are an excellent choice of floorings for the bathroom and kitchens as these floorings are water-resistant with the help of their glass-like properties. The tiles themselves are made out of grout and can be susceptible to water, hence, these floorings are categorized by how much water they can absorb. If you are aiming for those glass-like and water-resistant qualities then best to look out for the ones that are classified as vitreous or semi-vitreous.
Even with its long-lasting and water-resistant properties, tile flooring still needs to be properly maintained to retain its resistant qualities.
Low-maintenance
The tile flooring is a low-maintenance option by just cleaning it lightly regularly.
Cons
- Expensive
- Grout issues
- Uncomfortable
Expensive
Tile flooring can be expensive compared to other flooring options such as laminate flooring. It is good to note that porcelain and ceramic tiles may have an expensive installation process compared to laminate, or vinyl floorings.
Grout issues
Tile flooring has grout issues between the tiles, especially in high-traffic areas. This needs to be actively maintained as grout is cement-based, which can be porous and spread through from moisture and dirt. Common issues are staining, crumbling and mold are ones to look out for. You can treat this by cleaning the area regularly to avoid these issues.
uncomfortable
Tile flooring is notorious for cooling down the floor, especially during the winter season. This results in uncomfortable, chilly feels on the foot. An expensive alternative to combat this issue is to install an underfloor heater or radiant heating to keep the floor tiles at an equilibrium temperature. The underfoot heater may come at a price so it is noted and keep your flooring options open.
Vinyl Tile Flooring
Vinyl flooring is one of the cheapest options available for your flooring projects. Floorings like hardwood and stone flooring can cost much more considering the authenticity of the materials.
Vinyl flooring has much more design flexibility and customization compared to— hardwood and stone flooring. However, vinyl flooring gives a simulated look to the flooring that can’t be compared to its authentic counterparts such as hardwood and stone flooring; hence, it is one of the less expensive options for your next home improvement project.
Vinyl flooring consists of layers of synthetic flooring— from materials such as PVC, fiberglass, and plastic.
Layers of Vinyl flooring
- Wear Layer
- Pattern Layer
- Base Layer
Wear Layer
The wear layer is the uppermost layer of the vinyl flooring that serves as a scratch, stain, and fade-resistant protection from the vinyl flooring. It provides an easy-to-clean surface and a comfortable feel.
Pattern Layer
The Décor layer is the printed image of the vinyl tile floor, which simulates the look of the—wood, stone, ceramic, or any other flooring image of your choice.
Base Layer
The core layer of that gives the structure of the vinyl flooring and dent-resistant properties. This layer makes up the bulk of the flooring.
Pros and cons of vinyl flooring
Pros
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Cheap
comfortable
Vinyl flooring has a comfortable texture with its soft and padded feel, other than it being comfortable texture-wise, vinyl tile has soundproof qualities which helps reduce the echo within the room.
durable
Vinyl flooring is generally durable— from qualities such as water resistance and long-lasting durability while it is a low-maintenance flooring choice. Vinyl flooring’s uppermost wear layer is usually stain resistant and can endure long periods of wear and tear.
cheap
Compared to the hardwood and stone flooring, the vinyl tile is a cheaper option compared to the two, as the vinyl tile can only simulate the image of the other flooring options.
Cons
- No option for refinishing
- Depreciates overtime
No option for refinishing
When damaged or showing signs of wear and tear—the vinyl tile has no option but to buy and replace it with a new one.
depreciates over
Vinyl tiles, unfortunately, don’t always add up to the resale value as these floors usually depreciate over time.
Carpet Flooring
The carpeted flooring comes from synthetic fibers through large sheets of backing material. The natural-fiber carpets are generally made from cotton and wool, while synthetic materials are made from nylon to polyester. Carpet flooring is usually created in batches of huge rolls, and is bought on foot within the stores.
Carpet flooring is one of the flooring options you can choose from within the market. However, unlike the other flooring options, carpet flooring can offer a soft and gentle feel to the area.
pros and cons of carpeted flooring
Pros
- Aesthetically warm/ cozy feel to the area.
- Customizable color options for your preference.
- Resistant to stains
- Ideal for soundproofing
- Comfortable, Soft, and warm for the feet.
cons
- Shows wear pattern
- Can stain
- Hard to clean
- Unsuitable for allergy sufferers
Qualities of carpeted flooring
Appearance
Like the other synthetic material floorings, the carpet also offers a wide array of variations in color, texture, and feel, depending on your interior design preference. The carpet flooring in itself not just offers a softer touch, but it is also soft and gentle in appearance as well which can help with the overall feel of the room or design that you are aiming for.
Carpet water and heat resistance
The carpet flooring is resistant to water damage due to its materials being made from synthetic fibers. However, It is best to prevent the carpeted flooring from exposure to water as it may result in it seeping down to the back layer or the wood subfloor beneath. Liquid damage to the wood beneath can result in festering mold below the carpet.
Carpet is inadvisable for wet areas within the house—such as bathrooms or the kitchen where spills are more likely to happen.
Although carpet flooring is resistant to water damage due to its synthetic materials, it is susceptible to heat— such as hot pans, or burning cigarettes. In the case of fire incidents, the carpet flooring can emit toxic gases due to the materials it is made from.
Care and Cleaning
Care and cleaning maintenance for carpet flooring requires frequent vacuuming. It is tricky to fully clean the carpet due to the stains soaking in and would settle permanently. The carpet flooring is susceptible to trapping dust and micro-bacteria within the fibers, as a result, carpet flooring is a poor choice of flooring material for people with allergies.
An option to consider is to hire a professional service for your carpet. However, it doesn’t last a decade for a useable lifespan. Carpet removal can be a challenge and laborious. If ever you require removing the carpet, your local junk removal service can help you remove the carpet for you.
Stone flooring
Stone floors are one of the authentic and natural flooring options available within the market. Stone flooring works both indoors and outdoors. Stone floorings are cut directly from stone blocks formed into tiles for home improvement projects.
Stone flooring is used for a thousand years, and stood the test of time. This type of flooring is an excellent choice that gives off the impression of elegance and a timeless look. Stone flooring never fails to give an outdated look to your home; On the contrary, it even helps appreciate the value of the house.
There are a wide array of choices for stone flooring from—granite, marble, sandstone, travertine, slate, limestone, and quartzite. These natural flooring options give you a sense of an airy and weightless feel for the area. Stone flooring materials are usually used to evoke a sense of space in your home by integrating the same materials for the interior and exterior areas of your home.
Types of stone flooring
Travertine
The Travertine stone flooring is ideal for bathrooms, hallways, shower stalls, and laundry areas. It is also a common choice for pool decks for stone flooring options. The natural sandy colors of the stone combine well with the pool and garden areas.
In terms of practicality—the travertine provides slip-resistant qualities and makes the surface a bit cooler than other surfaces from exposure to the scorching sun.
Travertine is also used for driveway paving purposes due to its non-slip qualities.
slate
Slate is one of the most common floor tiles on the list. It provides qualities of fine grain and a unique texture which gives off an attractive appearance and durability.
The slate tile flooring has multiple colors such as red, green, black, brown, purple, and other color variations of the stone flooring. The color of the slate flooring solely depends on the type and amount of other organic material it contains. The downside of this flooring, however, is that the quality and durability of the slate flooring can vary.
sandstone
The sandstone provides a warm and earthy stone that gives off the atmosphere of a beach and a desert with sandy textures of red, and brown colors. The sandstone has a minimal pattern compared to the other stone floorings on the list. It can often give off a solid color instead of the patterned colors or texture that is found in stone floorings.
The sandstone tile is a soft type of stone flooring and can scratch or stain easily. It is not as durable enough for the long term and the appearance can show signs of wear and weathering when installed outdoors.
Marble
One of the famous types of stone flooring options you can find that gives off a classic, luxurious look with smooth textures and a high-gloss finish. Marble flooring is a famous option for bathrooms that evokes a spa-like atmosphere.
Granite
Granite is used for kitchen flooring. The granite boasts excellent qualities that make it even harder than marble. This stone flooring is easy to clean and makes dust and grime not that all too obvious. Considering how busy the kitchen can be, you won’t have to constantly sweep or mop the kitchen as it helps hide the dust.
Granite already has its natural beauty that evokes a luxurious and beautiful design in your home.
Quartz
The quartzite stone is commonly used for decorative materials, wall veneers, and kitchen countertop material. This stone provides durability, performance, and low maintenance while having the appearance of marble.
It is a versatile stone flooring choice both indoors and outdoors. The quartz can be used where there is a lot of foot traffic as the quartz and outdoor environment patios.
Limestone
Limestone stone tile is known for its durability and is commonly used for road bases, railroad ballast, and concrete aggregate. It can withstand harsh freezing conditions and abrasions.
Though limestone tile is durable, it still requires some care and maintenance. Ideally, it should be installed in areas where it is not exposed to acidity from foods and drinks. Best to avoid the limestone tile for kitchen flooring.
Apart from the kitchen the limestone tile still works for the flooring of the bathroom, living room, and outdoors.
