This article comes from The Spruce.
How to Select Flooring for Each Room of Your House
When you’re in the market for upgrading your flooring, it becomes almost impossible to figure out the best flooring for your house.
And just what does the best flooring mean anyway? That depends on several factors, all of which are applicable to your own situation.
For Budget and Clean-Up: Tile
When you look at the big picture, tile is one of the best flooring choices you can make: it is readily available, cost-effective, and offers versatile options. Tile flooring comes in different materials, from ceramic to stone varieties.
Great Range of Sizes
The amazing versatility of tile floors comes from the sheer amount of options at your disposal. Tile size can vary from the very small mosaic types–some of which are less than an inch square–to large (12″) and even larger tile squares.
As for ease of maintenance, tile can hardly be beaten. Rather, it’s the grout that poses the problem. Even those issues of staining and chipping can be mitigated by proper maintenance, sealing, and even choosing to go with an epoxy-based system, thus eliminating the need to be concerned.
Wins “Best Flooring Award” for Repair Ease
Another huge plus of tile is that repair is relatively easy. Did you know that on most tile installations, extra tiles are left behind expressly for this purpose? So, if a tile develops cracks–usually due to an improper substrate or improper adhesive for the substrate–then you merely replace it.
For Resilience and Authenticity: Linoleum
While commonly confused, there is all the world of difference between linoleum and vinyl flooring.
Linoleum is included in our list of best flooring options because it remains one of the most beautiful and durable flooring options, with over 150 years of history.
What Is Linoleum?
Linoleum is composed of linseed oil and is therefore waterproof, as well as being environmentally friendly. Sheet linoleum (vs. tile) is ideal for use in the bathroom and kitchen, though you will need to seal around the wet areas where water from tubs and sinks may spill with a silicone caulking.
Best Flooring for Retro Looks?
Linoleum’s beauty can be enhanced with inlays and various borders, giving it extra versatility. As retro 1950s and 1960s remain the vogue, linoleum is here to stay.
Maintenance is very simple. Dents or dings–if small enough–can self-heal. For resilience alone, linoleum remains one of the best flooring materials.
For All-Round Usability, Looks, and Return on Value: Hardwood
If you have ever managed to catch a weekend episode of This Old House or similar restoration shows, then you’re familiar with the new homeowner who buys an older home and decides to rip up the outdated, worn carpet only to reveal hardwood flooring.
Best Flooring for Majority of Homeowners’ Needs
In most cases, the homeowner begins to ask how they can overlay or remove that floor to lay down tile or some other floor, only to be told by the contractor that it would be insane not to simply refinish the old floor, saving tons of money and becoming the envy of friends and family in the process.
Hardwood flooring is a classic example of style done right, a perfect balance of the best of all worlds. With its warmth, character, and ease of maintenance–especially when you consider that sanding and refinishing costs are minimal compared to installing new floors–hardwood flooring remains one of the best flooring options of all time.
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