There Are More Floor Covering Options Than Just Carpeting

Choosing a flooring store and then selecting the type of flooring you want to live with for the next 10 years or so can be especially challenging. Not because the customer does not have the knowledge to make an informed decision, but because there are so many variables. Those who have no budget restrictions can select just about any product they want and those who are on tight budgets need to find a product that looks the best for the money they have to spend.

It sounds easy enough, but today there are so many hardwoods, laminates, and floor tiles in rich colors that even the homeowner will limited funding will have a tough time choosing from all that is available.

For the dyed-in-the wool hardwood enthusiast there are a huge number of trees and stains from which to select. One homeowner may want a darker finish like Black Water Birch, African Mahogany, dark oak or Malaccan Cherry. The person next door may like a more medium color like natural oak, natural cherry or natural walnut. The neighbor across the street might have a more contemporary house and want a lighter wood such as white oak, natural maple or a natural hickory. The person with no preconceived color preference will be in a quandary!

Some homeowners wanting to update and redecorate will visit a flooring store and learn that there are laminates and engineered woods that look just like hardwood floors and have the same stains. In addition, a decorator may wish to have something exotic like Caribbean Rosewood or Brazilian Cherry which cannot be imported due to local deforestation. But with the digitally produced laminate flooring, it is not a problem. Laminate flooring looks like hardwood flooring but it is less expensive, is very easy to care for and is extremely durable. The most difficult part is making a final decision.

Then you have a homeowner who wants to update a kitchen, bath or entry way with tile. Tiles are as abundant -if not more so - that the choices for hardwoods. Knowing the room where tile flooring it to be used is a key in determining which tile is best. Both porcelain and ceramic floor tiles come in glazed and non-glazed. You would not want to use a glazed tile in an entry way or bathroom that may get wet. Moisture can make them super slippery.

But these are not the only choices when it comes to tile flooring. There are the natural stones like marble, granite and travertine. While marble and granite are natural bounty from the earth, travertine is made of porous compounds that are not smooth or shiny. Many government buildings as well as mansions have tile floors laid with marble and granite. Most of the flooring used in the building of great Roman and Greek landmarks was made of travertine.

So you see, there are a lot of flooring options. Find yourself a trusted flooring store and let the professionals help guide your decision.