Hardwood Flooring

Comes from a solid piece of milled wood and contains solid wood all throughout. Popular hardwood varieties include maple, oak, walnut or cherry. Its versatility and quality make it a desirable flooring option for many home buyers.

However, it’s one of the more expensive flooring materials on the market and does take regular maintenance,

Pros

• Increases home value
• Can be refinished multiple times
• Many options available
• Strong and durable

Cons

• Expensive
• Can incur scrapes, scratches and dents in high-traffic areas
• Susceptible to moisture damage
• Not suitable for bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements

Engineered Flooring

Engineered wood floors feature a real wood veneer over a middle core of heat-formed wood and a base-supporting layer (used where shrinkage might be a problem). The stability of engineered flooring makes it a perfect choice over underfloor heating if the guidelines are followed, plus it is easier to lay than solid wood flooring.

Pros

• DIY-friendly
• Has real hardwood top layer
• Greater resistance to moisture and water than real wood
• Less likely to warp
• Multiple installation methods

Cons

• Can’t be refinished more than once
• Not fade-resistant
• Wide variation in quality
• Can sound hollow underfoot

Laminate Flooring

Modern laminate flooring is an outstanding water-resistant option for homeowners who desire the beautiful look of hardwood without worrying over damage or maintenance. It’s excellent for busy households with kids and is a perfect pet-friendly flooring option, capable of withstanding stains, fading, and indentations. Most laminate floors have a bottom layer made of wood fibers and a plastic surface layer. These floors often have mechanical joints like wood floors, which makes them easy to lay. The surface layer is often available in many designs, like imitation wood or stone. Laminate flooring is durable and resistant to water and moisture, but since the surface layer is plastic you can’t freshen it up with sanding.

Pros

• Inexpensive compared to wood
• Easy to clean
• Scratch-resistant
• DIY-friendly for experienced homeowners (and if subflooring is in good shape)
• Many styles and colors available

Cons

• Susceptible to moisture damage
• Chips easily
• Does not look and feel like wood
• Has a hollow sound underfoot

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl Flooring is extremely water-resistant and won’t sustain damage even if water sits on the surface for an extended amount of time. Composed of plastic, it’s available in plank, tile and sheet form.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are two forms that have gained popularity recently because of their durability and variety of styles available. 

Pros

• Good for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements
• Durable
• Water- and fade-resistant
• DIY-friendly
• Many design choices available
• Easy to maintain

Cons

• LVP and LVT is more expensive than laminate
• Lower ROI than wood

WHAT IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FLOORING?

If your main priority is finding the cheapest types of flooring for your home, look into vinyl. We’d recommend checking the prices of any luxury vinyl options and maybe mixing and matching to help add more style but stay on budget too.

Tips for hiring the right professional to install your floors.

Certification

1. Make sure that the hired professional has adequate knowledge about the products, tools and material to carry out this work. A good professional will know exactly the solution for your floors and will be able to answer all your questions.

References

2. Always check the previous works of the professional you are hiring, to ensure that they are really what you expect them to be. Look for references and feedbacks from previous customers. Many professionals tend to share this type of information on there websites or social media.

Clarify All Your Doubts

3. Dialogue is always ESSENTIAL! Ask the professional any questions or concerns you may have and provide all the details you expect regarding your project. This will guarantee greater security for you and results as expected.

Contract

4. To ensure that everything is done as agreed, always ask for a written agreement confirming all project details and values. This will give you extra security and avoid headaches in the future.

How to Maintain Your Floors Cleaned.

Among so many Flooring Options on the market, Wood Floors and Laminate is the right choice for those who want a cozy and sophisticated home. To avoid Scratches, Damages on your Floors, first you need to know the type of material you have.

Remember to clean your floors weekly!

1. With a vacuum cleaner, vacuum the entire floors.
2. Choose a soft Microfiber Flat Mop to sweep the entire space, by removing accumulated dust with a slightly wet cloth and then use a clean dry cloth to dry your floors.

Remember that you should always use two cloths. In addition to the wet used to remove the dust and dirt, use a second Soft Clean cloth to dry the floors. Moisture is harmful to wood.

How to Clean Hardwood Floors with Vinegar

To clean wood floors naturally, use a common kitchen white vinegar. Learning how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors.

1. Mix Water and Vinegar
   Clean wood floors with vinegar by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of warm water.
   
2. Mop Floors
   Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage. Then use vinegar to naturally clean other areas in your home.                                                                      
   
3. Vinegar can dull certain hardwood flooring finishes, so always test your solution in an inconspicuous spot before using the ingredient to clean your floors.
   
   

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