If you have decided to spruce up the floors in your kitchen, bathroom, living area, or even your entire space, you have come to the right place! The aesthetic of your floor secretly ties the room together, so it is crucial to carefully consider your options. However, before installing floors, ensure a good amount of homework and research, so you don’t have to spend extra time cleaning and maintaining your flooring.
Five Star Hardwood Floor offers free consultation and floor installing services in the Seattle area. If you are close by, check out our installation services and other service areas to explore your potential options.
The Importance of Safe Flooring
Industrial, commercial, and domestic spaces could all benefit from safe floor installations – flooring that is made keeping in mind the nature of work in a specific location. For instance, carpeting a factory manufacturing floor would be foolish given how much dirt and dust could accumulate because of the byproduct. Factory workers would be much more comfortable with smooth yet rugged flooring for better grip and to sweep out dirt before it hinders productivity and everyday progress.
Similarly, you would not want slippery, glossy floors in a home with small children or elderly folks. Waterproof floors would serve a much better purpose in such a scenario. Given that about 8 million ER visits result from domestic slip-and-fall incidents, choosing the right floor material is crucial to the basic safety of individuals. The next section discusses a few types of flooring options for multiple uses with their pros and cons laid out for you to choose from.
Types of Flooring
1. Carpeted Floors
Carpets and rugs have been around since the Mughal empire and are sometimes dated even further back to Bedouin tribes. Carpets have nearly never gone out of style and are often used in rooms and private spaces designated for relaxing.
A popular choice for bedrooms and living rooms, homeowners can pick between a variety of colors, textures, patterns, styles, and even the way they are manufactured. Although considered a cultivating ground for bacteria and other tiny insects, carpets have now evolved to be stain resistant and can be cleaned with heat vacuums ensuring thorough cleanliness. Carpets still stand to be an affordable yet stylish choice in many domestic settings.
Advantages
- Soft yet reduces friction to reduce slip-and-fall incidents
- Keeps the place warm
- Easy installation
Disadvantages
- High maintenance hence requires extensive cleaning
- May trigger allergies in some people
- Anti-stain options are pricy
2. Laminate Floors
Laminate floors are a rather affordable option for floors often suitable for multiple spaces and settings. It is common to see laminate flooring in offices, homes, restaurants, and sometimes even kitchens. It is also often used as a substitute for hardwood flooring. It is easy to maintain and not as tough as ceramic tiling.
Laminate flooring is also fairly easy to install, so you do not need a professional to help you out. However, if you have no experience installing floors, you might want to seek some guidance or consultation before you start.
Advantages
- An affordable substitute for hardwood floor
- Easy to clean
- Relatively softer than other flooring options
Disadvantages
- Can be damaged due to excessive moisture
- Does not feel like actual wood flooring
3. Vinyl Floors
Often considered a posher alternative for laminate, vinyl groundwork is often used in spaces where a waterproof feature for floors is required. Vinyl flooring won’t succumb to extreme levels or prolonged exposure to water, making them an ideal choice for areas with high moisture and humidity.
You can also waterproof regular, smooth floors yourself with a little hands-on experience in flooring. Alternatively, you can also reach out to a professional engineer for a waterproof, finished floor. At Five Star Hardwood Floor, we have professionals who can help you waterproof your floor.
Advantages
- Suitable for nearly all rooms, including bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and even vinyl lining of walls
- Unparalleled durability compared to other types of flooring
- Easy to install, requires little professional help
- Water and stain-resistant
- Easy to clean and maintain
Disadvantages
- Can be expensive
- Can be dangerous if not kept dry around infants or seniors
4. Ceramic/Porcelain Tiling
Tiling or ceramic/porcelain flooring is commonly used for areas with excessive water usages, such as kitchens or bathrooms. Tiles were invented around the idea of water resistance and durability to weight and heavy footfall spaces. Ceramic tile surfaces are often glazed, while porcelain surfaces are glossy.
Advantages
- Highly water-resistant hence used in pool linings for years
- Durable when lined correctly
Disadvantages
- Tiling can be expensive to procure
- Difficult and costly to install
- Slippery and can cause accidents when not maintained adequately
5. Stone/Marble Floors
Granite, travertine, sandstone, marble, and other such natural stones are luxury flooring materials used in outdoor and indoor spaces alike. Stone, naturally, is a durable material with its innate ability to withstand heavy weight and long-term exposure to water.
Stone flooring requires careful installation and maintenance depending on the stone’s finish. Taking care of stone floors is much different from refinishing wood floors because of the difference between the two materials.
Advantages
- The most durable flooring option
- Extremely water-resistant
- Aesthetic, rustic appeal
Disadvantages
- Expensive to install
- Requires professional help and experience to get it right
- Difficult to maintain
- Slippery and injurious if not adequately maintained
6. Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are made of natural, solid wood, including oak, cherry, maple, and walnut. It is a versatile piece of flooring that comes in many colors, patterns, and designs. It is relatively difficult to install compared to laminate and vinyl flooring yet a desirable option for domestic and commercial use because of its aesthetic beauty.
Advantages
- Enhances property value
- East to clean and maintain
- Highly durable
Disadvantages
- Expensive to install
- Cannot withstand long exposure to moisture or liquids
- Susceptible to scratches
Five Stars for Your Space!
At Five Star Hardwood Floor, we are based in Seattle and offer free consultation sessions for our customers for multiple services. We provide estimates by inspecting your space and recommend the best flooring type. Our experts will help you with installing laminate and waterproof floors, advice on refinishing wood floors, and even consultation on what works best for you.
It is crucial to understand your space, its environment, and the need of the people who are to utilize it. A small negligence can lead to big accidents; hence, getting a professional insight is always your safest bet.