Flooring Materials for You to Consider in Your New Home

As you go through the early stages of designing your new home, one of the most important decisions you’ll be asked to make concerns which kind of flooring materials you wish to install. You don’t need to use the same material in every room of the house, but it is important that you select materials that will suit the kind of usage and amount of foot traffic each room will see.

Here are just a few examples of some of the most popular flooring materials you’ll have to choose from when working with a custom home builder in Pennsylvania.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is a timeless classic—perhaps its biggest benefit, beyond just its durability, is that you can be completely certain it will never go out of style. There are many different woods, grain patterns and stains you can choose from to give your home the beautiful flooring look you’ve always dreamed of. The benefit of having these varied options with hardwood means you’ll be able to implement anything from a sleek contemporary look to a rustic country appearance based on the kind of wood and stain you choose.

Hardwood is extremely durable, and while it can be scratched or lose its finish over time, it can also easily be sanded down and refinished so you can continue to get years of use out of it.

Just be careful about using hardwood floors in areas that get a lot of humidity or moisture, particularly bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms. It is also not a very cost-effective option, so be prepared to spend a premium. It will, however, add significant value to your home.

Vinyl

Vinyl has become one of the most popular flooring choices, thanks to a combination of cost effectiveness, durability and easy maintenance. The technology used to create vinyl flooring has come a long way in the last decade or two. You can get anything from economical sheets of flooring to high-quality, luxury vinyl plank flooring that is waterproof and closely resembles hardwood. Vinyl is versatile, comes in many different options and is soft and comfortable to walk on. It is easy to clean, less expensive than hardwood and still looks great.

Laminate

Laminate is a kind of flooring material that features four layers of plastic-type materials combined into one. The top layer features a high-resolution image of the mimicked surface, such as wood or tile. You can mimic many different kinds of flooring using laminate at a fraction of the price, and can install it in areas that have exposure to water or humidity.

You’ll need to install a special underlayment or moisture barrier, and if areas are damaged, you’ll need to completely replace those sections rather than sanding and resurfacing.

Tile

Tile doesn’t have to be relegated solely to the kitchen or the bathroom. It is popular in all areas due to its ability to be easily cut and shaped into unique patterns, as well as its durability and its pure elegance. You can find tile in ceramic, porcelain or natural stone in a wide variety of finishes. The main challenges are that broken tiles can be difficult to repair, and that tile does not absorb sound very well. It’s also not the most comfortable flooring surface.

For more information about your flooring options, contact a custom home builder in Pennsylvania at WSL Incorporated.