What is the most durable flooring for your home?
When you buy a house or any type of building, the first thing you need to replace is the floors because they take a lot more abuse than any other part of the house. This includes dirt and moisture from shoes as well as scratches from pets, furniture, kids, or anything else that makes contact with it over time.
So, what is the most durable flooring for your home?
There are many types of flooring, each with its own benefits but also some drawbacks.
For instance, if there are children in the house, you will want a material that can withstand scuffs (such as hardwood flooring) or one that is easily repairable. If you have elderly people living in the house, tile floors in areas where they walk regularly can be a bad idea because they can trip over them if they aren’t used to walking on them.
Things to consider when choosing a durable flooring
It can be hard to choose what type of flooring you want your house to have because there are so many options, but luckily these days you can get samples of almost any type of flooring before you go out and buy it, which makes it much easier to choose durable flooring for your home.
But first, it is important to know what you need and the factors to consider before choosing what you think is the most durable flooring.
- Location
One of the most important factors is the environment that you live in. If you’re living in high humidity areas, for example, vinyl flooring and ceramic tiles are not a good choice since they will end up being damaged by moisture. In fact, some humidity can actually cause them to break and crack over time.
Similarly, if you live in an area that sees a lot of extreme heat or cold, then you should choose the flooring that is made from heat-resistant materials (like those used for pool decks), instead of those that are made from materials that won’t withstand those conditions (such as solid wood or stone).
- Families with pets
One of the things you need to think about when choosing the most durable flooring is if you have pets. Pets can be a great addition to a family, but they can also heavily damage your flooring if you don’t take precautions.
On the other hand, some pets may need special considerations for their own flooring because they have different needs than people; For example, cats tend to shed hairs that stick to the carpet and are very difficult to remove.
- Children at home
The next factor to consider is if you have children in the house. Children tend to drop toys, food, and many other things on the floor without realizing it and this usually results in staining or scratches. In order to prevent this, you want to choose the flooring that can withstand the abuse of children.
For instance, tile floors are very easy to repair but they are also very slippery. Hardwood floors may not be a great idea for children because they can slip and fall when they’re playing and give them a higher chance of getting hurt. The carpet is softer to the touch and it can hide stains but it can be harder to clean.
Laminate flooring is more durable and they tend to hide small scratches or discoloration as well, so they are great for kids since they usually aren’t easily damaged by them.
- Cleaning and maintenance
Another factor you need to consider is what kind of cleaning do you want to do. Cleaning can be very stressful as we all know, especially deep cleans. There are types of flooring that are easily damaged by the wrong kind of cleaning products or the type of cleaning. For instance, if you use bleach or large amounts of scrubbing detergents, your wood floors will be damaged.
- Room or area in the house
It is also important to know where you plan to install the type of flooring. It is not practical to spend a lot of money on durable flooring unless it is the main room in your house, like a living room, a kitchen, or any high-traffic area in the house. In busy households, it is always better to invest in better-quality flooring.
- Cost or budget
Is buying durable flooring worth the price? It depends on how it will affect your style of living. It is always better to go with something that will last for long periods of time, regardless of its cost. The more you invest in durable flooring, the longer the life span of it is. Also, be sure to check your budget and consider other factors like quality and durability before making a decision.
- Warranty
It is also important to consider what kind of warranty most manufacturers offer in the market. Some provide you a longer period of time compared to others. This protects you from any issues that may arise in the future. Always consider going with a warranty that is longer, and takes into account all the materials used in manufacturing your floor.
9 Most durable flooring options
If you are looking at a home improvement store or going online to get flooring type samples, you will need to be prepared. You want to make sure that the flooring you choose is exactly what you need.
To help make this decision easier for you, we have created a list of the most durable floors for your home.
Hardwood
Construction: Solid, knot-free finished hardwood
Design: Classic and traditional finish carpets, solid hardwood flooring, and manufactured wood products
Types: Solid, engineered, and locking
Price: Around $6 – $11 per square foot
- Good for high traffic areas
- Very durable
- Expensive due to labor costs of installing them.
Tile
Construction: Ceramic, stone, glass, and other hard materials
Design: Textures and patterns in clay tiles or stone tiles
Types: Ceramic tile, mosaic, porcelain, stone, and vinyl
Price: Around $2 – $7 per square foot
- Durable and long-lasting
- Hard to scratch or dent due to the material used.
- Good for high traffic areas but not kitchens or bathtubs
- Expensive due to labor costs.
Laminate flooring
Construction: Solid wood or particleboard coated with polyurethane
Design: Modern and trendy designs and patterns
Types: Lumber, grid plank, and tile
Price: Around $1 – $3 per square foot
- Durable
- Easy to install.
- Great for kitchens and bathrooms due to the resistant material it is made from.
- Painting required every few years to make sure that it doesn’t chip or break.
- Lower quality materials can be susceptible to moisture and water damage.
Vinyl flooring
Construction: Plastics with a variety of colors
Design: Patterns, designs, and textures
Types: Luxury vinyl tile, sheet, wood effect, stone effect
Price: Around $3 – $10 per square foot
- Durable, easy to install
- Great choice for kitchens and bathrooms due to the resistant material it is made from.
- Lower quality materials can be susceptible to moisture damage.
- May be damaged by extreme temperatures.
Carpet tile floor
Construction: Fiber consisting of natural and/or artificial materials
Design: Modern and trendy designs and patterns
Types: Berber, Tibetan, and wool
Price: Around $3 – $4 per square foot
- Durable, soft, and comfortable to touch.
- Not very durable for high traffic areas.
- May be damaged by extreme temperatures.
- Lower quality carpet can be damaged by moisture, leaving it discolored.
Cork flooring
Construction: Cork covered with vinyl
Design: Cork looks like wood and can be installed in many different styles
Price: Around $2 – $5 per square foot
Types: Cork, cork tiles, and remodeling tiles
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Great for high-traffic areas that are highly susceptible to damage.
- Lower quality materials can be susceptible to moisture damage.
- Not very flexible if installed in a complicated pattern.
Bamboo
Construction: Bamboo a solid wood substitutes covered with a fibery material
Design: Traditional and modern styles
Price: Around $5 – $8 per square foot
Types: Solid, floating, engineered, and loose-fit
- Easy to install due to their natural flexibility.
- Can be damaged by extreme temperatures.
- Not very durable for high traffic areas.
Stone
Construction: Natural stone bonded together with resin or glues
Design: Natural stone of many different shapes and designs, including slate
Types: Natural stone, engineered stone, and artificial stone flooring
Price: Around $2 – $10 per square foot
- Durable, long-lasting
- Very expensive due to labor costs of installing them.
Concrete
Construction: Grout and minerals
Design: Modern and trendy designs and patterns
Types: epoxy, polished, overlays, and staining
Price: Around $2 – $6 per square foot for basic designs and up to $15 – $30 for high-end and customized design
- Durable, long-lasting.
- Expensive due to labor costs of installing them.
Conclusion
It is always important to know what you are buying to make sure that it is not only suitable for your family but also for the future. Knowing how durable your flooring is will help you determine what style of living you need. It is important to know if your flooring will be able to stand up to the test of time and how expensive it is.
This is a general guide to help you make the decision about what’s best for your family.
