Before you shop, compare the pros, cons, care, and cost of 10 popular types of flooring. Soft, quiet, warm underfoot Easiest and most cost-effective floor covering to replace and upgrade Brings in color and texture Low-quality carpets may quickly show wear Place walk-off mats at entries to catch dirt; Vacuum low-traffic areas at least once or twice a week. Vacuum high-traffic areas more often. Use a deep-cleaning hot water extraction cleaning system every 12-18 months. $2-$15 per square foot, installed Timeless and classic design Higher cost than many flooring materials Some varieties, such as marble and limestone, readily absorb stains and dirt Dark, glossy surfaces show footprints and can be slippery All stones should be sealed Regularly dust-mop the floor with a clean, nontreated mop or broom. Or use a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar. Damp-mop floors using cleaners recommended by the manufacturer.

Avoid cleaners that are abrasive or contain vinegar, lemon juice, or harsh chemicals. $8-$50 per square foot, installed Ceramic or Porcelain tile Water and stain resistant Wide choice of colors, textures, and shapes Porcelain color through tile body-scratches or damage less likely to show Grout lines can be hard to clean Low-quality tiles may chip Fragile items dropped on the surface probably will break Glossy tiles can be slippery when wet Regularly sweep tile or use a vacuum without a beater bar. Regularly damp-mop the floor with a cleaner recommended by the tile and grout manufacturers. For more shine, rinse with clear water and wipe dry. $4-$12 per square foot, installed Wide range of colors and designs Excellent choice for do-it-yourself applications Be cautious when purchasing off brands; the top layer may peel or separate from the core For installations in high-moisture rooms, select laminates designed for this use

Place protective pads on the bottoms of chair and table legs. Regularly sweep or dust-mop the floor, or use a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar. Don’t refinish or sand $3-$7 per square foot, installed Provides a warm look Softer woods, such as pine, may dent easily May darken with age Some finishes wear unevenly and are difficult to repairWhp T Shirt Can shrink and expand, creating gaps or warpingAmerican Standard Faucet Parts Lowes Remove scuffs and heel marks by lightly rubbing the spots with a soft, clean cloth sprayed with hardwood floor cleaner recommended by the flooring manufacturer.Umsteigen T-Shirts $6-$15 per square foot, installed Shrinks and expands less than solid wood Some can be installed below grade

Comes prefinished so the stain and protective finishes will be more consistent and harder Typically can be refinished only once or twice Off brands may have voids in core, which weakens wood surface Ends may split on off brands Never wax or use oil soap. $4-$18 per square foot, installed Quickly renewable raw material May darken or fade when exposed to sunlight Should not be left wet Use only cleaners recommended by the flooring manufacturer. $4-$8 per square foot, installed Water-resistant in sheet form Less expensive than most flooring choices Less expensive grades may discolor In tile form, moisture can get into seams between tiles Clean up spills immediately. Damp-mop when needed using clean, warm water. Use only cleaners recommended by the flooring manufacturer. $1-$7 per square foot, installed Made of natural raw materials More durable than vinyl Color extends through entire material

Can be hand-cut for intricate patterns and installation artistry Should be resealed annually Cannot be left wet May scuff if not well polishedUse only cleaners recommended by the flooring manufacturer. Polish periodically to bring back shine and protection against stains. $2-$9 per square foot, installed Soft and warm, natural Stain and water resistant Polyurethane finishes typically last up to seven years before refinishing is required UV-cured acrylic finishes are not as long-lasting Wax finishes need reapplication every 6-12 monthsTo restore luster, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for refinishing. $4-$9 per square foot, installed Date: August 25, 2016 Date: August 21, 2016 Date: August 20, 2016 Date: August 16, 2016 Date: August 11, 2016 Date: August 8, 2016 Date: August 3, 2016Vinyl Flooring Manufacturers and Suppliers » Wall And Floor Decorative» Vinyl Flooring Modular Tiles Zig Zag Tiles Flamed Granite Tiles Pvc Plank

Pvc Vinyl FlooringVinyl Flooring Services Tell us your Buy Requirement to Get Instant Response Looking for Supplier of : Is this page helpful? Photo By: US Floors Photo By: Shaw Floors Photo By: Courtesy of HomerWood Photo By: Madstone Concrete "Bamboo has been around for a long time, but what we are seeing lately is an explosion of colors and styles," says Dean Howell, president of Atlanta-based MODA Floors & Interiors. While technically a fast-growing grass, bamboo is as hard or harder than most hardwoods when dried. Newer products called strand-woven bamboo, a highly engineered product using the inner fibers, are twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring. Dean says that in addition to the common thin-banded styles shoppers have become accustomed to, bamboo is offered in wide-plank styles that mimic the look of classic hardwoods. As with all wood flooring, it's best to keep bamboo out of moisture-prone rooms like kitchens and baths. "What I'm seeing more and more of in flooring is classic looks using new technology," says Gabriel Shaw, owner of That Finishing Touch Design in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

A perfect example of that, he notes, is reclaimed hardwood. New factory-finished hardwood flooring offers all the charm of reclaimed timber — right down to that timeless hand-hewn look — but without the high costs associated with true salvaged lumber. "Factory-finished wood will stand up to moisture fluctuations better than any wood flooring that is finished onsite." "In the world of tile we are seeing an explosion of sizes, shapes, materials and patterns," notes Dean. Particularly popular these days, he adds, are large-format tiles — tiles that come 12" x 24" and even 36" x 36" — as opposed to the tried-and-true 12" x 12" tiles. In addition to looking great, larger sizes mean more tile surface and less grout lines to clean. Dean cautions that large-format tiles are heavy, requiring a perfectly level substrate and a professional installer for the job to come out right. "I recently installed a cork product at the KROQ radio station in Los Angeles," notes Gabriel. Selected primarily for its amazing acoustic-insulating qualities, cork flooring also is much more comfortable to walk on than traditional hardwood and most certainly tile.

Long gone are the days when cork was available in any color so long as it was blonde — today's options span the color palette. Thanks to new factory finishes, cork is far more durable than it was just a few decades prior. But it is susceptible to moisture damage and will fade when exposed to sunlight. "When you hear the term 'luxury vinyl,' don't think about that peel-and-stick stuff people used to install," explains Dean. Luxury vinyl is a new category of flooring that combines the high-end look of hardwood (or stone) with the durability of vinyl. "It is so realistic looking," Dean says of the wood-look variety, "that I literally had to get on my hands and knees to see that it wasn't real." Because it stands up to moisture, wood-look vinyl is a natural fit in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Today's vinyl does share one common trait with that old peel-and-stick stuff: It is still a joy to walk on. In the world of carpet, explains Dean, we are seeing far fewer shags and friezes and more patterned carpets.

By using a technique that combines both loops and cut loops — hence the name "cut-and-loop carpet" — manufacturers can create a carpet with patterns that range from subtle to bold. "New technology also is producing carpet with incredibly soft fibers," he adds. Huge improvements have been made in the world of carpet pads, too, with high-quality dense rubber replacing the more commonplace loose fiber. For homeowners who truly want a sustainable wood flooring product, Dean suggests good-old American hardwoods. Unlike cork and bamboo, which are shipped in from the other side of the world, "We can buy hardwoods from forests that are a few hundred miles away," he says. "And North America does a good job replenishing our forests as we cut them down." Oak, hickory, maple, heart pine: These classic American hardwoods all are making a comeback. Trendy, sleek and durable as time itself, concrete flooring jumped from bare-bones utilitarian to chic in a New York minute. Thanks to a multitude of available colors, textures and finishes, concrete can adapt to almost any decor.