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. Wipe up spills immediately. 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 showCincinnati Reds Comforter Set Queen Grout lines can be hard to cleanSushi Pack Full Episodes Online Low-quality tiles may chipBoston Terrier Puppies For Sell In Texas 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 repair Can shrink and expand, creating gaps or warping 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. $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 Comments: (Max. 400 characters) Date: August 30, 2016 Date: August 25, 2016 Date: August 21, 2016 Date: August 20, 2016 Date: August 16, 2016 Date: August 15, 2016 Date: August 11, 2016

To Find A Floor Covering Professional The WFCA is the floor covering industry’s largest advocacy organization representing specialty floor covering retailers, cleaners, installers, manufacturers and distributors around the globe. To find a WFCA member by specialty. Find a WFCA flooring professional Flooring & Carpet Stores WFCA helps train retail store salepeople and their installers through educational programs supported by the flooring industry manufacturers. Click here to find your local carpet & flooring store.If you’re under the impression that environmentally friendly flooring products, such as bamboo and cork, are little more than the latest fad that will soon disappear, then think again. Though very different from each other, both are high quality products that make beautiful and durable floors. In addition, bamboo and cork are easy to install and cost about the same as traditional hardwood. Simply put, sustainable flooring is a material that doesn’t deplete natural resources when harvested.

In fact, both bamboo and cork regenerate themselves and can be maintained indefinitely. Below is a comparison on how each is grown and harvested. While sustainability is important, a product has to perform well to be a viable alternative. Fortunately, both bamboo and cork have a lot going for them. Here are the pros and cons of each. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and is able to grow up to four feet a day. Most commercial bamboo comes from China, along with a few other Asian countries, but it is suitable to be grown in the southeastern United States as well. Advantages of bamboo flooring include: While bamboo is considered harder than either oak or maple, the type of bamboo used, the length of time it is allowed to mature, and the way it is processed can all affect hardness. The best flooring is made from Moso or “Mao Zhu” bamboo that has matured for five to six years before harvesting. The stalks can grow up to eight inches in diameter and 75 feet high.

After being cut the stalks are split into strips then flattened and dried before being laminated into boards. Bamboo flooring is available in either vertical or flat grain. In vertical grain boards, the strips are oriented with the narrow wall thickness facing up, resulting in a more even grain. Flat grain boards have the strips glued together horizontally giving it a wider more pronounced grain pattern. Colors for bamboo flooring range from natural light tones to darker carbonized shades of brown to stained products of almost any hue imaginable. Carbonizing is the process of steaming or boiling which causes the natural sugars in bamboo to darken and turn brown. This process can also cause the fibers to soften, resulting in flooring that is not as hard as natural or stained bamboo. It is also important to consider the quality of the finish and the formaldehyde content of the glue when purchasing bamboo or any flooring. The out-gassing of chemicals from formaldehyde glue has been linked with respiratory problems.

Since manufacturing bamboo flooring is a complex process, you should only buy from a reputable dealer that offers a long-term warranty on their products. The cork tree is a type of oak that grows in the Mediterranean countries of Europe with Portugal being the largest producer. It can live for hundreds of years, and the bark is harvested by hand every nine or ten years. Advantages of cork flooring include: Cork floors are more durable than you might think, and some are still in use after more than 100 years. While it is a very springy material and resistant to dents, it tends to show scratches and scrapes. Due to its soft nature and the fact that it consists of only a thin veneer applied to a tile or plank, it is recommended that cork floors be varnished to protect them. Much of the cork used for flooring has a bold swirling grain pattern rather than the bland texture of a bulletin board. While this can be seen as a unique and eye-catching design feature, potential home buyers might not share your enthusiasm should you decide to sell your house some day.