There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all flooring solution. Hardwood, for example, is still popular because of its warm, classic look, but it doesn’t hold up well to moisture or rough handling. Here are 5 different styles of apartment flooring from which you choose one for your home:
1. Hardwood Apartment Flooring
For decades, solid wood has become one of the most common flooring options in the United States. Its construction is as straightforward as it gets, consisting of 0.5 to 0.75-inch-thick wooden boards or planks that are nailed to a wooden subfloor.
Solid wood flooring is available in stripes ranging in width from 1.5 to 2.5 inches or planks ranging in width from 4 to 8 inches. It can be made out of a variety of woods, including domestic species like oak and maple as well as exotic varieties including Brazilian cherry and purpleheart.
Wood flooring is available in two finishes: polished and unfinished. If you go for unfinished flooring, you’ll have to polish and finish it until it’s installed. Prefinished wood flooring, according to Consumer Reports, is usually less expensive and requires less effort.
Furthermore, factory-installed finishes are usually more durable than DIY finishes. Solid wood flooring is common because it complements every home style and décor. It can also be refinished up to five times to prevent surface cracks, making it very long-lasting.
Hardwood floors will also increase the resale value of your house. According to the experts of EmbraceGardening, homeowners who buy new hardwood floors may hope to recoup 70% to 80% of their investment before they sell their house.
2. Engineered Wood
Engineered wood flooring resembles solid wood but is manufactured in a distinct manner. It has a thin natural wood veneer on top that shows the grain, and layers of less costly plywood beneath. As a result, engineered wood is both less expensive and more durable. Engineered wood with a backing made of recycled wood fibre combined with stone dust has much more stability.
Engineered wood flooring is available in a wide range of wood styles, designs, and board widths, much like solid wood flooring. Parquet tiles, which consist of thin strips of wood set in a geometric pattern atop a plywood or mesh frame, are an alternative to strips and planks.
Engineered hardwood may be nailed, glued, or assembled as a “floating” floor on top of a foam or cork underlayer, much like conventional wood flooring. Some engineered wood flooring has a tongue and groove mechanism that slides into place without glue or nails to create a tight seam.
Engineered wood floors will mimic the look of solid wood for a fraction of the cost.
3. Bamboo Apartment Flooring
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can be used to create hardwood-like flooring. It’s recently gained popularity as an environmentally friendly alternative to wood flooring, but experts warn that it’s not necessarily a better option.
Bamboo flooring comes in sturdy stripes and engineered planks, much like hardwood. It comes in a variety of patterns that depict the grain of the grass in various ways. Vertical-grain bamboo flooring has long, thin strips crammed closely together; and end-grain bamboo flooring has plenty of little short strips.
Bamboo flooring, according to makers of best andis clippers, is more weather tolerant than timber. It comes in easy-to-install types, much like engineered wood. It’s much like sturdy or constructed hardwood flooring in terms of maintenance and refinishing.
4. Ceramic Tile Apartment Flooring
Ceramic tile is manufactured from a clay and shale mixture that is fired in a kiln similar to pottery. It’s a tough substance with a wide range of shades, forms, and designs. Not all ceramic tiles are suitable for flooring, so make sure the ones you purchase are rated for use on floors.
Since floor tile comes in a variety of colours and shapes, it can be used in any kind of house. Ceramic tile can now be printed in almost any pattern thanks to new printing technology. It will resemble real stone or even wood in appearance, but it may not feel like wood underfoot.
Porcelain tile was found to be the most resilient form of flooring in Consumer Reports’ tests, with resistance to cracks, dents, and moisture. It’s also easy to vacuum. Other kinds of tile, such as glazed ceramic and porcelain tile, need further upkeep.
The durability of the tile you chose is determined by the kind of tile you choose. Terracotta tile has to be sealed on a daily basis. According to the makers of best two piece toilets, glazed tile is simple to clean and maintain, but if the grout lines between the tiles aren’t sealed on a regular basis, they will rust.
5. Laminate Apartment Flooring
Laminate flooring is made of a thin veneer over layers of plywood or compressed fibre, similar to fabricated wood. The top sheet, though, is not wood but a snapshot protected by a translucent plastic covering. As a result, laminate can be made to look like oak, brick, tile, or almost any other material.
Laminate is available in planks or tiles. The majority of them are floating floor structures, which can be installed directly on your existing flooring without the use of glue or nails. Laminate floors will imitate the look of wood or stone for a fraction of the price. They’re also simple to clean and need no upkeep.
According to the users of best saltwater fishing rods, laminate is a hard substrate that prevents cracks, dents, and stains. It’s also easy to clean and needs no upkeep. Laminate flooring is simple to instal on an existing floor, saving you time and money.
According to Consumer Reports, the material is simple to mount, but experts warn that fitting the planks around corners and through doors requires patience and creativity.
