We’ve come a long way from the days when our ancestors had to walk on dirt floors in their homes. During the centuries that followed, people have used a variety of materials to make floors. Flat rocks, sand, small pebbles, wood, stone, bricks, tile, vinyl, engineered wood, laminate, and other products have been turned into flooring.

The most popular materials used today are wood, tile, stone, vinyl, laminate, and carpeting. They each have their pros and cons but if you want a warm and homey atmosphere, nothing beats wood. A favorite wood product is knotty pine because it is stable, affordable, beautiful, and a sustainable product.

Benefits Of Pine Flooring

There are many reasons home and cabin owners choose knotty pine flooring. It has enduring qualities that appeal to a wide cross-section of people that includes:

  • A gorgeous wood with dark knots, nice grain patterns, and attractive colors
  • Knotty pine is a stable wood that does not expand or contract like some hardwoods
  • It is available with a tongue and groove/end-matching design for easy installation
  • We’ve mentioned it’s affordable – one-half or less the cost of hardwoods
  • It is available in both unfinished and pre-finished conditions
  • Knotty pine is easy to work whether you are sawing, drilling, sanding, or staining
  • Knotty pine is sustainable, eco-friendly, and virtually a no-waste product
  • It is available in popular widths and lengths

If your pine floors show wear over the years or you want another color, it is much easier to sand down and refinish than hardwoods.

Tile Flooring Pros & Cons

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are optional materials for flooring. They are made with a variety of materials including clay, sand, stone, metals, talc, and water. They are attractive and durable but have some cons you should think about, such as:

  • This material is hard and cold and even colder in the wintertime
  • Tile is difficult to install for amateurs and that’s why you need professionals
  • Pieces of tile have spaces between each piece that need grout that can be difficult to keep clean and replace
  • Tile and its installation cost can be substantial

“A favorite wood product is knotty pine because it is stable, affordable, and beautiful.”

Stone Flooring Is An Option

Natural stone flooring is cut directly from stone blocks, typically marble, granite, travertine, limestone, quartz, slate, and sandstone. It is generally beautiful and durable but carries some drawbacks to think about:

  • Expensive – Natural stone, labor, and shipping can be pricey
  • Cold – It is cold and hard year-round and may feel uncomfortable
  • Danger – Since it is hard, slip and fall accidents are more hazardous
  • Slippery – Wet stone tends to be slippery for bathrooms and kitchens
  • Water Damage – It is susceptible to water damage, stains, scratches, and chipping

Vinyl Flooring Pros & Cons

Vinyl flooring is a popular material for kitchens and bathrooms. This material is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns and is relatively easy to install. Consider these cons:

  • Vinyl flooring’s adhesive backing hardens to whatever is under it and the glue is difficult to remove
  • Some imported vinyl products contain too much volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Subflooring must be as smooth and flat as possible
  • Vinyl can show some imperfections in the subfloor
  • Any particles under the vinyl can appear as lumps
  • The lumps can wear down the flooring in spots over time
  • Vinyl flooring is also susceptible to heavy load damage, sharp objects, and sunlight fading.

Laminate Floors Can Simulate Other Materials

Laminate flooring is made of several layers of materials including wear, design, core, and underlayment. It can simulate wood and stone but carries these issues:

  • Hard and noisy underfoot
  • Life expectancy varies with foot traffic
  • Susceptible to moisture
  • Not good for kitchens and bathrooms
  • Has some chemical presence
  • Repetitive patterns can be boring

Laminate flooring cannot be sanded and refinished like pine wood floors. If it becomes heavily worn, deeply scratched, or grooved, it must be replaced.

Carpeting Pros & Cons

Our last floor option to consider is conventional carpeting. It is soft, easy to walk on, helps dampen sound, and is generally affordable. It does have some disadvantages that include:

  • Carpeting needs a lot of maintenance and cleaning
  • It holds dust mites and allergens which are bad for our health
  • Not good for kitchens and bathrooms
  • Gets worn down over time
  • Must be replaced more often than some other flooring

In Conclusion

Now you know a little more about each of these flooring options. Nothing can beat the warmth and relaxed feel of real wood flooring. Of all types of wood flooring, knotty pine is the best all- around option for many styles of homes. Many styles of baseboards are available to go with your flooring and walls.

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