If you're thinking of investing in your home's flooring, you're going have to have to choose what type of floor you want to install. In this article, we'll cover the basic benefits and disadvantages of various floor styles, including laminate, hardwood, tile and carpet.

1. Laminate

Laminate is versatile, durable and inexpensive - making it a popular, contemporary choice. Laminate is made of bonded layers and uses several materials, including wood, resin and paper which are all compacted together and then carved into planks.

The wood-like surface of a laminate floor is actually a picture that's been printed onto the top layer. Because laminate is easy to clean and very durable, it's often preferred for kitchens, bathrooms, mud rooms and any other area that has to hold up under a lot of traffic.

2. Hardwood

Rich and warm hardwood is a classic favorite. With care and maintenance, it rarely needs to be replaced and will even increase in beauty over time despite the foot traffic over it.

There are two types of hardwood floors - engineered and solid hardwood. Engineered floors are made like plywood, by gluing or laminating several thin sheets of wood together. Meanwhile, solid hardwood floors are made from solid pieces of wood which are milled to standard building specifications. Typically, engineered floors are less expensive than solid hardwood, though there is still the need for flooring care.

3. Tiles

Tile gives the beauty of a natural product along with a durability that's priced accordingly, though you can nevertheless find flooring discounts with a little diligence. Best for high-traffic or spill-prone areas, tile is easy to clean and remarkably strong. Homeowners like the variety of design patterns available to them along with the color combination possibilities.

Remember, choose a tile that's "rated" for the room where you're installing. For example, some tile is rated for light traffic areas like bathroom floors while others are rated for heavy traffic spots like commercial zones or busy homes.

4. Carpet

Carpet is warm, comfortable, stylish and often luxurious. It provides additional insulation, softens noise and offers innumerable design and color options.

When selecting a carpet, you should base your choice on the fiber, which is the type of material used in the carpet; the pile, which is the height of the carpet; the density, which is the number of fibers per square inch and; the texture, which is the style or manner in which the fibers are looped, gathered and cut.

Carpet typically comes in wool, nylon, olefin, polyester and acrylic fibers with most homeowners opting for stain-resistant treatments.

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