With So Many Fabulous Flooring Options Available, the Only Question is, Which One in Which Room?

Remember your first apartment? It had that stained carpet, and you got an old sofa from your parents and you were just so glad to be out of the house? My how the times have changed. You think a lot more about your home, your furnishings, and you?re definitely not living with stained old carpets any more. The good news is, there are as many flooring options today as you have rooms with floors to cover? or not cover, hardwood flooring anyone?

The U.S. flooring industry grew an estimated 1.1% a year, from 2009 to 2014, and more business means more flooring options for you, the customer. Carpeting, tile floor, hardwood flooring, as well as laminate floors are all terrific flooring ideas that will reflect your aesthetic as well as help to save you money, with proper use and installation.

Hardwood

One of the most popular choices of flooring is hardwood. You can choose from so many different types of hardwood flooring, and also different hardwood designs. Pine and fir are very popular, and are among the softest woods (a hardness rating of 600-900). On the higher end are woods such as Brazilian Teak and Red Walnut (hardness ratings as high as 2500-3500). When asked, in the Internet design community’s summer survey, more than 1,700 homeowners said, that they already have, or have plans to install, hardwood flooring in their homes. People love hardwood floors.

Carpeting

When it comes to flooring options, carpeting may be the most popular in the U.S., covering almost 70% of our floors. Carpets that are made from wool, or a wool-blend, are an excellent choice, because they are durable and can be easily dyed. And most stains (99%) are removable if cleaned within the first days of staining. That?s why manufacturers of carpet say wool carpets should last for 10 years, with care ? after that, regular signs of wear will start to show on areas of heavy traffic, and fibers will start losing their tuft and texture. Carpets woven on a loom are known for having longer lives, generally lasting 20 to 30 years.

Tiling

A benefit shared by hardwood and tile floors is that hard surface flooring doesn?t warp or harbor molds or dust mites, creating better air quality for everyone, but especially for the 40 million estimated U.S. citizens who suffer from allergies. As with carpet and hard wood, there are many flooring options with laminate and tile floor coverings, that are both stylish and smart. A linoleum floor can often have a warranty lasting up to 25 years, and linoleum floors themselves, if cared for properly, can last for more than 40 years. And cork floors, depending on how high the quality, can last from 10 to 30 years.

With so many exciting flooring options available, get the floors you?ve always dreamed of. You?re no college kid any more.