Deciding what material to put on your floors is often determined
by cost per square foot. With the modest footprint of most little homes,
you can focus more on what is easy to maintain, durable, AND beautiful instead
of merely being cost effective.
The following table describes some of the available options and the price
points for floors:
| Material |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Cost /sq. ft. |
Hardwood |
- Reclaimed is sustainable and has a patina
- Beautiful with classic good looks
- Polyurethane finishes don't require annual refinishing when make them relatively low maintenance.
|
- When highly waxed, can be slippery
- Requires special sealants for easy maintenance
- Water may cause warping or discoloration
- Not appropriate for laundry or bathrooms
- May discolor in sun
- Relatively expensive
- May require professional installation
|
$5–100+ |
Bamboo |
- Eco-friendly
- Attractive
- Durable if sealed and properly finished
|
- Uneven quality can spell trouble with scratching and surface damage.
|
$5–$20+ |
Linoleum tile |
- Soft underfoot
- Easy to clean
- Durable and will self-heal with small cuts
- Stain resistant. Impervious to most oil-based stains.
- Sustainable, natural material
- Available in large range of colors
- May be installed by do-it-yourselfers
- Available in "click" tiles
|
- Fewer color options than other flooring types such as vinyl.
- Subject to water damage if not cleaned up quickly
- Availability is still limited in some markets.
|
$4-25 |
Linoleum sheet |
- Virtually water proof if seams are properly sealed.
- Soft underfoot
- Easy to clean
- Durable and will self-heal with small cuts
- Stain resistant. Impervious to most oil-based stains.
- Sustainable, natural material
- Available in large range of colors.
- Create patterns from multiple colors for unique design possibilities.
- Can be cut to create patterns and designs
- Excellent in kitchen, laundry and bath.
|
- Fewer color options than other flooring types such as vinyl.
- Subject to water damage if not cleaned up quickly
- Availability is still limited in some markets.
- Very brittle and may tear, so best installed by pros.
|
$4-25 |
Cork |
- Soft, warm underfoot
- Natural insulator and sound absorber
- Sustainable, natural material
- Many different patterns and stains
- Distinctive, beautiful appearance
- Eco-friendly
- Water and fire resistant
- Naturally anti-microbial and pest resistant
- "Click" tiles available for do-it-yourself installation
- Durable for decades if properly maintained.
|
- Limited number of colors and textures
- Relatively soft (with lots of air) so heavy objects may damage flooring.
- Like other wood products, may fade or discolor in sunlight.
- May be damaged by standing water
- Relatively expensive
- May require professional installation
|
$4–20+ |
Vinyl tile |
- Soft underfoot
- Easy to clean
- Almost infinite selection of patterns and colors
- Stain and scuff resistant
- Available at a variety of cost points ranging from very inexpensive printed designs to higher-end inlaid patterns.
|
- Environmentally unfriendly
- Requires careful sealing to prevent water damage between seams
- May mar or tear.
|
$1–12 |
Vinyl sheet |
- Virtually water proof if seams are properly sealed.
- Soft underfoot
- Easy to clean
- Almost infinite selection of patterns and colors
- Stain and scuff resistant
- Available at a variety of cost points ranging from very inexpensive printed designs to higher-end inlaid patterns.
- Excellent in kitchen, laundry and bath.
|
- Environmentally unfriendly
- Improper installation may result in lifting or bubbling.
- May mar or tear.
|
$1–12 |
Tile, ceramic and porcelain |
- Durable
- Easy to maintain
- Many colors and types including mosaics.
- Infinite design possibilities.
- Works well with radiant heat system
- Stain resistant
- Excellent in kitchen, laundry and bath.
|
- Hard and cold underfoot
- May be slippery
- Grout must be sealed to prevent staining or dirt buildup
- May chip or break. Order extra tiles for later replacement if necessary
- May be heavy and require structural support
|
$1–100+ |
Tile, stone (Marble, granite, slate, terrazzo) |
- Durable
- Beautiful
- Works well with radiant heat system
- Excellent in kitchen, laundry and bath.
|
- Hard and cold underfoot
- Requires special sealants for easy maintenance and to prevent stains
- Expensive
- Maybe slippery
- Grout must be sealed to prevent dirt buildup
- May chip or break. Order extra tiles for later replacement if necessary.
- Order from single lot as color can vary.
- May be heavy and require structural support
|
$5–100+ |
Laminate |
- Easy maintenance
- Stain and fade resistance
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Available in colors and patterns that look like wood and stone with less maintenance.
|
- Subject to damage if water is allowed to sit and gets into cracks.
- Requires complete replacement when worn.
- May chip.
- Lacks patina and smoothness of real wood.
|
$2–12 |
Concrete (poured in place or concrete tile) |
- Works well with radiant heat system
- Similar in character to tile and stone.
- Stains add color and create interesting design possibilities
- Many options include smooth, textured, or aggregate.
- Concrete tile may be installed by a do-it-yourselfer in much the same way as ceramic or stone
- Excellent in kitchen, laundry and bath.
|
- Requires special sealants for easy maintenance
- Hard and cold underfoot
- May be slippery
- Heavy - may require structural reinforcement
- Labor intensive so when professionally installed can be expensive.
|
$15–20+ |
Rubber |
- Soft underfoot. Kind to feet and joints.
- Environmentally friendly
- Warm in the winter, cool in the summer
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Available in tile, interlocking tile, and sheet
- Slip resistant
- Many textures and colors with integral color throughout
- Relatively inexpensive
- Depending on type, may be installed by do-it-yourselfer
|
- May be difficult to find the right product for your residential application
- Somewhat different than other flooring. Follow manufacturers care instructions to prevent voiding warranty.
|
$2+ |
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