What are the Different Flooring Options?

Hardwood Floors

There is something special, unique and timeless about a wood floor. People have been using wood as their primary flooring material since the 1600’s.  Here is a great article from Old House Magazine on the history of wood floors if you want to learn more.  The versatility, style, elegance and warmth of wood flooring makes it the choice for many.

 But for more than most flooring options, the choices and options of wood flooring are many. The various types of wood, length and width of the planks, finishes, construction, the choice between solid wood and “engineered” wood all make this category the most expansive and diverse segment of all your flooring options.

 Galleher’s hardwood flooring brands Monarch Plank and Reward Flooring offers a wide range of styles and designs to meet all your wood flooring needs. To help you choose, we’ve created a page to give you all the information you may need to help you choose the right hardwood flooring for you. 

 Click here or the HARDWOOD FLOORING 101 button below to learn more.

 Luxury Vinyl Tile

A very popular alternative to hardwood flooring you may have heard of is called "LVT" flooring, which stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. And there's a good reason why this type of flooring is becoming increasingly popular among both homeowners and business owners alike.

One of the biggest advantages of LVT flooring is its versatility. It provides a beautiful flooring option at a more economical price point, making it a great choice for those who want the look of real wood without breaking the bank. And the best part? LVT flooring actually looks like real wood!

 So, how is LVT flooring made? It's actually made from multi-layer synthetic materials that are fused together through a lamination process. In most cases, it's designed to look like natural wood by printing an extremely high-quality and detailed image of a particular wood type onto the tile plank before applying a clear protective layer to help prevent against liquids and scratches. This makes it extremely durable and easier to maintain than traditional hardwood flooring.

 If you're interested in learning more about the benefits of Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring and the various options available, we've got you covered. Check out our GemCore LVT flooring options or our detailed post about LVT products in the box below.

Rigid/Composite Flooring

Now lets discuss some exciting advancements in the vinyl flooring segment that have emerged in recent years. While LVT flooring has been a popular and versatile option for many, new technology has led to the development of a new category that improves upon key benefits such as waterproofing, scratch resistance, and dent resistance.

This new category, sometimes referred to as "rigid," "SPC," or "WPC," is currently the fastest-growing segment in the flooring industry. As technology continues to evolve, so too does the quality of appearance and resiliency of this flooring category.

One of the key benefits that has been improved upon is waterproofing, which allows this type of flooring to be used in areas that are unsuitable for hardwood floors or carpets. Additionally, it is highly resistant to dents and scratches, making it an ideal choice for areas that will endure rugged use. It also has minimal expansion, requiring less environmental consistency than natural flooring. And perhaps best of all, it looks like wood or stone, with style options that continue to grow as the technology advances.

If you're interested in learning more about this new type of flooring, we invite you to view our GemCore Stone Composite Flooring options or click on the box below to lear even more detail about this exciting flooring category.

Porcelain/Ceramic TIle

Clay-base ceramic tiles are extremely hard and durable, making them popular choices for kitchens, baths, basements, and other moisture-prone areas. From classic rectangular shapes to dramatic shapes and pattern offered in a myriad of different colors and surface textures, the range of options in this category are staggering.

Ceramic floor tiles are installed by adhering the tiles to a well-constructed substrate before grouting the edges to create a waterproof seal. They are considered one of the most durable and wear resistant flooring options and are relatively easy to care for with exception regarding some extra maintenance required to maintain the grouts appearance.

If you are interested in a more detailed comparison between Stone Composite Flooring and tile, click the box below.

Laminate Flooring

Like LVT, laminate is a popular flooring choice as it can provide a beautiful appearance at an economical price. The construction is slightly different, in that the surface is a hard plastic laminated over a printed design layer which has been applied to a rigid fiberboard.

The benefits of laminate flooring are in maintenance and upkeep, as laminate floor is are easy to clean and resist scratches.  On the negative side, even though laminate floors are designed to look like other materials, they often don’t look as genuine as LVT floors or composite floors.

Natural Stone

Natural stone is generally a more expensive option, but it remains a popular material for flooring due to its unique “no-two-pieces-look-alike” character and the diverse range of stone types and finished looks offered. Natural stone is sourced throughout the world and tile designs cover the gamut, from classic tiles built from some of the most accessible stone to premier designs sourced from exclusive quarries in exotic locales.

Like ceramics, natural stone tiles are installed by adhering the tiles to a well constructed substrate before grouting the edges to create a waterproof seal. Common natural stone categories include Marble, Travertine, Granite, Slate and Limestone. These names reflect the molecule makeup of the stone, but more importantly as relates to flooring, reflect what type of surfaces the stone can be offered in and the tiles relative durability and resiliency. These attributes can vary dramatically between stone types and even within each type making it integral to only utilize natural stone tiles that have been designated as appropriate for the intend area.

Carpet

The softest of common flooring materials, carpet remains popular for the distinct designs, feel and warmth it can provide a room. Often installed with a pad that offers additional cushioning, carpet also provides sound dampening. The most common types of carpet are made from either nylon, polyester, olefin or wool, each material offering a unique balance between look, feel and durability. Built using diverse manufacturing methods, carpets come in virtually any color and pattern one can imagine.

Concrete

Unique techniques have extended the finished looks achievable on a concrete floor, broadening the appeal of this relatively new consideration for interior flooring. Concrete floors are extremely hard and durable and if smooth, are easily maintained. Skilled installers can create unique color, textures and even patterns that are sometimes reminiscent of natural stone.