The floors in your home are the area that gets the most traffic and it needs to be kept in great shape so that your home maintains its appearance. Floors are often not as planned out as other areas of the home and homeowners will typically place any type of flooring on them. However, there are so many new products that are available in flooring today that you should consider upgrading all of your flooring. If you live in Pennsylvania, you should look at any tile store in Philadelphia for a glimpse into what is good for your house. Many years ago, homes were decorated with linoleum floors and carpeting in most bedrooms. This was the standard in most new home that were built. While both options are still available anywhere, the new flooring types are much nicer and much more durable.

Choosing Between Laminate and Solid Wood

Today, there are wood floors that are made for homes and they come in either laminate or natural solid wood. The choice you make in the type of floor you want to have installed should fit in with the overall design of your home. Laminate wood flooring is a low-cost way of getting the look of wood without having to pay the price. The laminate will tend to last a much shorter period than solid wood, however. Solid wood flooring will need to be sanded down and refinished every several years, but they will last a very long time. The price difference between the two is very substantial also.

Ceramic Tile Versus Natural Stone Tile

Tile flooring comes in many different varieties and price ranges. There are tiles that are ceramic and some that are natural stone. The ceramic tiles are very durable but tend to chip and crack very easily. Natural stone tiles are solid tiles that will be able to take a beating in your home. They will last for many years and take very little maintenance to keep them looking good. It is recommended that at least once a year, you apply a finish to the stone tiles to prevent them from drying out. Ceramic tiles will typically be sized in a square pattern while natural stone will come as varied pieces that are fitted together. The prices for ceramic tiles are much lower than for natural stone tile but many people feel the durability of the natural stone outweighs the price of it.

No matter what you choose for your flooring, you should have it installed by a professional. The work will be done quickly and easily since they have experience in working with any type of floor. Get several estimates for the installation before you sign any contracts. The estimates should include the price of the floor materials, the labor cost and what type of guarantee comes with the installation. If after the work has been completed you find you have a problem, contact your contractor immediately to have it repaired.