Choosing flooring for your home involves decisions about style, durability and budget. Here are 11 flooring options, along with their pros, cons and basic costs.
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Hardwood flooring gives a room a crisp, classic elegance, while the soft look of natural wood warms any room. It’s available pre-finished or unfinished, and in many species.
$5 to $12 per square foot. Price factors include board width, squares vs. planks and wood species.
Engineered flooring combines a veneer of hardwood over one or two layers of manufactured material, usually high-density fiberboard or plywood. Engineered wood flooring provides the look of hardwood at a reduced price.
Read more about engineered wood, here.
$3 to $6.50 per square foot. Price factors include squares vs. planks, plank width, species of veneer layer and thickness of veneer.
Laminate flooring is a pressboard subsurface topped by a treated layer designed to look like wood. Unlike engineered flooring, it does not have an actual hardwood layer. While some laminate flooring can be vulnerable to moisture, there are water-resistant laminate options.
$1 to $5 per square foot. Price factors include durability of top “wear” layer, style and water resistance.
Most floor tile is ceramic, though materials such as natural stone or porcelain are available. Tile is a great choice for areas that may get wet, such as kitchens, bathrooms or entryways. Some homeowners like tile throughout the house because it’s easy to clean; others avoid tile in living areas because it’s relatively cold and noisy.
$1.50 to $15 per square foot. Price factors include size of tile, country of origin, tile material, grout width and type of grout.
Bamboo flooring is increasingly popular because of its strength and sustainability. Some variations are more resilient than others, including “strand woven” varieties or specially strengthened flooring such as the Fossilized line from Cali Bamboo.
$10 to $13 per square foot for solid bamboo, $2.50 to $6.50 for engineered. Price factors include color, finish style, plank vs. squares, plank width and density.
Wondering what to lay over top of that basement floor? What about just prettying up the concrete itself? Concrete floors are surprisingly attractive when properly stained, sealed or polished. They’re incredibly long-lasting and can add a modern flair.
Most DIYers who are renovating will be looking at staining and sealing existing concrete in areas such as garages, workshops or basements. Those working on new builds can choose any of several concrete finishes during construction.
Materials to pour, stain or polish new-build concrete floor range from $4 to $12 per square foot. Price factors include home design, style of stain and pattern intricacy.
Materials to stain or seal existing concrete floor range from 30 cents to $2 per square foot. Price factors include style of stain and pattern intricacy.
Like bamboo, cork is an environmentally friendly option for flooring. It has the elegance of hardwood, but with a warmer, more inviting look. Cork flooring is available in planks or tiles. Here, find out why you should consider cork flooring for your basement.
$3 to $6 per square foot. Price factors include squares vs. planks, plank width, color and texture.
While everyone is familiar with carpet, many homeowners don’t appreciate the range of carpeting options. Modern carpet is available as stick-down squares or large rolls, and in an almost-infinite array of styles, colors and textures. In addition, modern carpet pads last longer and give more cushion than in previous years.
$2.50 to $9 per square foot (for carpet and pad). Price factors include wall-to-wall vs. squares, natural vs. synthetic fibers, quality of padding and pile (the density and length of fibers).
Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) is a robust flooring option. While peel-and-stick vinyl tile is more affordable, it’s ultimately a short-term solution. By contrast, VCT is a long-term flooring option that can be buffed, refinished and sealed, much like hardwood flooring.
VCT is 60 cents to $1.25 per square foot. Price factors include thickness and color of tile. You’ll also need a sealer and polisher when installing the VCT, as well as a cleaner and potentially stripper for maintenance. That should total around $50 more.
Once found in millions of homes, sheet linoleum is far less popular today. But it’s still an affordable option, especially for kitchens and entryways. And while the classic linoleum “pebble” look of the ’70s is still available, there are now sheet products that capture the appearance of everything from wood planks to mosaic tiles.
50 cents to $2.75 per square foot. Price factors include length of roll, color and design of linoleum.
Interlocking rubber mats have rapidly grown in popularity for home gyms, children’s playrooms, basements and workshops.
$1 to $3.50 per square foot. Price factors include durability of interlocking, thickness and solid vs. open design.
