Flooring( in general )101

The different types of flooring we sell at DirectBuy are

Hardwood

Laminate
Tile -Ceramic, Porcelain, Quarry, Saltillo, Mosaic, Terracotta Stone
       - Granite, Marble, Limestone and Slate
Carpeting
Bamboo
Cork
Vinyl
Linoleum

Each type of flooring is different and has pros and cons about it durability and cost effectiveness. I will be providing you with a general description of what each type of flooring.

Wood – Solid wood or engineered planks.

Pros

– Beautiful, warm, soft on the feet, fairly durable, long-lasting if properly sealed and

maintained, can be refinished, many wood types and hues to choose from, can be painted or

stained for more color options, helps tie kitchen to other rooms in an open floor plan. Although

hardwood can initially cost more than some other flooring options, it's an investment that pays

off, increasing the value of your home.

Cons

– Susceptible to water damage, darkens with age, expensive to very expensive, softer

woods can dent easily, harder to keep clean than vinyl or laminate – water and spills need to be

cleaned immediately. Dust everywhere with refinishing or new installation of unsealed wood.

Tip - Material must acclimate for 48 hours before installation.

Stone – Granite, Marble, Limestone, Slate

Pros

– Beautiful and durable, with many color and pattern choices. Nearly indestructible.

Tumbled or honed finishes give good traction. Granite is the strongest.

Cons

– Cold and hard on the feet. Very expensive. Slate is more affordable, but can be rough

and can peel. Glossy finishes are slippery when wet and must be polished regularly. Tumbled or

honed stone must be sealed regularly. Stone is heavy and may need a stronger subfloor. Marble

will be damaged by chlorine and can absorb dirt. Limestone and Slate collect dirt.

Tile – Ceramic, Porcelain, Quarry, Terra Cotta

Pros

– Huge selection of mixable colors, shapes, sizes and patterns. Durable if well made.

Glazed tiles are moisture and stain-resistant. Most are easy to maintain. Mosaic tile can be laid

on uneven surfaces. Can be very affordable. Easy for do-it-yourselfers.

Cons

– Cold and hard on the feet. Can be very expensive depending upon what you choose. Can

crack or chip and is difficult to repair. Glossy finishes are slippery when wet. Grout can discolor

and is hard to maintain.

Laminate – Imitation Wood, Tile or Stone

Pros

– Durable, easy to maintain, scratch-resistant, wide range of colors and designs, can be

installed over old flooring, can be affordable, quiet when used with underlayment, good choice

for damp areas and below grade, easy installation – good choice for do-it-yourselfers, has

color/grain uniformity, many click together styles require no glue.

Cons

– Cannot be refinished if damaged. Some can be expensive – as much as wood.

Tip - Material must acclimate for 48 hours before installation.

Vinyl Flooring

Pros

– Inexpensive, durable, easy on the feet, quiet, water and stain resistant, and low

maintenance. It's easy to install – especially tiles. 12-foot wide sheets mean seamless floors in

small rooms. You can create patterns with tiles.

Cons

– Prone to dents and tears. Moisture can get into seams leading to mildew and lifting.

Glossy finishes are slippery when wet, and can dull easily unless waxed regularly.

Carpet

Pros

– Warm, easy on the feet, quiet, lots of colors and styles to choose from, choice of wall to

wall or area rugs, slip-resistant, can be affordable.

Cons

– More appropriate for drier climates. Collects dirt and moisture – which can turn into

mildew. Wall to wall carpeting is not a good choice for people with dust allergies. It's hard to

clean. Polypropylene or washable area rugs best choice.

Cork

Pros

– Cork is soft and warm, wide array of colors and patterns, great texture, easy to install,

can be affordable. Option of unfinished or polyurethane-sealed.

Cons

– Must be sealed. Not as durable or easy to clean as vinyl. May not be a good choice for

"rough" families.

Linoleum

(Made from linseed oil, wood flour and/or cork dust and sometimes

pine rosin, jute and limestone.)

Pros

– Comes in wide range of colors, quiet, durable, biodegradable, environmentally friendly,

hygienic and anti-static.

Modern linoleum doesn't wear down like the old type from the '50's. The glue is better, so it

shouldn't pucker up over time.

Cons

- Porous, it may need to be waxed or polished from time to time. Strong overall, but

difficult to repair if there is a problem.

Bamboo Flooring

Pros

- Environmentally friendly & renewable, durable, hard and stable.

Cons

- Renewability - The first being bamboos rapid renewability has some manufacturers harvesting it

before it is mature therefore not producing quality, hard floor planks. Flooring that is made before the

bamboo is at least 4 years old is soft and may easily warp and dent, Low quality production and

warranty - make sure you take a look at the manufacturer's warranties. A quality manufacturer will likely

warranty their bamboo flooring for at least 10 years structurally and 25 years on pre-finishing.