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Updated: 7/3/2009 6:43:36 PM

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Comparing Flooring Types

LAMINATE Flooring
     
High-performance laminate flooring can look like wood or tile. Laminate flooring is extremely durable and easy to clean. Laminates feature engineered, layered construction and can stand up to just about anything. Laminate flooring does not scuff or show wear-through. The surface is burn-resistant and resists scratching from pets. The surface will not indent with normal family usage. The surface will not color fade. Cleanup is easy, requiring only a damp cloth and vacuum. Laminate flooring works well in moisture-prone areas: Kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, family rooms, laundry rooms, offices, and all high-traffic areas.

 

HARDWOOD Flooring
     Most people prefer the natural, rich beauty of genuine wood floors. Upscale and elegant, hardwood flooring creates a warm and inviting look. Hardwood flooring comes in two categories, solid wood and engineered wood. Solid Wood, the most common consists of solid one-piece boards. Solid wood flooring is usually nailed to a sub-floor of wood. Solid wood is not recommended for basements or below-grade installations. Engineers wood consists of two or more layers of wood laminated together. The top layer is usually a hardwood veneer of varying thickness. The lower layer is a softwood backing. Most engineered wood floors are glued down rather than nailed down. Some engineered wood flooring applications are installed as "floating floors", meaning the edges of the panels are glued together but not attached directly to the sub-floor. Engineered wood floors can be glued directly to a concrete slab making it suitable for below grade applications.

    Most wood flooring is available in three formats, with the most common being the the wood strip. Also available are parquet squares or wider width planks. Most engineered wood floors are pre-finished. Unfinished floors installed on-site allow you many choices for types of finishes and colors.

 

CERAMIC AND STONE TILE Flooring
     Creates an elegant, natural look. Ceramic and stone are almost indestructible, easy to maintain. Ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed. Stone tiles vary in texture and color for a distinctive look. Both tiles are suitable for moisture-prone and heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, laundry rooms.

VINYL Flooring
     
Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and is very durable, making it suitable throughout the home. Vinyl is available in sheets 6 to 12 foot widths in any length needed. Vinyl is also available in luxurious tile squares suitable for the finest interiors. Vinyl comes in an extensive variety of subtle to bold, bright colors, patterns, designs, and textures. Vinyl works well for active families. It stands up to heavy household traffic, children and pets. Vinyl will provide you with years of care-free beauty. Quality Vinyl flooring is available in good, better and best categories, suitable for any budget.

CARPET Flooring
     
Carpeting has a broad price range and styles to meet a variety of decorating styles and budgets. Carpet is  quiet, soft and warm underfoot,  and provides a comfortable feeling. Most carpet fibers are nylon, olefin, polyester or wool. They vary in wear and stain resistance, resilience, cleaning ability and price. Types include Plush, Saxony, Texture, Cut-Loop, Level Loop, Multi-level Loop and Frieze. Carpet fits well in most rooms of the home including Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways,  offices, dinning rooms and family rooms.
 

CARPET FIBERS COMPARED
Fiber Type Wear Resistance Stain Resistance Resilience Clean ability Comments
wool very good low unless treated excellent Good The standard by which other fibers are judged; low resistance to static unless treated;  Costly
nylon excellent most are treated to enhance stain resistance very good Very Good The most popular fiber; has good static control; suitable for almost any application
polypropylene olefin very good excellent inherent stain resistance low Best The second most popular fiber, best suited to loop pile constructions or high, very dense, cut piles
polyester very good built-in-stain resistance to certain types of acid dyes fair Good Better suited to low traffic areas, such as bedrooms and living rooms

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Floor Covering World Information and News

Floor Covering  Information and news on all types of floor covering.  Listed on the site is news and information on  wood laminate flooring, hardwood flooring,  bamboo flooring, carpet flooring, tile flooring and cork flooring.  Located on this site are also many How to install videos and installation instructions. Also available are listings of flooring manufacturers for all types of flooring. The Information provided will hopefully help you decide on the flooring type and manufacturer best for your needs. Save time and money by purchasing from the advertisers on this site.

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