When renovating a dining room, you may consider investing in some new flooring. But which material should you choose? Carpets tend to be best avoided as food and drink spillages can be hard to clean and may cause stains. Hard flooring is more hygienic and easy to maintain. But of course, there are many different types of hard flooring. This post compares five popular options.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is a synthetic type of flooring that is designed to imitate the appearance of wood. It’s cheaper than natural wood and it is more moisture-resistant. This makes it one of the most popular flooring choices for dining rooms. The downside of laminate is that it only lasts 20 years on average before needing to be replaced. There are many laminate styles you can explore. Lighter tones can add brightness, while darker tones can provide a more sophisticated feel. This guide at www.thespruce.com offers more information on choosing a laminate floor.
Hardwood
Hardwood is a traditional flooring choice for the dining room. It’s a natural material that can bring a sense of warmth to your dining room. Hardwood flooring can also last a long time – up to 100 years in many cases if well maintained. Moisture and hardwood don’t mix, and it’s important to wipe up spillages immediately and use only a little water while mopping. Applying wax or a polyurethane finish can help protect your floor from water damage and is recommended in a dining room. Companies like www.thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com have a selection of different timbers to choose from. The cost of hardwood flooring can vary depending on the type of wood you choose, but generally, it’s more expensive than laminate.
Ceramic tile
Ceramic tile is durable, easy to clean and waterproof. This makes it an excellent dining room floor material. In terms of price range, ceramic tile tends to be more expensive than laminate but less expensive than hardwood. There are many different styles of ceramic from terracotta to stone-effect porcelain that can allow you to experiment with different colours and textures. Ceramic’s biggest downside is that it can be cold underfoot and may cause a room to lose heat faster in winter. Certain types of ceramic can also get quite slippery.
Natural stone
Natural stone is the most luxurious flooring material – and therefore the most expensive. A marble or granite tile floor can cost £20 more per square metre than a ceramic floor. Such floors also need to be carefully maintained and may stain when exposed to certain foods and drinks. That said, this material can make a dining room look stunning and will last a lifetime. Such floors will also increase the value of your home.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring comes in more styles than any other type of flooring. It can come in all kinds of colours and patterns, and it can even be designed to mimic wood or stone. You can buy vinyl floors that are even cheaper than laminate. However, these low-cost vinyl floors can be easily damaged and may only last 10 years before needing to be replaced. Luxury vinyl flooring is more durable and can last up to 25 years, however, it’s often more expensive than laminate flooring. You can read more about vinyl flooring here.
