Flooring Guide: Ground Rules for How to Buy Right

Today, your options are virtually limitless, with choices ranging from bold-colored wood to environmentally friendly materials like cork and carpet tiles. Don’t know where to start? Here’s a quick look at the latest and greatest in flooring options for the home.

SOLID WOOD
THE BASICS: A classic, solid-wood floor adds an undeniable element of elegance, increases a home’s value and is durable enough to last a century. Plus, there’s now more than 50 solid-wood species available for residential installation, including unusual varieties in colorful hues from deep red jarrah to vivid purpleheart.
AVAILABLE IN: Ash, pine, cherry, oak and exotic species, such as teak and Brazilian walnut.
INSTALLATION: Solid-wood planks must be nailed to a subfloor, so it can’t be installed over concrete. It’s also more susceptible to squeaking and buckling in high-moisture areas, making it unsuitable for basements or bathrooms.
MAINTENANCE: Over time, dents may appear in solid-wood floors, especially in softer species like southern yellow pine. Reapply polyurethane finish every 15 to 20 years.
COST: $4 to $20 per square foot.

THE BASICS: On the surface, engineered wood looks just like solid-wood flooring. But below, it’s really made of several thin layers of wood, cross-stacked for stability.
AVAILABLE IN: Virtually any variety of domestic or exotic wood species.
INSTALLATION: Because it’s mounted with a wood adhesive instead of nails, engineered wood can be installed on any surface, including concrete. And it’s an excellent option for moist areas, such as basements and bathrooms.
MAINTENANCE: Like its solid-wood cousins, some softer species of engineered wood may dent over time. Refinish with polyurethane every 15 to 25 years.
COST: $4 to $20 per square foot.

RECLAIMED SOLID WOOD

THE BASICS: Dismantled barns, ships and warehouses of yesteryear are turned into unique vintage flooring with imperfections, like nail holes, adding to its charm. Logs that sank in rivers en route to saw mills also are recovered and transformed into flooring, making it environmentally friendly since no new trees are cut.
AVAILABLE IN: Species that are harder to come by or no longer available, like American chestnut, long-leaf pine and redwood.
INSTALLATION: Because reclaimed wood is a type of solid wood, it must be nailed to a subfloor, so it can’t be installed over concrete or in high-moisture areas.
MAINTENANCE:> Some species will dent over time. And remember: Antique wood is known for its one-of-a-kind character, which means that your floors will never be “perfect.” You’ll see nail holes, stains, even insect markings in the boards from day one. Refinish with polyurethane every 15 to 25 years.
COST: $10 to $30 per square foot.

VINYL

THE BASICS: Vinyl is a resilient flooring that has a little give to it, which is easy underfoot and can help cushion falling objects. Vinyl tiles are composed of colored chips formed into solid sheets via heat and pressure and then cut into squares. Square size and thickness vary.
AVAILABLE IN: A variety of patterns based on the look of hardwood, stone, terrazzo or ceramic tile, plus countless other designs and colors.
INSTALLATION: Tiles are applied to any smooth, level subfloor using a specially formulated vinyl adhesive. Tiles also can be cut and assembled into colorful and decorative patterns.
MAINTENANCE: Vinyl tiles are highly resilient to abrasion and impact damage and can be repeatedly refinished with chemical strippers and mechanical buffing equipment. If properly installed, damaged tiles can be easily removed and replaced. Flooring should last about 10 to 25 years.
COST: $1.50 to $5 per square foot.

THE BASICS: This inexpensive option is low-maintenance and made to mimic materials such as wood, marble or granite. It’s made up of both synthetic and natural ingredients, and it’s then covered with a decorative appliqué, to achieve the desired effect.
AVAILABLE IN: Wood, stone and tile patterns, as well as other designs and colors.
INSTALLATION: It’s floated over a subfloor, not glued down, so it’s an ideal cover for any surface. Because it’s water-resistant, laminate flooring can be installed in bathrooms.
MAINTENANCE: Laminate floors are stain-resistant and need no waxing or varnishing, much like a laminate countertop. Flooring normally lasts from 10 to 20 years.
COST: $2 to $5 per square foot.

BAMBOO

THE BASICS: Plantation-grown Chinese bamboo grass matures much faster than trees (six years versus 50), and there’s no need to replant after a harvest since it automatically regenerates. Its nodes and knuckles also create unique and appealing designs.
AVAILABLE IN: Shades of brown in horizontal or vertical grains. Engineered planks can be purchased in brighter colors like deep crimsons and blues.
INSTALLATION: Solid-bamboo planks are nailed down to a subfloor. Engineered-bamboo flooring can be glued down to any surface, including concrete.
MAINTENANCE: Refinish with aluminum oxide as needed, about every 10 years. High-end bamboo flooring is twice as durable as some hardwoods, so it should last for decades.
COST: $4 to $11 per square foot.

THE BASICS: Cork is made from Mediterranean cork-oak tree bark, which naturally separates from the trees about every 9 years, making it harmless to harvest. It’s also highly resistant to fire, mold, rot and insects. But take note: like many natural products, cork tends to have an “earthy” odor.
AVAILABLE IN: A variety of colors and unique patterns. Choose from planks or tiles; thin or thick flooring.
INSTALLATION: It can be installed right over any existing flooring type. Cork absorbs sound, making it an excellent option for home offices and music rooms.
MAINTENANCE: Aluminum oxide or polyurethane finish can be reapplied every decade or so. Floors can last a century or more.
COST: $3 to $9 per square foot.

THE BASICS: On Southeast Asian coconut-palm farms, trees are replaced when they stop producing fruit and flooring is made with the discarded palms.
AVAILABLE IN: Dark mahogany-hued planks with patterns and variations.
INSTALLATION: Solid-palm flooring or planks can be nailed down to a subfloor. Engineered-palm flooring can be glued down to any surface, including concrete. Palm also contracts and expands less than its hardwood counterparts, making it more suitable for damp environments including bathrooms and outdoor porches.
MAINTENANCE: Reapply polyurethane finish every 10 to 15 years, and this extra-durable material can last up to 100 years. It’s also resistant to water, dents and stains.
COST: $8.50 and up per square foot.

THE BASICS: Squares of carpeting made from 100-percent-recycled-fiber content. Carpet tiles that become stained or worn can be swapped with squares from less-traveled areas, extending the life of the flooring.
AVAILABLE IN: A variety of colors and textures (think multicolored loop pile or nubby sisal).
INSTALLATION: Squares are placed on adhesive backings that are stuck onto floors.
MAINTENANCE: Vacuum and shampoo like wall-to-wall carpeting. Should last 20 years. Tiles come individually, so you easily can replace old sections with new ones.
COST: $1.50 to $40 per square foot.