Month: May 2020

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What Is The Cheapest Flooring Per Square Foot?

Whether you are getting a floor for your kitchen, bathroom, kiddies room, or living room, getting the best floor deal is what every homeowner wants. Designer looks can be hard on any budget, but asking the right questions, and going to the right place will get you what you want for your home. Furthermore, many floor options are flooding the market every day, and it is quite challenging to keep up with what’s new, affordable, and easy to install. We have outlined the top three cheapest floorings per square foot for you.

Laminate Flooring 

Laminate flooring is one of the cheapest flooring available; it constructed like engineered wood, with a thin veneer over layers of compressed fiber or plywood. However, the top layer is a plastic coating, although it looks like wood. If you want hardwood or stone flooring for your home, but cannot afford it, laminate flooring can replace expensive solid wood flooring. 

Fortunately, laminate flooring is either planks or tiles, and most of them are floating floor systems. In essence, you don’t need glue or nails to install it over an existing floor. You can get laminate flooring anywhere from $1.00 to $7.00 per square foot. 

Laminate flooring is a suitable material for high-traffic areas, like kitchens, playrooms, and foyers. Besides, it is a reasonable floor choice for basements as long there are no leaks or standing water.
Pros

– It is easy to install over old flooring, and it saves time and money on your flooring project.
– It is an imitation of hardwood, or stone and for less money
– It is easy to clean and requires little maintenance It is scratch-resistance

Cons
– Laminate flooring is slippery when wet, and not suitable for bathrooms and laundry rooms.
– Water can get in between the layers of the material, which can cause the planks to warp.
– Laminate cannot be fixed; you need to replace, which makes it a less cost-effective option than wood or tile.

Sheet Vinyl Flooring
No other flooring can beat vinyl sheet flooring for an extremely low-budget flooring; it is cheap and easy to maintain. Sheet vinyl flooring can last up to 15-20 years. You can install sheet vinyl over any subfloors, and those that are uneven or have cracks. However, ensure the subfloor is clean and smooth before installation, or else you will see bumps on your floor from dirt left underneath the sheet vinyl. Unfortunately, this incredible floor option is not stain-resistant, and it can turn yellow over time. Rubber from floor mats or the bottom of your shoes can create a chemical reaction that may not come off.
Also, overexposure to sunlight can cause your floors to fade or yellow. However, you can get sheet vinyl that is resistant to discoloration, but it will cost you extra for that.
Sheet vinyl is not an eco-friendly option; it is not biodegradable, and it is made of PVC and emits volatile organic chemicals. 
It costs about $1.00 to $5.00 per square foot, and installation adds $1 to $2 per square foot.

Pros
– It is durable and water-resistant
– It requires low-maintenance
– A perfect choice to install over uneven or cracked subfloors
– Many options available that looks like wood and stone
Cons

– It is not resistant to discoloration
– Difficult to repair

– Not eco-friendly

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is made from a mixture of clay and shale, which is fired in a kiln like pottery. Ceramic tile is a hard material that comes in a variety of shapes, patterns, and colors. However, not all ceramic tiles are sturdy enough for flooring. It is essential to clarify the type of ceramic before you buy it.

Furthermore, the price of ceramic tiles varies because it comes in a wide variety of styles and sizes. However, it is possible to pay less than $1 per square foot per tile or as high as $100 per square foot for some specialty tiles.

Types of ceramic tiles

Terracotta: Terracotta is an unglazed tile, which comes only on earth stone; it is less durable than other tiles, and it requires regular sealing to prevent stains.

Quarry Tile: it is another unglazed type of ceramic that has a slightly rough texture: it is more slip-resistant than glazed tile, but the colors are limited.

Porcelain: porcelain is fired at a very high temperature, which makes it extra-hard and durable. It is available in glazed and unglazed. Also, both types work well in outdoor rooms, and they are stain-resistant. Moreover, it is best for high-traffic areas like mudrooms, kitchens, and other wet rooms like laundry rooms and bathrooms, porcelain is a waterproof flooring.

Glazed ceramic: glazed ceramic has a glass-like coating that can give the tile any color or texture. It requires no maintenance.

Pros

– It comes in a variety of shapes and colors and can fit in with any style of home; it imitates natural stone and even wood, but it does not feel like wood underfoot.

– The porcelain tile is more resistant to dents, moisture, and scratches.

– It is easy to clean.

Cons 

– The life-span of ceramic tile depends on the type of tile you choose.

– The terracotta tile needs regular sealing.

– Glazed tile is easy to clean, but the lines of grout between the tiles can stain you don’t seal them frequently.

– Glazed tiles can be slippery, except you coat it with a special anti-slip finish.

– It is not easy to repairs if a single tile cracks

– It feels cold and hard underfoot and makes footsteps sound louder

– In conclusion, it is possible to get the cheapest floor type for your home, offices, or any other properties. However, different flooring has its pros and cons, and they have their specialties. 

– Before you purchase any flooring, explain to the seller which rooms you want to use it for, or better still call a professional to get first-hand information on any flooring of your choice.

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What Is The Most Durable Type Of Flooring?

Decorating your home can be quite an uphill task, especially for first-timers. The pressure to get everything right is nerve-wrecking. From getting the right color for each room, purchasing the right furniture, to knowing the right floor for the room can be tiring. However, if you know, the right and perfect floor to pick reduces your work by a tone.

Floors go beyond colors and beauty; what works in the living room, may not necessarily work in the bathroom. There are several flooring options; vinyl, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, bamboo, cork, etc. also, some are quite affordable. For example, vinyl, laminate, and ceramic tiles are affordable; you can get them for $1 per square foot.


Nonetheless, if you go by the price alone, you might end up getting the wrong floor type for your room, thereby spending more money fixing or replacing your room floor every time.

Most Durable Type Of Flooring

Furthermore, each floor type has pros and cons, and as previously stated, a floor that is perfect for one room could be a disaster for another room. Below are some of the most durable types of floorings in the market.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is one of the best floorings; it can almost be restored to mint condition and can be sanded repeated in part because this type of flooring is dense, which scores for them the durability and strength points. Also, solid wood is relatively clean, and with the help of a microfiber pad, you can keep your floor looking new for many years to come.

However, avoid using steam, water, or soap-based cleaners; they can dull the floors finish over time, which will shorten the “life-span” of the floor. Also, hardwood flooring is expensive, and not a suitable choice if you are on a tight budget.

Hardwood flooring is perfect for rooms with less traffic like hall, living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms, and bedrooms. Moreover, some people use as kitchen floors, but it is not advisable. Hardwood cannot handle dragging of chairs, grit-covered shoes, and dropped cans.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is a fast-growing grass-based floor type; they the same look and feel of hardwood, but they are not hardwood. It is an eco-friendly alternative to wood flooring, just in case you are looking for a similar effect as wood.

Furthermore, bamboo flooring is available in solid strips and engineered planks. It comes in different patterns, which show the strand of grass in remarkable ways.

Vertical-grain bamboo flooring has long and narrow strips packed tightly together, flat-grain bamboo has dark stripes across the boards, which shows the nodes in the bamboo while end-grain bamboo has a lot of little short strips.

Bamboo flooring, just like hardwood, is sturdy and durable; it is available in different forms that are easy to install.

However, most bamboo planks are made in and shipped from Asia, which adds to carbon pollution even though bamboo is a renewable resource. Also, many bamboo farmers use fertilizers and pesticides that are harmful to the environment.

The cheaper types of bamboo flooring are more susceptible to scratches and dents like wood flooring. In other words, the best bamboo floor will cost you more. Nonetheless, bamboo flooring works in all the same places as hardwood; it is ideal for living areas, bedrooms, hallways, but may not be sturdy enough to use in the kitchen.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring Engineered hardwood flooring’s durability hinges on veneer top; as long as the thin veneer top is intact, the engineered wood remains strong. However, the thin veneer layer on of the wood scratches just as much as solid wood, but it cannot be sanded as regularly as hardwood. To enjoy this type of flooring, it is necessary to use a lot of throw rugs, area rugs, and runners. Also, this type of flooring is not suitable for pet owners.  Use a vacuum with a flooring attachment and clean up spills as soon as possible to keep these floors as good as new for many years to come. Engineered hardwood floors can scratch and dent easily. However, they work well in all the same spaces as hardwood, but it is less durable than wood. It is suitable for enclosed porches and basements.

Moreover, it is less expensive than solid wood, but you will need a professional installer to floor your room, which will cost you more compared to other easy to install floors.

Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is resilient and has a flexible material that is a bit softer underfoot than a tile or hardwood. It is made from a layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Besides, cushioned vinyl has a thin layer of foam, which makes it comfortable to walk on. 

Furthermore, vinyl comes in several forms; sheet vinyl, click-style vinyl planks, etc. Thicker vinyl flooring can have a textured surface, which imitates stone or wood. Sheet vinyl has a large sheet of flooring that you unroll, cut to your preferred size, and glue to the subfloor. Also, the click-style vinyl planks look like engineered wood or vinyl tiles.

Some vinyl tiles have a peel-and-stick backing, which makes it easy to lay them down; you don’t need to add adhesive before installing.

Vinyl is a tough material that can withstand moisture and heavy traffic, and a good quality vinyl floor can last 20 years if properly taken care of. Besides, it comes with a variety of patterns and colors, which makes it easy for people to make their choices. Fortunately, it is easy to repair, remove, and replace a damaged plank instead of the whole floor. Also, all vinyl types are easy to clean and maintain.

However, if you install the vinyl floor directly without a subfloor with no under layer, it can emit a hollow, and echo sound when you walk on it. Also, it is not eco-friendly; PVC is a major source of phthalates, plastic softeners that have been banned in toys because of its adverse effect on kids. Not an ideal choice for children’s room, but suitable for bathrooms and kitchen. It is also best for basements and does not feel as cold as tile. If you’re looking for an affordable vinyl flooring installer in Greensboro NC then Call us at JS Wood Flooring – Greensboro for a FREE quote over the phone.