Some flooring materials are better for certain rooms. When you decide on flooring think about:

1. How much traffic the area will have. This will determine how tough you need your flooring material to be.
2. If anyone with a wheelchair might use the area. If so, you will want flooring with traction to help prevent accidents.
3. Which is more important: comfort or utility? If the answer is comfort, carpeting may be your best choice.

Planning Your Flooring Project

Vinyl Flooring is flexible and easy to install. It is a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms. You can buy vinyl flooring in sheets or tiles. Sheets are easier to install but only if you do not get a lot of moisture in your home.

Ceramic Tile is more expensive than other types of floors but it is very strong. It can look really good in your home, too. Ceramic tile is a good choice for bathrooms, entryways and kitchens.

Carpeting is the best choice for comfort. You can buy carpeting from a roll in the store or you can custom order it. If the store installs it, they are responsible for getting it right, but you will pay more money. If you install it yourself, you will have to live with any mistakes you make. There’s a secret to carpeting that can help you keep costs down. It’s the padding underneath. With good padding, your carpet will last longer and resist spills and stains better and makes the carpet feel high quality.

Wood Flooring comes in three main types. If you are installing it yourself, choose based on your level of skill.

• Laminate Flooring is made to look like real wood. It’s the best choice for the beginning do-it-yourself installer. The panels are assembled by snapping the pieces together. There is no nailing or gluing. Laminate floor lasts a long time and you can take it with you when you move to a different home. It is the least expensive type of flooring to install.
• Engineered Wood is more complicated than laminate flooring because it can require nailing, gluing or stapling.

Hardwood Flooring

offers the most value to your home. You will need advanced skills to install it yourself.