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Tiles

Tiles have been a trend for a while now whether its porcelain tiles, or ceramic tiles, there are many different styles, colours, and designs. Available, at the owners pleasure, the tiles depending on this colour can brighten up the house and give it personality. There are a few good reasons why you want to put in tiles instead of other flooring options, here’s the gist:

Pros: 

1. Pleasant on the eyes
2. Lots of customization
3. More luxurious than hardwood
4. Cleaning is easier on the tile 
5. Tile if broken is easy to replace 
6. Waterproof 
7. Ceramic tiles are heat resistant 
8. Made from environmentally friendly materials 

Cons:

1. Can slip on the tiles when water present
2. Can stain 
3. Tiles can crack
4. Expensive 
5. Difficulty maintaining the grout lines 
6. Tile temperature is dependant on weather outside 
7. Continuation of maintenance for example, cleaning and steaming

Tiles with a natural stone like finish tend to start from $15-30+ per sqft.

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Hardwood

Trending for many years as a luxury item, Hardwood comes in a few different colours and sizes. Most popular hardwood size in the past were 4 Inches back in the early 2000s, then the adaption of a larger hardwood as the size of 5 inches began after 2010, and was popularized mid 2014-2017, Then after 2017 the trend for bigger hardwood came to be, which was the size of 6 inches. This Trend is slowing down as other options such as laminate, and vinyl are becoming more popular because they are cheaper.  

Pros:

1. Luxury item
2. European esque style, pleasing to the eyes, and modern in design
3. Water resistant to a degree
4. Hardwood flooring can last a long time
5. Different types of wood available such as (oak, cherry, walnut etc.)

Cons

1. Expensive 
2. Are not waterproof, if excess water is present, the wood will start to soil and rot
3. Not scratch resistant  
4. Difficult to replace a piece if damaged 
5. Noisy 
6. Needs refinishing 

Typical Hardwood is priced between $7-12 CAD per sqft. 

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Laminate

Invented by Swidish company in 1977 under the name Perstorp, however it was not sold until 1984 under their new product, sold under the brand name of Pergo and it was first introduced within European market. It was a huge success in native Sweden, Pergo took over in Europe and in ten years later it was America’s turn to be convinced with the benefits that laminated floor had to offer.

Pros

1. Easily implemented by any one, easy DIY installation which doesn't require any nails  
2. Inexpensive 
3. Good stain and scratch resistance 
4. non-allergenic 
5. Easy to clean with vacuum or broom
6. Laminate floor can be mopped 
7. Lots of customization options 
8. No old or exotic trees are used to produce the flooring

Cons

1. Susceptible to moisture damage
2. Has a fake appearance to look like hardwood 
3. Noisy when stepped on
4. Smell of Chemicals present  
5. excess water can seep into floor and cause damage
6. Not ideal for kitchen and bathroom
7. Laminate not a good option for areas with heavy moisture 
8. Cannot sand and refinish laminate, a damaged piece has to be replaced 

Laminate floor pieces cost between $2-$5 per sqft.

Vinyl 

Invented in the 1930s, the flooring option first made an entrance in the architectural world after world war II. The concept became popular after the 1950s, being put in kitchens and bathrooms. The current trend size for the vinyl is 5-6 Inches. In our opinion vinyl is going to be the ongoing trend for quite many years as it is very durable, economical, and has other benefits such as:   

Pros:

1. Easy to install, even if DIY project 
2. Durable and low maintenance
3. Scratch proof
4. Water resistant
5. Inexpensive
6. Comfy to walk on and quiet 
7. Very customizable

Cons:

1. Subfloor damage 
2. Chemical stains can occur 
3. Difficult to repair
4. Not eco friendly due to disposal 

Vinyl pieces can cost about $3-5 per sqft. And linoleum pieces go for $4-6 per sqft.

Carpet

Although carpets are believed to have originated from the  Middle East. The carpet market industry came to the United States in 1791. This started from William Sprague who invented the first woven carpet mill in Philadelphia. In the 1800's New England adapted the idea of the carpet market industry.  

Pros

1. Cheaper than wood
2. Softer and warm underfoot sound  
3. Variety of choices in terms of texture, colour, and appearance
4. Warmer surface

Cons

1. Easily stains
2. Does not add value to your property
3. Traps pollens and dust
4. Hard to clean
5. Durability of 10 years

Based on popular purchases, a carpet can range from $2-5 per sqft.