Popular Floor Materials and Their "Looks Appeal"
Funny how flooring tends to be one of the last things you think of when planning a home renovation. What's underfoot just doesn't seem as glamorous as marble countertops or elegant wall treatments. In fact, only about 7 percent of the typical remodeling budget is allocated for flooring installation.
Posted — UpdatedLaminate is a relatively new type of floor material which has become extremely popular. It consists of a fiber or plywood backing topped with a plastic-coated photograph, usually of wood, though other textures, such as ceramic tile or stone, are also possible. Flooring produced in this manner is not only very affordable, it is also extremely low-care and easy to install, even atop an existing floor. Laminate comes in a vast assortment of wood grains and tones, from silvery "pine" to deep dark "hickory" or "tulipwood."
Bamboo is another new player on the flooring scene. Although a bamboo floor has the beauty and natural appearance of wood, it's actually made from a fast-growing type of grass. Slices, strips, or strands of bamboo are glued into planks with distinctive grains. The three grain patterns are:
- flat or horizontal, made from slices of bamboo stalk; it shows off the growth knots typical of bamboo
- vertical, composed of solid bamboo strips attached with adhesive; it has a stripy, sinewy pattern
- woven, made up of thin strands of bamboo; it is, surprisingly, the strongest of the three and can be made in a plethora of styles.
Vinyl floor has come a long way. This resilient, low-maintenance synthetic floor covering has done its eco-friendly homework and now comes in low-VOC versions (with adhesives low in volatile organic compounds to boot!). It has also brushed up its appearance. Better quality, thicker sheet vinyl flooring or vinyl tiles can be made to mimic wood or stone, quite successfully. If you're not so much into faux decor, choose vinyl flooring that looks like … well, vinyl, in fresh modern patterns like geometrics or paisleys, and even floor murals.