This article is the second part of a discussion on flooring, the different types, and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Five other types of flooring will be elaborated on here, to add to the four that were mentioned in the previous article.

Laminate 

Similar to engineered wood as well, a thin veneer covers the plywood or compressed fiber underneath. The difference here is that the upper layer is not wood, but a photograph laid underneath clear plastic coating; this allows it to appear as any other material (appearance only, not in texture or toughness). 

1. Advantages

3. As mentioned above, it mimics the aesthetic and look of most other materials for a fraction of the cost associated with those materials. Maintenance and upkeep is also relatively simpler for laminate. The installation is also simpler and saves you the effort, money, and time that comes with installing other types of flooring. The only complication may come with fitting planks around corners and through doors. 

2. Disadvantages

4.  Compared to other material, laminate can be quite slippery when wet; and the planks can warp when water gets in between the material layers (this usually happens when water stands on it for any length of time). There is also no refinishing for laminate, only replacement; in the long run, this may prove to be a less cost-effective choice.  

Vinyl 

A type of resilient flooring, vinyl is a flexible material that feels slightly softer under your feet as compared to rigid wood or tile. It’s made from a layer of PVC plastic that is laid over felt. Variations can be made for greater comfort: cushioned vinyl has a thin layer of foam, making it more comfortable to walk over, and thicker vinyl can have a textured surface that mirrors wood or stone as well. 

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   1. Advantages

   3. Its durability to moisture and heavy traffic is one of its more attractive traits. It is more comfortable to walk on and warmer on your feet than tile would be, and its relative affordability and longevity add to its appeal (high-quality vinyl flooring can last you 20 years, some say). Vinyl also comes in an array of colors and patterns that help it simulate the look of other materials convincingly. 

   4. Disadvantages

   6. Quality varies when it comes to vinyl floorings. Cheaper types have less choices with color and pattern, and the not-so-authentic look might be quite jarring to look at. Vinyl is also more likely to scratch compared to any other type of flooring, despite the improvements made in its durability over the years. The improper installation of it can also lead to a hollow, echoey sound as you walk over it. Buyers should also beware of the phthalates in the material as this has been found to harm children’s health and development (although there might only be trace amounts in the air and floor surface). 

Linoleum 

Another type of resilient flooring that has been around for nearly 150 years, the concerns about chemicals in vinyl flooring has facilitated the renewed popularity of this natural and renewable material. 

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   1. Advantages

   3. Even more durable than vinyl, proper care and upkeep can net you 40 or so years of utility with this flooring. It has a soft underfoot feel and a varied design net. An added benefit is that it is a more eco-friendly material than vinyl, producing no harmful emissions. 

   4. Disadvantages

   6. No material is perfect, sadly. Linoleum’s Achilles’ heel is, well.. heels. Sharp objects can tear into the flooring, and sunlight can fade it or turn it yellowish (this is where protective coating comes in to help prevent that). Having protective coating ensures that it is low-maintenance and easy to tend to, but uncoated linoleum will need regular waxing to help keep its sheen. It is also not as water-resistant, so choose wisely which room you would have it in. 

Cork 

Made from the bark of a particular type of tree, this hardy homestay has a veneer of natural cork bark over a backing of either compressed cork or a high-density fiberboard. The bark is boiled, ground up, compressed into sheets, and baked in order to be usable as flooring; being able to harvest the bark every eight to ten years without killing the tree also goes a long way in making this a sustainable material. 

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   1. Advantages

   3. Its natural look may be deceiving; cork is quiet, soft on the feet, and warm as a flooring material. An eco-friendly choice made from renewable resources and produced in an environmentally-conscious manner makes cork one of the preferred materials for a truly “green” home. Coming in both planks and tiles, it is also slip-resistant. 

   4. Disadvantages

   6. As with most wood-based material, it is vulnerable to denting and water. Moisture, spills, or tears will do a number on cork. Most come pre-finished, but the flooring itself will need to be resealed every year with wax to protect against stains and water damage. 

Carpet 

Soft fibers, like wool or nylon, are pulled through a woven backing, then reinforced with more layers to strengthen what we know as carpet flooring. Nailing it over a layer of padding adds cushioning to it and prolongs the life expectancy and usefulness of the carpet. 

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   1. Advantages

   3. Arguably the most enjoyable to the touch of the materials, carpet is soft and warm underfoot. Its material lends itself to being slip-resistant, and installation is quite simple when compared to other materials.  

   4. Disadvantages

   6. From experience, carpet is one of the more difficult floorings to clean, if not the most taxing. Regularly scheduled vacuuming are necessary in order to make sure dust and other bits do not build up and sully the carpet; and even then, steam cleaning may be required to remove some more specks of dirt. The fact that carpet can hold allergens should also steer allergy-prone families away from this material.

That was an overview on the remaining flooring materials: laminate, vinyl, linoleum, cork, and carpet, along with a brief overlook of their strengths and weaknesses. The next article will discuss the best uses for each material, and the defining reason for which material to use.