⦁ Function. What rooms do you want done? Are they high-traffic areas? Will they get easily wet or dirty? These things will determine the kind of durability and maintenance style you’ll be dealing with on your floors.

⦁ Style. What colours and styles best describe you? Are you looking for floors to accentuate your current room, or are you thinking of redesigning and redecorating your entire space? The way you style and decorate your new floors will directly influence your budget.

⦁ Budget. Remember that buying the actual flooring is only part of your budget. Will you need to have floors installed, and the old flooring disposed of? Do you need extra supplies like adhesives, moisture barriers or baseboards? Will you be installing the floors yourself? Considering the complete costs of the flooring project will help to steer you into the best floor types for your needs.

Aside from wood flooring, other popular options are stone, tile, laminate and luxury vinyl. Each flooring type has pros and cons to be considered to find the best match for your particular situation.

If you're leaning toward wood, understanding the difference between solid vs. engineered hardwood floor types will help you make the right choice for your subfloor and lifestyle.

Stone

Stone flooring combines nature and elegance with easy maintenance and indestructibility. The wide array of textures and colours provide a distinctive look, perfect for heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, foyers and laundry rooms.

Pros:

• Retains heat
• Easy to clean
• Durable and long-lasting

Cons:

• Replacing tiles can be hard
• Can scratch and stain 
• More expensive than other types

Tile

Tile flooring is a great option for creating unique, long lasting flooring designs. Not only can designers mix and match colours and patterns to match any taste, but tiles can also be manufactured to mimic other natural flooring, like wood and natural stone.

Pros:

• Waterproof
• Low-maintenance
• Many style options

Cons:

• Intricate installation
• Can scratch and stain 
• More expensive than other types

Laminate

High-performance laminate can simulate wood or tile floors, and is extremely durable and easy to clean with either a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner. Laminate flooring is scratch- and dent-resistant, making it a solid choice for family areas.

Pros:

• Cheaper alternative to wood
• Easy installation  
• Copies look of wood and stone 

Cons:

• Intricate installation
• Can scratch and stain 
• Can be loud to walk on

Luxury vinyl

Luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) offers a wide variety of style options, while maintaining durability and ease of maintenance. Available in tiles or planks, luxury vinyl flooring makes realistic 3-D replicas of natural surfaces. Great for busy areas with years of carefree beauty, luxury vinyl is a great choice for any budget. For vinyl, the core construction matters more than you might expect — dive into the SPC vs. WPC vinyl flooring comparison to understand which holds up better for your space.

Pros:

• Can copy natural flooring and tile  
• Waterproof 
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• Can get cuts and gouges
• Not biodegradable 
• Low resale value

Unfortunately, no flooring is 100% perfect. Every type has its own advantages and disadvantages. In choosing the right flooring type, figure out what qualities you absolutely need, and which ones are only 'wants'. Just knowing these things can help you to decide on a purchase that you're happy with.

Regardless of the flooring option, Bona has a system that will make it look beautiful. From our tried and trusted hardwood floor cleaners and mops to our stone, tile and laminate cleaners, you’ll find that Bona is the easy, trusted choice for fantastic floor care.