A room is nothing but the sum of its parts; one of the most important elements to determining a room’s function, style, and atmosphere is the type of flooring installation used. In 2010, reports show that 39% of hard surface flooring was chosen for commercial applications while only 25% of companies chose carpets and rugs. In 2011 a similar trend was seen with homeowners as two-thirds of homeowner floor replacement jobs used hard surface materials. Hard surface floors are easy to clean and have a sleek look, but not all floor materials are the same.
Hardwood Floors
Floors constructed out of hard woods like oak or maple are some of the most popular flooring options available in the U.S. Up to 98% of consumers prefer hardwood flooring for common living areas and 56% prefer hardwood for bedrooms. Hardwood floors give a timeless look to any room, making it one of the most versatile kinds of floor one can choose. Estimates vary, but installing a new hardwood floor could have a return on investment of 150-200% of the original investment.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tiles are durable, modular flooring elements that can be arranged in a plethora of patterns and colors to suit any room. In 2012 ceramic tile accounted for 12.5% of total floor covering sales in the nation; that was $18.76 billion dollars. Although easier to clean than carpet, proper ceramic tile cleaning means carefully cleaning between the tiles.
Travertine Floors
Travertine is a specialized form of limestone that has been cut into slabs and arranged into a mosaic. A 12″ x 12″ sheet of travertine mosaic can weigh as much as 5 lbs, making it a very heavy, durable option for flooring — the Roman Colosseum was primarily built with the material, and that has lasted for over two millennia. The U.S. demand for travertine is currently around .85 million tons per year, yet that number is steadily increasing. Like ceramic tiles, travertine floor cleaning ought to be done regularly to avoid buildup. Hiring a professional travertine floor cleaning company can keep your floors looking clean with travertine polishing and other additional services.