Selecting the Right Hard Flooring Material for Your Home

The flooring in a residential building is an important element to consider when constructing or renovating. The right material choice for your home should withstand the foot traffic in the building and provide prolonged service life. The aesthetics of the surface should match your interior design vision, and you should evaluate the budget before making a choice. In addition, it is prudent to consider maintenance requirements because this aspect will affect your long-term enjoyment. One of the important material categories is hard flooring, and this is designed to provide the best aspects with regard to durability, resilience and ability to withstand adversities. Here are the main hard flooring materials to consider incorporating into your house.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are important flooring products that are ideal for use in all areas in the residential building. The material is manufactured into small units, so it is easy to handle and install during the construction process. These ceramic products are fired in hot kilns during fabrication, so the material is dense and durable. The tiles have a glazed surface, which minimises porosity, improves appearance and limits the formation of scratches. In addition, you can choose your ideal flooring product from the different types of ceramic tiles in the market. The common choices include the traditional ceramic tile, porcelain, terracotta and quarry tiles.

Concrete

Concrete is an advantageous hard flooring material in the residential construction market. This is an economical choice, particularly for homeowners working with a considerably stringent budget. This type of material is relatively inexpensive, but it will give long-term service. This can be attributed to aspects such as high compressive strength and general rigidity. The material is customisable through colouring, staining, texturing and embossing, so it can be made to mimic other more expensive materials.  Additionally, concrete floors required limited maintenance for proper performance. On the other hand, you should note that concrete is porous, and moisture on unsealed concrete can cause cracking.

Natural Stone Tiles

Natural stone flooring is fabricated from raw quarry stones obtained from the natural environment. The main advantage of this type of material over alternatives is the unique aesthetics presented by the units. In simple terms, these tiles are available in an array of hues, textures and granular compositions. The common natural stones in the market to think about purchasing for your home include granite, travertine and slate. These are dense and can withstand high temperatures and exposure to moisture. Unfortunately, natural stones are expensive and can strain the budget during complete residential flooring projects.

For more information about your different flooring options, contact a local retailer of building supplies.