As you begin your project, you will probably feel a little overwhelmed by all the options available. You will find that style, function, and cost vary from one manufacturer to another. The key is taking these three factors and determining what is right for your home. In addition to your own preference, you should also look at the home’s architecture. For instance, if there are arched doorways that give a Mediterranean feel, work on that and stick with granite, stone, or carpet. To give you a better idea, look at each of your options broken down:

Carpeting

The number of options available for carpet is staggering. You will find wool, nylon, Berber, plush, pile, and so on. While each has its own, purpose, it is important to talk to a professional about the type of carpeting that is best for your home. For high-traffic areas, wool is a great option because it is strong and durable. For areas that you worry about spills and stains, nylon works best. While Berber is a great choice for family rooms because of its affordability and durability, it would not be the right choice for a bedroom.

Tile Flooring

For a floor that is elegant and produces a designer look, you will find that theres many sizes of tiles , 1 x 1 , 4 x 4 , 12 x 12 , 18 x 18 or even 24 x 24 . The color and design options are endless. I always recommend porcelain tile because it is virtualy indestructable, and not as costly as you would think. heres some facts.

Ceramic Tile Wear Ratings
The current rating system for ceramic tile in place today is really the only reliable gauge for consumers to use in determining wear expectations for a particular tile choice. The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating scale that can effectively guide a consumer through the arduous process of choosing the right tile for lets say a family room or busy kitchen area. This rating system is recommended by the American Society Testing Materials (ASTM). The PEI Ratings and wear descriptions are listed below: PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) - Recommended for wall use in residential and commercial applications only. PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) - Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications only. PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) - Recommended for countertops, walls and floors where normal foot traffic is expected. PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional. PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications. Most porcelain tiles on the market today will have a PEI rating of 5, which certainly makes them the hardest wearing of any tile you could possibly choose. Although this rating system is an important tool for consumers, it is only one of many factors to consider when making the right flooring choice. Since it only addresses wear issues only, what about the factors determining quality? This is discussed in the article

Hardwood Flooring

Without a doubt, hardwood flooring adds a rich, refined look to any room. You will have choices in mahogany, pine, oak, ash, etc, . Since you will be walking on the flooring alot, this investment is one in which you do not want to skimp. Even so, you will find that installation is affordable.

Laminate Flooring

Finally, laminate flooring, (Pergo), Armstrong, Formica, alloc and mannington. This type of flooring is great for high-traffic areas, landings, hallways, and entire rooms simply because it is virtually indestructible. Laminate flooring is easy to install, affordable, and comes in a huge variety of colors and styles for any type décor. You will find options that mimic hardwood flooring to designs that look like ceramic tile. Because the flooring is so durable and beautiful, this is always a great choice.

Engineered Flooring

Engineered Wood Flooring is Real Wood Laminate is melamine-infused paper on top, wood chip composite on bottom. Solid hardwood, by definition, is real wood. And engineered wood, too, is real wood. It is a sandwich of 1/16" to 1/8" inch of finish wood on top and non-finish plywood underneath. Engineered Wood Floor is Pre-Finished The top finish layer is pre-finished, which means that it's already sanded and sealed.

So as soon as the floor has been laid, you can walk on it. This is in contrast to unfinished solid hardwood, which must be sealed and which requires waiting time before use. Note: solid hardwood is available pre-finished, as well. Engineered Wood Flooring Can Be Sanded--Sort Of The advantage of engineered wood flooring versus laminate is that engineered wood can be sanded after scratches and dings develop. Two catches, though: * It cannot be sanded more than 1-3 times (depending on the thickness of the finish layer) I seriously recommend that you have a professional sand your engineered wood flooring. It is very easy to gouge your engineered wood floor, revealing the plywood underneath. It's Good for Areas With Light Moisture Engineered wood flooring works well in basements and bathrooms where light moisture might be present. Still, it doesn't hold up to really wet areas such as basements that flood frequently. Nor does it hold up to kids' bathrooms which...well, also tend to flood frequently. No wood flooring product is great for these very wet areas (tile, concrete, vinyl, or any other non-organic product is best). But relative to other wood flooring products, engineered wood isn't bad. Engineered Wood Flooring Has a Range of Installation Options Unlike solid wood, which must be nailed to a wood sub-floor, engineered wood can be installed in a different number of ways. Depending on the type you buy, it can be either: * A nail-down floor. This is for the 3/8" thick floor--its thinness requires nailing to enhance stability; * A glue-down floor. The 1/2" thick floor can be nailed down; or * A floating floor. The 5/8" planks are thick enough to act as a floating floor.

Things To Do Before Installation:

I need you to have a clear understanding of the services I provide as well as to be aware of items you will need to handle prior to installers arriving at your home. After your purchase, items crucial to the smooth installation of your new flooring will be detailed, a pre-installation check list and may include some of the following:

* Verification of the installation date.
* Remove all "breakables" from the room(s).
* Determining who will remove furniture, appliances and the sub-floor, if needed.
* Arranging for the disconnection of gas appliances and icemakers.
* Determining if any change to the height of the floor require adjustments to doors in order for them to close properly.
* Ensuring the removal of items in storage areas and closets where the floor is to be resurfaced.
* Make certain drapes, wall hangings and pictures are removed from walls.
* Verify that your in-home temperature 68-70 degrees is appropriate for installation.
* Most materials may need to "acclimate" warm-up for 24 hours in your home before installation in cold weather.