Choosing new flooring for the home can be exciting. However, when choosing the flooring, homeowners should look beyond the beauty of the flooring. After all, the floor is the most used structural element of any house.
A home’s floor must permanently support all the furniture placed on it, allowing people to move about on it as freely as possible. People place their weight, put heavy things, and spill various things on the floor.
Hence, homeowners need to choose a floor that fits their family’s requirements. But with three popular types of flooring in FL, i.e., wood, porcelain, and travertine, choosing one can be difficult. All three popular flooring options have pros and cons, but some are easier to maintain than others. So let’s take a detailed look at wood, porcelain, and travertine flooring to find out which one of these is the easiest to maintain:
Wood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is one of the top choices of homeowners. However, most homeowners choose hardwood for its beauty and not for the ease of maintenance.
Hardwood flooring is high-maintenance flooring for the following reasons:
- It requires refinishing every five years. It also requires regular cleaning to minimize the appearance of scratches. If scratches appear, hardwood flooring requires sanding down.
- Hardwood floors are not a great option for families with young children and pets. Pets’ claws and toys of young children can often result in scratches on the hardwood.
- Dirt, dust, and debris buildup can also harm the appearance of hardwood floors. Cleaning hardwood flooring may require special solutions to maintain its color and appearance.
- Placing heavy furniture on hardwood floors without protective pads can damage the floor.
- It should not be left wet as dampened hardwood can be easily infected by mold and destroyed. Homes in humid climates should avoid using natural wood flooring and instead use engineered wood flooring to achieve its look. All hardwood flooring can be easily destroyed in damp areas of the home, such as the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen.
- The durability of hardwood flooring depends on the wood species. While all hardwood flooring requires meticulous care and maintenance, hardwood flooring from certain wood species lasts longer than others.
Porcelain Flooring
Porcelain flooring is quickly becoming homeowners’ favorite due to its durability. The aspects of porcelain flooring that make it easy to maintain are:
- Porcelain tiles are moisture-resistant. Hence, they make a great option for the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and outdoor swimming pool.
- It is easy to clean and does not require special cleaning solutions. A clean wet mop is a cheap and effective way to clean porcelain flooring.
- Porcelain flooring does not require waxing or sealing. However, glazed porcelain tiles can be even easier to clean than unglazed ones.
- Glazed porcelain tiles can be slippery. Hence, protective pads for furniture are recommended for porcelain flooring. Homeowners can also opt for unglazed porcelain flooring, which is non-slippery but often requires cleaning.
- They are suitable for all climates and can be used indoors and outdoors.
- Compared to hardwood flooring, porcelain flooring does not require any maintenance.
Travertine Flooring
Travertine flooring is another great option for easy-to-maintain flooring. The features that make it easy to maintain are:
- Travertine flooring is made up of travertine stone. It is a durable, natural stone. However, it is less durable compared to porcelain flooring.
- Travertine flooring holds up well to moisture. But it requires sealing when used in spaces prone to dampness.
- Cleaning travertine flooring is very easy to maintain. It can be kept clean by regular sweeping and removing dirt and debris. However, it does require special cleaning agents for washing and removing stains.
- Due to its durability, it can be easily used for homes facing all kinds of weather. But homeowners with homes in extremely cold regions should double-check the specifications of travertine flooring they choose.
- Travertine is usually resistant to scratching and dents, but dents and scratches can occur if heavy objects are dropped or purposely scratched.
Wood, Porcelain, or Travertine Flooring — Which is Easier to Maintain?
Wood flooring can be difficult to maintain compared to porcelain and travertine flooring. For homeowners looking for long-term flooring solutions, porcelain is the best option. On the other hand, travertine is also a great option for those who can spare some effort to maintain the natural beauty of travertine flooring.
For homeowners looking for flooring in FL, on a budget, Best Price is the ideal place to explore options for quality flooring.
