The cost of installation and the cost of materials can be very important when choosing a floor. If you have a limited budget, engineered hardwood is often faster to install and more affordable than solid hardwood. But solid hardwood can still be fairly affordable depending on the type of wood. 

Ceramics or tiles may have lower material budgets, but they also tend to be fairly costly to install — especially with harder installations, such as large format tiles.

There are two factors when you consider the cost of flooring: installation and maintenance. Consider laminate flooring. It's cheap to install, but you'll probably need to install it again within a few years. The true cost over ten years may be the cost of multiple installations and material purchasing.

When it comes to hardwood floors, the maintenance budget usually involves buffing or resurfacing the floor, perhaps once every decade. Other than that, hardwood floors will generally be easy to maintain.

Likewise, with tile, the floors themselves will probably be fairly durable, but there will be some costs associated not only with maintenance but also with removing it when it needs replacing.

How Highly Trafficked Are Your Floors?

There are a couple of important considerations when it comes to traffic. Traffic can damage floors over time. But also, some types of flooring can become uncomfortable in areas that see a high amount of traffic.

Tile floors tend to be the most durable for highly trafficked areas. Ceramic tile specifically, as natural stone can be delicate and porous. But tile is also very hard and has no give. For areas like a living room, tile floors are going to be loud. For areas like a kitchen, tile floors are going to be difficult to stand on for long periods of time.

Thus, hardwood floors are often the best option for highly trafficked areas, because though they are very durable, they also have some amount of give and also some sound dampening. 

Do You Have Pets and Children?

Pets and children can do a number on floors. Cheap vinyl or laminate will often get scratched and scuffed, and unfortunately, they really can't be repaired — when laminate is damaged, it has to be replaced.

Options such as tile and hardwood are usually better for homes with pets and children. Tile and hardwood are both easy to clean (easier than carpet) and durable. Tile will resist most scratching, but when it's chipped, you need to replace it. You can refinish solid hardwood many times.

How Important Is Resale Value?

Some people intend to keep their homes in their families for many decades. Other people intend to sell their home within a few years. The resale value of your home is important when considering the type of flooring you're installing.

For instance, laminate flooring can be convenient and cheap, but it doesn't improve the resale value of your home. In many areas, hardwood flooring is extremely competitive and makes it far easier to sell a home. 

As you can see, there's quite a lot that you need to consider when choosing a floor. A professional can help. Contact K & Z Hardwood Flooring to explore your options and find what works best for you