Pros & Cons of Popular Flooring Options

When choosing the type of flooring to put into your new construction home, there are many things to consider. Different types of flooring are suitable for different types of rooms and properties, with each offering its advantages and disadvantages. New homeowners often feel overwhelmed with the choices and find it difficult to choose the right option for them. If you are currently building a home and are tasked with choosing your flooring options – or if you are considering replacing the floors in your existing home – A New Beginning Custom Homes is here to help you choose! There are plenty of options, so read on to learn about the six most common types of flooring you might want to install in your home.

1. Tile Flooring

Tile is a very common type of flooring in homes around the country, especially in the Southwest. There is almost no better feeling than walking barefoot across a cool tile floor after coming in from the New Mexico heat. It is easy to clean, looks great, and is durable and scratch resistant. Tile flooring can be used in pretty much any space in your home; from living rooms and kitchens to laundry rooms, and even bedrooms and outdoor spaces. It is also perfect for wet environments, like mud rooms or pool houses, because of its water-resistant properties. If you plan to install tile flooring, you will have a variety of different options to choose from – decorative patterns, solid colors, wood-look, and Saltillo – making it easy to match your home’s unique style. Typically, to install tile flooring you’ll need someone with some experience to lay the floor properly and evenly. The price for tile can range widely from $0.99 to $25 per square foot.

Pros of Tile Flooring:

1. Very easy to maintain 
2. It is water resistant 
3. Strong and difficult to break

Cons of Tile Flooring:

1. Not suitable for all budgets
2. Hard and slippery

2. Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Now that you know a little more about tile, let’s focus on two of the most popular types of tile flooring: Ceramic and Porcelain. Ceramic tile is made from clay and hardened by heat with a beautiful and shiny glaze to top it off. Porcelain tile is very similar to ceramic tile, except it is heavier, denser, and impervious to water. This makes porcelain tile much more suitable for outdoor spaces and spaces with lots of moisture such as bathrooms and kitchens, and it might be something to consider since expanding outdoor living spaces is a big trend for 2023. Ceramic tile is a bit less durable, but it offers a more affordable option for a very similar result to porcelain tile. Ceramic tile is less recommended for outdoor spaces as it is more porous and less frost resistant. Both come in a plethora of beautiful patterns, colors, and designs (including some that mimic the look of wood) making them a beautiful addition to any home.

Pros of Ceramic: 

1. More affordable
2. It is generally water resistant 

Cons of Ceramic:

1. Not suitable for outdoors
2. Hard and slippery

Pros of Porcelain: 

1. Great for outdoors
2. Water impervious
3. Very durable

Cons of Porcelain:

1. Not suitable for all budgets
2. Hard and slippery

3. Polished Concrete

Polished concrete flooring in New Mexico homes has seen a huge increase in popularity in the last few years. As industrial design has influenced other home styles, from modern to farmhouse to Southwest, polished concrete flooring is a great option to create a clean, attractive, easy-to-maintain space. In addition, its price point is appealing for many homebuilders, starting at around $2 per square foot, depending on the design’s intricacies and staining of the concrete. It is one of the easiest flooring options to care for, with simple cleaning day-to-day and resealing every 2-5 years to optimize its lifespan. For a more in-depth guide to polished concrete flooring, be sure to click this link.

Pros of Polished Concrete:                                                    

1. Extremely durable                     
2. Easy to maintain                                   
3. Lasts for a long time         

Cons of Polished Concrete:

1. Hard on your feet
2. Can crack if not properly finished and sealed
3. Can amplify the sound in a room

4. Hardwood Flooring

If you’re looking for a more classic look, hardwood flooring could be a great choice for your home. It’s very durable, scratch-resistant, and can be easily refinished if needed. It’s made from a variety of wood types, including oak, walnut, maple, and even bamboo, making it easy to find something that matches the rest of your home. Hardwood is one of the most expensive types of flooring, but it’s also very eco-friendly, making it a great investment. Hardwood floors can range from $3 to $7 per square foot for materials and another $3 to $5 per square foot to install. If you are interested in hardwood flooring, here are some things to consider.

Pros of Hardwood Flooring:                                                          

1. Easy to maintain and clean                                  
2. Great for those with allergies    
3. Durable & can be refinished easily if scratched 

Cons of Hardwood Flooring:     

1. Can be expensive
2. Not suitable for wet environments
3. Noisy to walk on

5. Marble Flooring

Marble flooring has been seen in homes for literally thousands of years. Often chosen for a more luxurious look, marble can be an elegant choice for your home today. The smooth surface, cool feel, and exquisite finish of marble floors make them popular, especially for entryways and living rooms. While marble is available in a range of hues and designs, today we see less intricate marble designs in homes. Instead, marble flooring that is white, white with grey veining, or black with white veining has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years.

Pros of Marble Flooring:

1. Adds value to your home 
2. Water-resistant 
3. Durable and easy to clean 

Cons of Marble Flooring:

1. Porous and prone to stains
2. Expensive
3. Slippery when wet

6. Carpet

There are many reasons to consider carpet flooring for your home. Not only does it make your home feel more comfortable, but it also creates a sense of warmth that many enjoy having in their personal spaces. It is also great for dampening noise, which is why you can often find carpet in bedrooms or living rooms, where families like to gather or enjoy TV. Carpet can be an affordable choice, but it depends on a few factors such as pile height and intricacies of patterns in the carpet. The higher the pile, the thicker the carpet, and the more expensive it will be. However, the thicker the carpet, the lusher and more comfortable it will also be to walk on. But for those with allergies, a higher pile height is not always ideal as it can retain dust and allergens more easily. On average, carpet prices can range from $2 to $8 per square foot. Here are some tips for choosing the best carpet for your home.

Pros of Carpet: 

1. Affordable
2. Comfortable to walk on 
3. Variety of colors and styles                            

Cons of Carpet:

1. Can retain allergens, dust, and pet hair
2. Not ideal for wet or damp areas
3. Requires regular cleaning to keep looking clean  

Ready to choose?

A New Beginning is here to help you pick the best flooring options for your property. While there are many beautiful and practical choices to choose from, we hope that this helps you narrow down options to what you think is best for your own home. Each type of flooring has its own pros and cons, but all listed here are great options to consider. Hopefully, this makes your home remodel or custom home journey that much easier.