Part 2: More of the Top 6 New Flooring Materials to Consider

In the first part of the series on new flooring materials, we profiled three flooring varieties: luxury vinyl plank, cement tiles, and cork. In this second part, we will cover the final three new flooring materials that could be perfect for your next flooring project.

You’ll remember that we consider “new flooring materials” as not brand new, just-hit-the-market new flooring; we mean newer, non-traditional flooring.

So, if you’re ready to discover the latest in flooring innovation that flooring installers near you can make your reality, let’s dive in!

But First, Why Should You Consider a New Flooring Material?

Nothing is wrong with sticking with traditional flooring materials, like hardwood, natural stone, or manufactured tiles (porcelain or ceramic), but it’s been done. If you’re looking for some fresh but trendy reasons for why you should try a different flooring material, here’s they are:

• Personality: Your home should reflect your personality; otherwise, you’ll end up living in a house, not a home! Homeowners that consider new materials may identify as creative, non-traditional, eco-friendly, delightfully offbeat, or those looking for something a little different.
• Cost-Effective: Traditional flooring materials are costly, while these options are easier on the wallet.
• Eco-Friendly: Most options, like cork, are more environmentally-friendly. Hardwood means cutting down trees, whereas cork is made from tree bark, so the tree doesn’t have to be chopped down for the sake of our floors.
• Trendy: Hardwood isn’t the only flooring that is trendy. Many of our flooring options, like luxury vinyl plank, come in wood-look finishes, so you get the look and feel of wood without the hefty price. Not to mention, cement tiles come in patterns like the wildly popular geometrics, meaning you can create a unique look for your space. Don’t limit yourself to traditional flooring materials, as many of these options can mimic the look and feel of wood or stone.
• Mix and Match: The final reason to consider different materials is to have fun. For instance, if you have a large open-concept room, separate the areas using two different flooring materials. You can blend traditional hardwood with contemporary cement tiles to create a visual masterpiece.

There’s no shortage of reasons to think outside the box when it comes to your flooring. Next, we’ll show you more of the flooring types we think you’ll love for your home.

Three New Flooring Materials Worth Considering

And without further ado, here are the final three flooring materials that are worthy of your consideration for your home.

Rubber

If you’re looking for a fun, fresh way to add some personality to your space, whether in a kids room, rec room, or home gym, rubber is trendy new flooring that may be up your alley.

Here’s what’s so great about rubber flooring:

• Durable: There’s a reason gyms use rubber. It’s long-lasting and hard-wearing.
• Ergonomic: Rubber floors are comfortable and help prevent injuries and fatigue.
• Textured: You won’t have to fear falling as rubber has a naturally textured surface.
• Eco-Friendly: Rubber is made from sap, but the tree doesn’t need to be harvested, meaning it’s more environmentally friendly than hardwood. Not to mention, rubber is recyclable.
• Cost: Rubber flooring is affordable flooring.

If you’re ready to hire flooring installers near you to lay down rubber floors, consider these possible downsides first:

• Maintenance: Although you only have to vacuum the flooring to pick up the dust and debris collected in the pores of the flooring, you also have to mop it once a week with mild detergent.
• Traps Allergens: If you suffer from allergies, rubber might not be for you as it collects dust and dander.
• Stains: Rubber is not a great flooring in areas prone to spills, like the kitchen as it will stain.

Rubber can be a surprising choice, but it’s not your only option. Keep reading for more flooring types.

SPC/WPC

SPC stands for stone plastic composite, while WPC is a wood plastic composite; both are offshoots of vinyl flooring. If you want “heavy-duty” vinyl plank flooring, SPC and WPC were made with you in mind!

Here’s what’s so great about SPC and WPC flooring:

• Rigid Core: What sets this flooring apart from vinyl plank is that it’s made of one durable, rigid core. This means this flooring offers the best durability of all vinyl floorings.
• Appearance: Because vinyl is an engineered product, it comes in just about any colour, wood/stone look, or design. Everything is highly realistic looking, including the ability to buy textured planks. Another feature of SPC/WPC is that it comes in many plank widths; if you want a wide plank, this is a great option.
• Durability: SPC is more durable than WPC because its core contains limestone. In fact, SPC was originally marketed commercially because of its durability.
• Water Resistant: Like LVP, SPC/WPC is not waterproof but water resistant.
• Cost: SPC costs more than WPC, but overall the cost of either flooring is not far off the price of luxury vinyl, making this an affordable option.
• Doesn’t Dent: If you want a floor that can stand up to kids and pets, then SPC is that flooring. It doesn’t dent the way other floors do!

Here are some things to consider before having flooring installers place your SPC/WPC floors:

• Scratches: The top layer can scratch if it experiences heavy usage.
• Underlay: Like LVP, you’ll want to add a subfloor or underlay to level the floor; otherwise, the floor will be noticeably uneven.
• UV Damage: Sunlight can cause fading if SPC/WPC is installed in a sunroom or area with a lot of natural sunlight.

Still looking for that certain flooring to catch your eye? We’ve got one more flooring type up our sleeve for you to consider.

Engineered Hardwood

One of the newest flooring innovations is engineered hardwood flooring. This type of flooring consists of high-density plywood and two layers of wood veneer (real wood sheets). Engineered hardwood is the best way to get hardwood without the hefty price tag.

Here are some other reasons you should consider engineered hardwood flooring:

• Cost: If you want hardwood but can’t afford the cost, then engineered hardwood is a great option.
• Moisture Resistant: Engineered hardwood doesn’t warp, swell, or shrink when exposed to temperature or moisture the way real wood does.
• Eco-Friendly: Engineered hardwood is more environmentally friendly than hardwood as it uses less wood.
• Great for Heated Floors: Engineered hardwood is great for installing radiant heating.
• Wide Plank: If you’re set on using wide plank boards, hardwood is prone to warping if it’s cut in wide planks, so engineered hardwood is a better choice.

There are a few drawbacks to using engineered hardwood that you should know about:

• Refinishing: Although high-quality engineered wood flooring can be refinished, it’s more common that you can’t refinish it.
• Longevity: Hardwood has a longer lifespan than engineered wood flooring, as you can refinish it multiple times.
• Scratches: Engineered hardwood and wood flooring are prone to scratches, dings, and dents.

For many, engineered hardwood is the way to get the flooring look of their dreams without spending a fortune or spending a ton of time maintaining their floors.

Which New Flooring Will You Choose?

Flooring manufacturers are always innovating and coming up with new flooring materials or ways to improve existing ones. The difficult part for consumers is keeping up with the latest flooring innovations. Many of the flooring materials on our list are versatile and can be used anywhere, like engineered hardwood, LVP or cement tiles. So, instead of using traditional flooring materials like hardwood, why not consider something new?

If you’re unsure which flooring would work in your space, give us the Brothers Flooring for a free consultation. We’re always happy to share our knowledge on trendy new flooring materials. And we’re confident we can help match your flooring needs with the perfect new flooring material!