There are many different types of floors, but usually the actual floor construction surface is not visible to the people walking on it. Most often, there is a floor covering, or finish material which serves as the walking surface. The type of floor covering used on a floor will usually determine the overall look and feel of a room, so for both the renovator and the would be home buyer, it is important to understand the differences between different types of floor coverings.
The most common floor covering is carpet made from felted or woven fabric. There are two types of carpets: area rugs and fitted carpets. Fitted carpets are attached to the floor structure. A fitted carpet can not be moved around because they extend from wall to wall and cover every square inch of the floor surface. An area rug is a carpet that is not fitted. Area rugs are usually square or round. The advantage of an area rug is that it can be moved from room to room or moved within the room as furniture arrangements change or new furniture is brought in. Also, area rugs can easily be replaced if they get badly soiled, damaged, or if you simply want a new look for the room. With all carpets, an underlay or padding between the floor surface and the carpet or rug will greatly extend the use life of a carpet as it will reduce the daily wear and tear on the floor covering and also make it more comfortable.
Perhaps the most desirable floor covering is a hardwood floor. While some hardwood floors are made of the original floor building material, most are fabricated laminates of either plywood or fiberboard. This material is then layered on top of an existing sub floor. Most wood floor coverings are either plank pattern or parquet pattern. Bamboo, although technically not wood, is another popular wood-like option.
There several types of manufactured floor coverings without a wood pattern, such as linoleum, vinyl or cork. These floor covering styles are usually chosen based on their resilience and low cost. They are usually not considered fashionable but rather functional.
Other types of floor covering include ceramic tiles, stone, terrazzo and seamless flooring. Ceramic tiled floors are popular for bathrooms and kitchens and can be installed by even amateur renovators. Stone floors are very expensive to install and maintain but they are the height of luxury as are terrazzo floors, usually marble or other high quality stone material. Seamless floors are manufactured of latex or epoxy compounds which are applied in liquid form to create seamless surface. This type of floor is more common in rooms that get wet frequently and need to drain completely.
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