flooring Archives - Page 2 of 2 - ICC Floors Plus Blog

Tile has been used in homes since as early as the 8th century. From wall mosaics to decorative floors, tile is forever loved for its delicate beauty, incredible durability, and easy-to-maintain properties. That being said, while many households incorporate tile into their design, few truly understand its characteristics. In today’s part of our series, we are going to take a closer look at tile’s attributes and why homeowners select this flooring. Let’s take a look!

Ceramic vs. Porcelain

There are two types of tiles: Ceramic and Porcelain. While similar, these two types also differ from one another. Here are their key differences:

Porcelain

The key difference between ceramic and porcelain tile is that porcelain can be used outdoors. Due to its frost-resistant properties, it can be placed in environments that drop to the negatives. Additionally, porcelain has a low water absorption rate, making it the better choice for showers and pools. Lastly, porcelain is considered more durable and harder than ceramic tile, making it a great choice for households that are prone to drops and spills.

Ceramic

On the other hand, ceramic tile is less expensive than porcelain tile. This is due to the way porcelain tile is manufactured. If you are looking for an affordable tile option, ceramic tile may be your way to go.

Durability

Tile floors are typically considered durable due to the way they are made. While being exposed to extremely high temperatures during creation, tile is incredibly tough and often difficult to crack; therefore, homeowners love the durability and reliability of their tile floors.

Hypoallergenic & Sustainable

Many homeowners choose tile because of its hypoallergenic properties. In fact, parents of children with asthma or allergies love tile floors because they cannot hold common household allergens. Because tile is an impervious surface, homeowners can rest at ease that their household floors will be free of bacteria, fungi, mold, and other dust mites.

Curated from natural and sustainable materials, tile is the most environmental-friendly flooring choice on the market. In fact, it can help moderate the temperature throughout your home and create a more energy-efficient space.

Water-, Slip-, and Fire-Resistant

While many homeowners are probably aware of the fact that tile floors are water-resistant, since they are frequently used in bathrooms, many homeowners may not know that tile floors are fire-resistant. In fact, its fire-resistant property can help homeowners feel at ease with their flooring decision. Since tile is a non-flammable material, if a fire were to happen, it will not produce smoke or burn toxic fumes, helping to give you peace of mind.

In addition to being fire-resistant, tile floors can have slip-resistant properties to keep your family safe. Some tile designs offer a slip-resistant barrier through their different textures and finishes, which works well in pool areas to help avoid any accidental falls.

All in all, tile is a very diverse and beautiful flooring choice. From pools to backsplashes to floors, tile can add a touch of elegance to any home design. For more information on ICC Home’s tile selection, please visit us here.

Additionally, if you missed the previous posts in our series, be sure to visit their corresponding links here: Carpet and Hardwood. Also, be sure to check back next week for our final part of the series on Luxury Vinyl Planking.

Loved for its effortless beauty and timeless nature; hardwood floors are a flooring staple in households across America. While hardwood floors are commonly used in households, some homeowners still do not understand its characteristics and properties. To help consumers understand their flooring properly, we are going to do a series on the four most common flooring types: Carpet, Hardwood, Tile, and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planking). Today, we are going to take a closer look at hardwood and all it has to offer. Let’s take a look!

Solid Vs. Engineered

Hardwood flooring comes in two types of compositions: solid and engineered.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring is the type of floor that probably comes to mind when you think of traditional hardwood. It is composed of a single piece of wood and can be sanded or refinished as often as the homeowner sees fit. While solid hardwood is loved for its traditional beauty, it can contract and expand due to its single-piece nature. This means that solid hardwood would not do well in areas with a variety of temperatures and humidity like the kitchen or basement.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood floors, on the other hand, are composed of several pieces of wood (approximately three to five). The topmost layer of engineered hardwood is typically composed of plywood with other types of wood underneath it. Since it is composed of less expensive materials, engineered hardwood typically is not as expensive as traditional, solid hardwood floors. Additionally, homeowners gear toward engineered hardwood because it does not contract or expand due to temperature or humidity, giving it installation versatility.

Hardwood Finishes

Hardwood has two types of finishes: factory-finished and site-finished.

Factory-Finished

Factory-finished hardwood floors are often considered more convenient and less expensive in the eyes of a consumer. Additionally, since they are already finished prior to the installation, it gives homeowners a clean home, free of chemicals, odors, and excess dust. That being said, factory-finished hardwood floors do feature grooves on the sides of the boards. This means there will be a small gap between the boards, and it can make cleaning a little more challenging.

Site-Finished

On the other hand, your hardwood floors can be finished onsite. Often times, this is homeowners preferred method since it is more customizable and offers a flawless finish. Additionally, they are easier to clean, durable, and offer personalized craftsmanship. That being said, there is the presence of odors and dust as well as the need for an allotted time to cure and dry.

Types of Hardwood

Luckily, there are a wide variety of wood species. While wood species can vary in density and durability, experts recommend choosing one in terms of your color and grain preference.

Plank Width

In addition to a variety of wood species, there is also a wide selection of plank widths. Again, it all comes down to personal preference when choosing the width of your hardwood planks. That being said, some homeowners do lean more towards a wider plank because it shows fewer seams. But homeowners should be aware that the wider the plank, the more money you may spend.

At ICC Home, we understand that choosing the right flooring choice can feel overwhelming at times. We would love to help make the process easy and efficient. Be sure to visit us at ICC Home to make all of your design dreams come true. Also, do not forget to check back next week where will discuss tile. Thanks for reading!

Flooring 101: Tile