The Best Places to Buy Flooring Suppliers Online and In-Store

Flooring can make a huge difference in the atmosphere of your home, and a good floor can also improve your home’s overall value. To choose the right flooring for your space, start by evaluating each room — not every type of flooring is best for every type of room.

Hardwood 

Hardwood is a classic. It brings warmth and natural beauty to a space, and it’s highly customizable. It comes in several different species and stains, with all kinds of features to choose from. It is a bit expensive, however, at $3 to $6 per square foot (before installation).

Here are some hardwood customization options to consider:

• Wood species: There’s a variety of tree species used to make hardwood flooring, including oak, walnut, ash and maple. Exotic woods like Brazilian cherry or teak, mahogany and tigerwood may be harder to find — and more expensive.
• Plank size: Plank sizes used to be fairly straightforward, with most planks measuring either 2 to 3 inches wide, but current flooring trends lean toward wider planks of anywhere from 4 to 6 inches, depending on the style and size of the space.
• Grain pattern: The grain is determined by the species of tree and the method used to saw it. There are four different sawing methods used to slice hardwood floor planks: plain sawn, quarter sawn, rift sawn and live sawn. Each method results in a different grain pattern, so compare the styles and confirm that your flooring company offers the method you want before committing.

Engineered hardwood is a great option if you’re interested in hardwood but want a more affordable option. Engineered hardwood is created using layers of hardwood and plywood, while hardwood is solid wood with no layers.

Engineered hardwood has the same look and finish as true hardwood floors, but its materials and installation typically cost a bit less. Engineered flooring does have a shorter life span than true hardwood flooring, however, so hardwood might be the way to go if you’re looking for longevity and can afford the investment.

Types of hardwood flooring

There are different grades of hardwood flooring, including:

• Clear hardwood: This is the highest grade of hardwood flooring. It tends to be the most uniform in size and appearance.
• Select and better hardwood: This hardwood has uniform color and few visible imperfections.
• #1 common hardwood: This option has a higher chance of showing imperfections and varies in board color and length.
• #2 common hardwood: This type of flooring has notable color variation and imperfections like knots and pinholes.
• Cabin-style hardwood: Cabin-style hardwood has a rough-hewn appearance with checking and unfilled knots and wormholes.
• Shorts: These have the highest concentration of color variation, imperfections and other visual characteristics.

Best uses for hardwood

Living rooms, entryways, bedrooms, dining rooms and offices are all great places to install hardwood floors. Although spills might deter you from installing hardwood floors in your kitchen, there are new sealants and finishes that can help repel water on wood.

There’s also the risk of nicking your floor by dropping pots and pans or other heavy objects, but hardwood is still a popular option if you’re willing to handle the upkeep. Exotic hardwood flooring is popular among upscale buyers with large budgets who want a statement-style, enduring flooring option.

Hardwood pros and cons

Pros

• Classic, long-lasting
• Large variety
• Easy to customize
• Simple maintenance requirements

Cons

• True hardwood is pricey
• Engineered hardwood has a shorter lifespan
• Requires maintenance

What’s the best flooring for the money?

Though it’s expensive, hardwood flooring is a classic choice that can improve your home’s value. If you’re trying to sell your home or increase its overall worth, hardwood flooring is definitely worth considering.

Laminate

Plastic laminate can be laid as a floating floor with no nails or glue required for quick, easy installation. Each tongue-and-groove plank has a dense fiberboard core topped with resilient, scratch-resistant plastic laminate. It comes in many different faux finishes and colors that resemble natural wood and stone. It typically costs $1 to $5 per square foot before installation.

While laminate is definitely a more affordable alternative to hardwood or tile floors, it doesn’t have the long lifespan of other floor types because it’s prone to chipping. If you’re looking for a flooring option that can stand foot traffic from visitors, kids and pets for a solid 20 years, though, laminate flooring is definitely worth considering.

12-mm vs. 8-mm laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is typically 8 or 12 millimeters thick, and both options have advantages and disadvantages. Decide which is best for you based on the following:

• Price: 8-millimeter laminate is more affordable.
• Durability: 12-millimeter laminate tends to be more durable.
• Feel: 12-millimeter laminate has a foot feel similar to hardwood floors.

Best uses for laminate

Laminate flooring is a great option for homes with pets or kids — it’s durable, easy to clean and inexpensive. It’s susceptible to moisture damage, though, so you may want to avoid installing it in moisture-prone areas, like laundry rooms and kitchens, unless you invest in a waterproof or water-resistant option.

Laminate pros and cons

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Works well in many spaces
• Simple installation, a good DIY project

Cons

• Not as durable as natural flooring
• Prone to chipping
• Some varieties don’t handle moisture well

Tile

Tile comes in many forms and styles, from natural stone options like marble and limestone to decorative styles like cement or glass tiles. Each type has benefits and common uses, and some tiles are better suited for certain spaces.

Depending on the tile you get, you might spend $3 to $6 per square foot (before installation). Some types of tile and their popular uses include:

• Cement tile is a popular modern flooring choice due in part to its repeated appearances on home renovation shows like “Fixer Upper” and “Home Town.” Typically, ceramic tiles feature art or designs with Mission- or Moroccan-style influences. They’re long-lasting and durable, and as long as they’re properly installed and maintained, they won’t stain or scratch easily. They’re great for small spaces like laundry rooms or entryways.
• Ceramic tile is an affordable alternative to porcelain tile. However, ceramic tile isn’t as durable as porcelain. It’s also more porous, so installing it in a moisture-prone area like a bathroom or an outdoor living area isn’t advisable.
• Glass tile comes in an array of colors and patterns, including classic subway styles and intricate mosaic designs. It has a light-reflecting effect, which can make a small room seem larger. It’s impervious to water so it doesn’t stain, making it a good option for the bathroom. Glass tiles can be slippery, but using small tiles helps curb slipperiness.
• Natural stone tiles are luxurious and fit a variety of spaces, from bathrooms to kitchens. Because they’re made of an all-natural material, they tend to be more expensive than other types of tile. Popular options include marble, limestone and slate.
• Porcelain tile is dense and less porous, so it’s popular for bathroom floors. Many porcelain floor tiles are manufactured to mimic the look of natural stone and wood, so it’s a durable alternative to flooring types that may not be suitable for high-moisture areas.

Porcelain vs. ceramic tile

We consider both porcelain and tile affordable flooring solutions. Porcelain tiles are denser and heavier than ceramic tiles, however, so you can often tell which type of tile it is just by holding it.

If you can’t tell and are unable to test the weight of the tile, take a look at its edges. Porcelain tiles will have the same consistency and finish throughout, while ceramic tiles tend to have a glazed finish.

Best uses for tile

With so many materials and styles to choose from, tile is a great flooring option for almost every room and space. For buyers who want to customize their flooring, tile offers variety and flexibility other flooring types can’t surpass.

Tile pros and cons

Pros

• Hard and durable flooring
• Withstands wear and tear well
• Some varieties are less prone to stains

Cons

• Some varieties require regular resealing
• Some tile types are prone to staining

Carpeting

Carpet is one of the most popular flooring materials. Fabric twist is a better indicator of carpeting quality than weight — uncut carpet piles are good for high-traffic areas and resist stains well. Some retailers also sell carpeting that can be used outdoors.

You can also buy carpet tiles, which allow for lots of customization — you can mix colors and patterns to create a unique design. Carpet prices range widely — it may cost anywhere from $2 to $15 per square foot before installation.

Carpet quality

Use the following factors to determine carpet quality:

• Face weight: The weight of the carpet pile per square yard, measured in ounces.
• Density: How close the fibers are stitched into the carpet backing.
• Type of fiber: The natural or synthetic fiber used in the carpet’s construction.
• Fiber twist: The number of times the fiber strands are twisted together.
• Style: Common styles include Berber, frieze, saxony and cut-and-loop.

Nylon is the most durable indoor carpet material, which means it withstands general use and cleaning better than other options on the market. However, nylon is also susceptible to staining. Be sure to find out if your nylon carpet includes a stain-resistant treatment before buying.

Best uses for carpet

Carpet is a great flooring choice for bedrooms, closets and living rooms. Unlike hardwood, carpet absorbs sound. The installation is typically fast, and you might be able to get a good deal through a wholesale or discount carpet company because it’s such a popular flooring choice.

Carpet pros and cons

Pros

• Brings warmth to a space
• Absorbs noise
• Simple and quick installation process

Cons

• Stains easily
• Traps allergens and dirt

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring is waterproof and comes in a variety of looks and styles, including wood and tile lookalikes like LVT (luxury vinyl tile), LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and sheet vinyl. There are even scratch-resistant varieties, making vinyl a great flooring choice for heavy-traffic rooms. It has a long life span — up to 25 years if it’s properly cared for.

Most vinyl flooring costs between $1 and $5 per square foot before installation. Vinyl flooring can be purchased in a variety of forms, including sheets, planks and tiles.

How thick should my vinyl flooring be?

Vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of sizes, generally ranging from 2 to 8 millimeters. You should determine the thickness of your flooring based on how tall you want your floors to be and the amount of money you want to spend. In general, the thicker your vinyl floors are, the more expensive they’ll be.

Best uses for vinyl flooring

Because it’s waterproof and easy to clean, vinyl flooring is great for laundry rooms, kitchens, game rooms, living rooms and other areas with a lot of foot traffic. It’s also great in spaces where you might do a lot of standing — it’s softer and easier on the joints.

Vinyl pros and cons

Pros

• Low-maintenance
• Wood and tile lookalikes
• Waterproof

Cons

• Sensitive to sunlight
• Not environmentally friendly

City Floor Supply distributes hardwood and sport floor products and provides customer service. When it comes to hardwood flooring, our wood floor consultants have seen it all. They are available to answer questions and address any job-site issues related to hardwood floors. Learn More.