If you live with kids, pets or a lot of guests, you want flooring that resists scratches and dents. Some of the most durable flooring options include tile and hardwood.
Hardwood floors have a natural look and are extremely durable. But even the best hardwoods can scratch. That’s why some homeowners choose strand-woven bamboo or linoleum, which are more resistant to damage.
1. Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is a natural, eco-friendly material harvested from fast-growing grass, which can be ready for harvest in five years compared to 20-30 years for most wood species. It can be crafted to resemble a number of different hardwood floor types, including mahogany and walnut.
Engineered bamboo is typically made from a layer of real bamboo glued to cross-grained plywood or MDF, giving it enhanced strength and dimensional stability. Look for brands like Plyboo that use a soy-based adhesive to ensure their bamboo is formaldehyde-free. If you want to go all out, opt for strand-woven bamboo. This type uses a heating process to fuse interlocking grass fibers and is the hardest type of bamboo flooring.
Bamboo floors are durable and can withstand a busy household. However, bamboo can scratch just as easily as a hard wood floor, so be sure to use doormats inside and protective pads with furniture.
2. Cork
Cork is a comfortable floor material that is soft underfoot but durable against dents, cracks, and scratches. It’s also mold, insect, and fire resistant.
Corked from the bark of cork oak trees, cork flooring offers a warm, natural look and is softer underfoot than hardwood or tile. The millions of air pockets in cork make it a good thermal and acoustic insulator, too.
Cork is available in both floating planks and glue-down tiles. It’s best for dry locations, though, as cork can be susceptible to water damage. To avoid this, follow manufacturer instructions for gluing down cork in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and home gyms. Cork floors can also fade due to direct sunlight exposure so it’s a smart idea to block sunlight with blinds or curtains. A dehumidifier or dehumidifier is also a must in humid climates to regulate the moisture content of the floor.
3. Vinyl
Vinyl can take on the look of wood and stone with a softer feel underfoot. It’s also waterproof and easy to clean, making it a great choice for busy households.
While some older vinyl options can have a dated look, recent technological advancements mean that wood-look vinyl now looks almost identical to real hardwood. For example, this vinyl plank flooring pick by Lifeproof has a beautiful embossed herringbone design and a hefty 20-mil wear layer that wards off foot traffic and pets.
If you prefer a more traditional look, you could try luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or rigid core vinyl (RVC). Both have the look of natural hardwood floors but offer the benefits of vinyl flooring. The key is to look for a thicker vinyl and a stronger wear layer. The thicker these layers are, the more durable your floor will be.
4. Hardwood
Hardwood is a classic flooring material that offers durability, style, and value to your home. Hardwood floors can be made in a variety of color tones and wood grain patterns to suit your design preferences and lifestyle. Hardwood is very moisture-resistant and can withstand high foot traffic and use.
Choose a hardwood with a high Janka score for added durability. This rating measures the wood’s resistance to dents and scratches. Maple and hickory are the hardest domestic woods, while southern yellow pine and soft oak are relatively softer.
Wide planks are increasingly popular for their appearance and functionality. The extra length creates fewer joints that are more resistant to scuffing and scratching.
5. Stone
Natural stone floors offer a unique and timeless look that never goes out of style. They add instant luxury to any home and are one of the best flooring options for increasing property value.
Whether you choose travertine, slate or granite, all stone floors are durable and can withstand years of heavy foot traffic. They resist moisture and stains and are easy to clean, which makes them a good choice for kitchens, bathrooms or hallways. You visit website of CGP to learn more about another type of flooring that’s great for areas with heavy foot traffic.
Marble is another popular natural stone option. It is highly resilient but must be sealed upon installation to protect against water and stains. Quartzite is another great option for high-traffic areas, as it’s tougher than marble on the Mohs scale and also doesn’t absorb liquids. This material is available in a variety of colors and finishes. It is heavier than most other options, so if you install it in your home, you may need to reinforce the floor joists.
6. Rubber
Rubber has long been a popular flooring option for commercial, high-traffic spaces and is now gaining traction in residential applications. This is thanks to its inherent advantages that include durability, shock absorption and acoustic insulation.
It’s also hypoallergenic and easy to clean, resistant to water and stains, and won’t mold. Plus, it feels soft and comfortable underfoot for the body—an important consideration when working out or playing sports as these activities can put stress on joints like knees and hips.
It’s available in roll form or in puzzle-style interlocking tiles that have detachable edges for installation. The latter require only carpet tape and no glue, which is better for indoor air quality as it reduces odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It can be produced with various textured surfaces that add design character and are often more durable than smooth surfaces.
7. Vinyl Tile
It’s not as hard on your wallet as tile or hardwood floors and, when it comes to durability, it’s right up there with the best flooring options available. Made of multiple layers, vinyl includes a flexible/rigid core layer, a design layer to mimic stone/hardwood/other materials, and a protective wear coating that wards off scratches, fading from sunlight, dents and general everyday wear and tear.
This flooring option is also completely waterproof and is the perfect choice for your kitchen, bathroom or utility room, particularly in homes with children or pets. For example, the Cali Longboards flooring has a 20-mil wear layer that wards off pet scampering around and a wood grain design that provides an authentic look. This flooring is also easy to install and is a great DIY option. You can choose between sheet flooring (that rolls out in sheets up to 12 feet wide) and vinyl plank flooring that looks like tile and is available in a variety of designs.
8. LVT
LVT is a popular alternative to tile, natural stone, and wood flooring. It offers the benefits of water resistance, easy maintenance, and a realistic look for a fraction of the cost of other materials.
Unlike standard vinyl, which is a thick sheet with a thin layer underneath and a vinyl layer on top, LVT is made of multiple laminated layers for durability. These layers include a stabilizing backing, inter-core layers supporting the decorative film, and a protective clear layer that provides superior design clarity and wear resistance.
LVT can be installed as a glue down floor or using newer loose-lay technology that eliminates the need for adhesives. Both options are durable and can stand up to high traffic, but the loose-lay option is more convenient. If damage does occur, it is easy to replace the planks or tiles.
9. Engineered Hardwood
Engineered wood is a real hardwood floor, but instead of a solid plank it has a core of plywood or oriented strand board and a layer of solid wood veneer glued on top. Because of this, it is less susceptible to temperature and moisture changes than solid wood floors.
These floors are very durable and easy to care for, requiring only sweeping, vacuuming or occasional damp mopping with a wood cleaner. They also look as beautiful as traditional wood floors and are a great choice for people who love the natural beauty of hardwood floors but don’t want to spend a fortune.
These floors can be sanded and refinished like solid wood floors, giving them new life and making them look as good as new. They generally last about 30 years, although this can vary depending on household traffic and design preferences.
10. Laminate
When it comes to choosing new flooring, durability is a top priority for most families. Luckily, there are many options available that are as durable as they are beautiful.
Made of a core layer of high-density fiberboard and a realistic image layer, laminate floors offer the look of tile, wood or stone for a fraction of the cost. These floors are also moisture-resistant, making them perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
A box store brand, Allen and Roth’s laminate offers a decently durable product for a good price. Their LifeProof line is water-resistant and boasts a limited lifetime residential warranty. The only downside is that online reviews are sparse. It’s also important to note that gloss level has very little impact on durability. Low-gloss laminate is better at hiding surface scratches than higher-gloss floors.