Historically, there haven’t been a lot of options for replacing your flooring. Today, however, replacing flooring doesn’t have to break the bank. At Commercial Floor Services, we know that many reasonably priced flooring options will give you the floor you want at a fraction of the price. Many of these options mimic the look and texture of solid hardwood flooring, but all have unique differences. Read on for 5 cost-effective hardwood flooring alternatives.
- Vinyl Flooring
Sometimes a copy can be just as flattering as the original, and vinyl flooring, designed to mimic the look of hardwood, is a perfect example. This attractive and affordable hardwood flooring alternative is versatile enough to replicate any look attainable with hardwood. Although vinyl is semi-prone to scratches and not as solid as its counterpart, this hardwood flooring alternative is an excellent option if you want the look of hardwood without the price tag.
Today’s vinyl flooring is more durable than ever before, plus it’s one of the easiest flooring materials to install. As far as hardwood flooring alternatives are concerned, vinyl flooring may be the most popular option on this list, and for a good reason.
- Laminate Flooring
Laminate is as attractive as it is durable and affordable. It comes in various styles, including options that reproduce the look of hardwood flooring, stone, or tile. Stain and moisture resistant, laminate flooring offers a lot of the durability that comes with hardwood.
If you’ve been put off by the high cost of replacing flooring with hardwood, laminate may be the perfect alternative. It’s one of the most durable hardwood flooring alternatives on the market, and advancements in printing abilities have made high-quality laminate almost indistinguishable from the material it is made to imitate, like hardwood. The versatility and wide array of types available for laminate flooring make the styles it offers much more diverse than hardwood.
- Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum may get a bad rap, but the inexpensive and classic alternative is coming back in style with a huge array of colors and styles available, including options that simulate hardwood flooring. Durable and easy to clean, consider linoleum for a creative and budget-friendly hardwood flooring alternative.
Linoleum’s smooth, waterproof surface is comfortable underfoot, and its natural components deter bacteria and dirt from sticking to the surface. These advantages, along with the more affordable pricing and easy-to-clean surface, make it an excellent hardwood flooring alternative.
- Cork Flooring
Sustainably harvested and environmentally friendly, this cost-effective hardwood flooring alternative is an excellent option if you are eco-conscious. While cork’s look and texture are different from typical hardwood flooring, its resistance to mold and mildew means that it holds up well in high moisture areas. Also, its high porosity provides noise-canceling qualities that may make it even more appealing than hardwood flooring in some cases.
It may not be durable enough for all high traffic areas, but cork flooring is an excellent and popular hardwood flooring alternative that provides many qualities that hardwood flooring doesn’t. Cork’s cushiony surface and insulating properties, along with its affordability, make it an excellent hardwood flooring alternative to consider.
- Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo and hardwood flooring are grouped under solid wood flooring, but key differences set them apart. Most notably, bamboo is not wood but rather a woody grass. This means that while it may look similar in planks, bamboo is often harder and more porous than hardwood and categorized differently. It also has to be treated differently in order to make a usable flooring material, and it grows much more quickly than most types of wood.
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly real wood hardwood flooring alternative that achieves a highly similar look for a fraction of the price. Bamboo is extremely fast-growing, making it a much more renewable resource than wood options without sacrificing the durability or classic look of wood planking. Bamboo is easy to clean and extremely long-lasting, making it the perfect choice if you are looking for a hardwood flooring alternative that won’t break the bank but still achieves the look of classic hardwood.
Hardwood is a great option, but sometimes it isn’t in the budget. Any of these hardwood flooring alternatives are sure to offer you the floors of your dreams at a more affordable price. If you are ready to update the flooring in your home, regardless of the materials you decide are best for you, Commercial Floor Services is here to help at every step of the process. Here to provide you with exceptional sales and installation services, we’re committed to making your floor look and perform its best. Contact us today for any and all of your flooring needs.