Flooring types
Every flooring type, and who it is for.
Six families cover almost every home. Each page below says what the material is, what it costs installed, how it handles water, pets and kids, whether you can install it yourself, and who should and should not buy it.
Hardwood
$12.50–$19 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Living rooms · Dining rooms
- Water resistance
- Durability
Engineered hardwood
$11.50–$16.50 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Living areas on a slab · Finished basements that stay dry
- Water resistance
- Durability
Luxury vinyl
$5–$11 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Kitchens · Bathrooms
- Water resistance
- Durability
Laminate
$5.50–$9 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Bedrooms · Living rooms
- Water resistance
- Durability
Tile
$9–$40.50 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Bathrooms · Laundry rooms
- Water resistance
- Durability
Carpet
$3.50–$18.50 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Bedrooms · Nurseries
- Water resistance
- Durability
Other flooring
$3.50–$42.50 / sq ft installed
- Best for
- Laundry rooms and small baths (sheet vinyl) · Garages and utility basements (epoxy)
- Water resistance
- Durability
Not sure yet?
Don’t start with the flooring. Start with your home.
Eight questions about the rooms, the household, the subfloor and the budget. A ranked shortlist with the reasons, the watch-outs and a project estimate.
8 questions · about 2 minutes · no obligation