You need to take into consideration your budget, aesthetics, tastes and lifestyle, as well as the amount of humidity, sunlight and water in the room where you are installing the floor. There are an extensive range of choices and limitless design options to suit all kinds of looks and needs.

Following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of some of the types of flooring available.

- Hardwood floors are known for their strength and sturdiness. They are also simple to maintain as they only require dusting and vacuuming, and need to be refinished about every 10-15 years. On the flip side they are prone to scratches and gouging and have a tendency to get discolored and/or cracked if exposed to excessive dryness or wetness for any length of time.

- Ceramic tile adds value to your home because of it's durability and wide decorative range. There are types to suit every budget and need. Caring for it is simple as tile only requires sweeping and moping to maintain it. The downside of tile flooring is that it can feel cold for bare feet, it may be difficult to clean light colored tile and anything you drop on it usually breaks!

- Laminates are made to look like an exact copy of wood floors but at a much lower price! They are easily maintained and are also known for their strength and durability. The only thing needed for maintenance is damp mopping, although in high traffic environments replacement may be needed as frequently as every 10 years.

- Vinyl flooring is affordable, durable and resistant to wear and tear. There is a wide variety available and you only need to sweep and mop to maintain them.

- Carpeting is less expensive than other types of flooring. Carpets come in many shapes, colors, sizes and fibers and are easy to install. They do require a little more maintenance than some other types of floors as they need to be vacuumed on a regular basis and need a thorough shampooing and cleaning once a year (and sometimes more often depending on what type of traffic they get). If you have allergies you might want to steer clear of carpeting as it can trap dust mites and other allergens in its' fibers.

Hopefully this article will be of some assistance to you in choosing your future flooring!