Are you getting ready to buy a house? Do you want to remodel your kitchen? Are you having trouble deciding on which type of flooring to use. When selecting flooring for a home, there is a lot for the homeowner to think about, such as the many materials to choose from, the placement of the flooring, and traffic and use of the room. This essay will explore two popular types of flooring materials- ceramic and hardwood. It will compare the materials; discuss which area of the home they are best used in and a few of the pros and cons. .
Ceramic tile is made from sand, natural products, and clays. The materials are molded into specific shapes and then fired in an oven. Ceramic tile comes in two types; glazed and unglazed. The types of ceramics are manufactured the same way, there is really no difference. They only variance is that glazed tiles undergo an extra phase in the firing process where layers of liquid glass are added by means of extremely high temperatures (BDU Ceramic Tile College). Glazed tiles come in different finishes and one should be sure of the finish before purchasing. The finished product of glazed ceramic comes in a matte, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish. High gloss finishes tend to be more slippery and scratches may become visible. Matte or textured finishes are good for traction; scratches and dirt are also less visible. This type of ceramic can offer better stain protection and is more moisture resistance than unglazed ceramic (Tile Styles). Unglazed ceramic tiles are very firm and solid and they come in a variety of surface treatments and textures. Usually, this type of tile is installed outside, it has good slip resistance. Unglazed ceramics need to be sealed to avoid staining the material (Tile Styles). .
Hardwood flooring comes is three basic types, solid and engineered and long-strip engineered planks. Today most hardwood flooring made from American woods, such as red oak, white oak, maple, cherry, white ash, hickory or pecan trees.