The 4 major choices that are; Carpet, Vinyl, Tile and Wood.

Carpet

Types of Carpet Fiber

Nylon

The largest selling type of commercial carpet consists of nylon pile yam. Nylon carpet has developed and improved over the years. Each succeeding breakthrough in nylon carpet manufacturing is called a "generation." The five generations of nylon carpet are: 

       Generation 1  Delustered or dull fiber. Round fiber in cross-section.

       Generation 2   Soil-hiding. Multi-lobal or multi-sided fiber in cross-section. These fibers produced static electricity.

       Generation 3  Anti-static, multi-lobal, soil hiding.

       Generation 4  Stain and soil resistant. Covered with a coating of fluorocarbon similar to Scotchgard or Teflon. Anti-static, multi-lobal, soil hiding.

       Generation 5  Stain resistant, anti-microbial, anti-static, multi-lobal, and soil hiding. These fibers are anionic or negatively charged and should be cleaned with anionic or non-ionic cleaning solutions (not cationic solutions). Dry cleaning solvents may  cause the stain repellent to lose its efficacy.  

Polypropylene (olefin)

 A synthetic pile yam fiber used extensively for outdoor carpeting.

Polyester

Is an inexpensive carpet pile yam that is used principally in residential installations.

Wool

A minor (1% of the market) but important fiber in carpets is the oldest carpet fiber, wool. Wool is beautiful, expensive and must be maintained properly and carefully.

When cleaning wool carpet, extreme care should be taken to avoid over-wetting and high alkaline cleaners. Improper chemicals on wool carpet cause "alkaline browning discoloration." Browning is an easily remedied condition when a "brown‑out" treatment is applied to the carpet. Over-wetting a wool carpet can cause jute bleeding discoloration from backing yarns used in carpet weaving processes.

When cleaning wool carpet, extreme care should be taken to avoid over-wetting and high alkaline cleaners. Improper chemicals on wool carpet cause "alkaline browning discoloration." Browning is an easily remedied condition when a "brown‑out" treatment is applied to the carpet. Over-wetting a wool carpet can cause jute bleeding discoloration from backing yarns used in carpet weaving processes.

Carpet Types

Today's carpet market is dominated by two main varieties:

 

Loop Pile, in which individual strands of yarn are pulled through the carpet backing twice to create a small loop.
 

Cut Pile, in which the loop is cut at the top, leaving tufts of yarn that stand straight up.

The look and feel of a carpet will depend on the type of fiber used, the density of the tufts, and the degree of twist in each strand.

Carpet manufacturers have developed many ingenious ways to combine those two methods to create new more attractive or more durable carpets. Here's a breakdown of the most common styles on the market today:

Cut Pile Carpets

Cut pile carpet is typically more durable than loop pile and can be sheared in different ways to create a variety of textures and looks.

Velvet or Plush - Smooth, soft and elegant. Carpet pile is cut several times to create a luxurious, velvety sheen that shows every footprint. Ideal for formal areas such as living rooms.

Saxony - Similar to velvets but not quite as smooth. Soft texture created by twisting fibers tightly, then straightening yarn with heat. Retains foot and vacuum marks.
 
 Textured - Textured cut pile is the top-selling type of carpet on the market. Carpet pile is twisted and crimped to create a multi-coloured look that hides footprints but retains its soft feel. Ideal for casual living spaces with moderate to heavy traffic.
 
 Shag - The retro look from the 1960s is back in both practical and psychedelic styles. Shag uses a longer tuft and a thicker yarn. Creates a casual atmosphere in a family room or child's bedroom.
 
 Frieze - Tightly twisted with short, curly fibers that hide footprints. Can be used to create geometric or scroll patterns. Perfect for heavy traffic areas.
 
 Loop Pile Carpets
 
 Long lasting and easy to clean, level loop pile is increasingly popular. Carpets with short, densely-packed pile block out dirt and are well suited to high traffic areas. Longer loops can give carpet a luxurious appearance.
 
 Berber - Berbers have thick yarns and are often distinguished by their 'flecked' appearance, which is excellent for hiding traffic marks. Extremely popular these days and available in a wide range of tones and patterns, in both wool and less costly synthetics.
 
 Cable - Soft, heavy yarns with lots of twist and a casual look. Good for medium traffic areas, cable is synonymous with comfortable, casual living.
 
 Sisal - Twisted synthetic yarns that imitate the hardy, woven grass feel of aboriginal crafts. Tighter than berbers, with a stiff feel, sisals are good for high traffic areas and come in solid and fleck tones.
 

Multi-Level Loop Pile Carpets
 
 Two or three different loop heights are used throughout the carpet to create random patterns or geometric images. Attractive textures, and good for casual high traffic.
 
 Cut and Loop Pile Carpets
 
 Different types and cuts of pile are combined to allow for a variety of textures, sculptured effects and colour combinations. Good for hiding footprints.

Types of Carpet Pad

Carpet cushion, or "pad," is available in three basic types: foam, fiber, and rubber.

Each type of carpet pad has several different varieties and constructions. The type and thickness of cushion you need varies according to traffic levels and carpet patterns. Bedrooms and other areas with light or moderate traffic, for example, can use thicker and softer carpet cushion. Living rooms, family rooms, hallways, stairs and other heavy traffic areas require thinner and firmer cushion.

Consult your carpet dealer to help you decide the best carpet cushion for you.

The Carpet Cushion Council describes the three different types as follows:

Foam Carpet Cushion

Generally speaking, foam carpet cushion comes in three recognized, clearly different varieties:
 
 Prime polyurethane foam is a firmer version of the same cushioning used in upholstered furniture, mattresses, and automobile seats. Two liquid ingredients are combined to form a large mass of foam, which is then sliced into sheets for use as a carpet cushion.
 
 Bonded polyurethane foam (sometimes called rebond) is quite unique. You cannot mistake it when you see it, because it is formed by combining chopped and shredded pieces of foam, in different sizes and usually different colors, into one solid piece. It frequently has a surface net for ease of installation and improved performance.
 
 Bonded foam is one of the most amazing recycling projects of all time. Nearly all the scrap foam in the U.S., and some from other countries as well, is utilized to make bonded cushion. This recycles waste which would otherwise be thrown out, and it eases the strain on our landfills. Moreover, bonded foam is itself recyclable.
 
 
 
 Froth polyurethane foam is made with carpet backing machinery. Liquid ingredients are applied, either directly to the backs of some carpet styles, or to a non-woven material (for making separate cushion). They reach and form a thin, dense foam which is particularly useful in commercial applications with wide expanses of carpet.

Rubber Carpet Cushion

There are two basic types of sponge rubber carpet cushion:
 
 Waffled rubber carpet cushion is made by molding natural or synthetic rubber. Heat cures the rubber and forms a waffle pattern. This variety produces a soft, resilient cushion whose luxurious feel is particularly useful for residences.
 
 Flat sponge rubber is a firm, dense carpet cushion which has a flat surface and is normally used in large-scale commercial applications and with loop type (or Berber) carpet.
 
 Rubber carpet cushion manufacturing processes can be varied to produce different levels of density and firmness. The usual measurement is the weight in ounces per square yard.

Fiber Carpet Cushion

Foam and rubber carpet cushions are produced from new and recycled materials. Fiber carpet cushion, on the other hand, uses existing fibers (both virgin and recycled, and either natural or man-made fibers) which are interlocked into a useful sheet of felt. There are two distinct varieties of fiber carpet cushion:
 
 Natural fibers include felt, animal hair, and jute (the material used to make some kinds of rope and heavy burlap bags). This is one of the oldest types of carpet cushion, dating back to the earliest days of machine-made carpet.
 
 Synthetic fibers include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and acrylics, which are needle-punched into relatively dense cushions which have a firm feel and, as with other types of carpet cushion, can be made in virtually any weight, to stand up under light, medium, or heavy traffic, which is how they are usually classified.

Special Notes

Berber carpet is becoming increasingly popular, and needs a thin, firm carpet cushion. When buying this type of carpet, be sure that the accompanying cushion has been specified by the manufacturer as suitable for Berber carpet.

Vinyl Flooring

We do very little vinyl flooring due to the fact it does not last that long. While most vinyl flooring can be installed between $2.00 - $3.00 per square foot it damages very easy, the finishes are not that great regardless of what the manufactures state (read the fine print on all vinyl flooring).

Vinyl flooring is either glued down or free floating with the edges and seams glued and stapled.

Most of the manufactures require a smooth underlayment, such as luan, to be installed in order for the warranty to be be valid.

As with most flooring, preparation is the key in getting a well laid floor.

Tile

I love tile for wide selection of choices that are available, the durability that is offered with this product as well as the wide variations of style and patterns that can be obtained when using tile.

Tile has been around for thousands of years. While the substrate materials have changed over the years, the method and principle is the same. I have used various substrate products such as Hardiboard and Durrock. These products are fine however they are heavy and labor intensive. Another product that we have been using is called Schluter Ditra.

Schluter-Ditra is a polythylene membrane with a grid structure of squares that resemble a waffle design. It is bright orange in color and very light and easy to use. Its height is 1/8 inch thick and comes in rolls that are 39 inches wide. There is not nailing or taping necessary. Just use thinset to secure to the existing substrate. Once the Ditra is in place you can start tiling immediately. The product is slightly more expensive then Hardiboard or Durrock however it is easier and quicker  to use. I also believe it does a better job.

Replacing a tile that has been installed on Ditra will be a convincing experience that the product works great. If do you have to replace a tile, then the best way to do it is to cut the grout joist loose from the tile and then use a knife to cut the Schluter Ditra itself.  DO NOT try to pry the tile away from the Ditra. Becareful not to chip adjacent tiles while replacing the broken one. I typically will use a hammer and chisel to remove the broken tile only AFTER I have already cut / sawed the grout joints around the broken tile.  Once the Ditra has been cut and pulled away, install a new sheet of Ditra and then add your tile afterwards.

When doing very small jobs or replacing a tile, it is best to use a quick drying thinset. You can use a 60 minute thinset and be ready to grout there after. Keep in mind that even though it may say 60 minutes, working time is about 5 - 10 minutes. This type of thinset does set up fairly fast, again use it for small jobs. Allow the thinset to cure as directed before grouting

Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is another product that has been around for a long time. Contrary to my tree hugger friends, we have more forrest in this day and time then at any other time in recorded history. The lumber industry is not made up with a bunch of morons that are in a race to deplete a product that makes them money.

Species of wood will vary from soft woods such as pine and spruce to your more durable woods such as oak, walnut, hickory maple and ash. There are hundreds of species to chose from but the most common used in the US are Oak and Maple.  Both are highly durable with Maple being slightly harder however Maple does not stain very well. 

Solid or Engineered, Unfinished or Finished?

Solid wood flooring is that which is wood through and through. Typically it comes in 3/4" thicknesses but is also offered in smaller thicknesses such as 1/2".

The beauty of solid flooring is that it can be sanded many times over. The downside of solid flooring is that if you live in an area where humidity levels rise and fall throughout the year, your floor will likely "cup" (swell) during the summer and spread (shrink) during the winter.

In the summer their is higher levels of humidity that still get into the house which in turns gets into the flooring causing it to cup or swell around the joints. During the winter its just the opposite effect.

The alternative is to use an engineered wood flooring product. Thickness will vary from 3/8" - 9/16" thick. The actual layer of wood is often less than 1/8" thick with the subsequent layers being plywood glued together in perpendicular directions.

This type of wood flooring is often glued or stapled in place. There is less problems with swelling and shrinkage due to its construction and thinner layer of finished wood. The downside is that you rarely will be able to sand this product more then once.

I advise my clients to determine if the swelling and shrinkage is going to be an aesthetic problem for them down the road, if the answer is an affirmative then go with the engineered product.

On the topic of finishes, engineered products are always pre-finished. One thing to remember is that the factory finish more often then not unable to achieve or duplicate. Check warranty information prior to refinishing a prefinished product.

Unfinished products are relegated to solid wood flooring. Although you can get a prefinished solid wood product, if you are trying to match a certain stain then unfinished is your choice.

Most unfinished wood flooring products will be finished with a polyurethane that should consist of at least 3 coats.

All wood flooring products should acclimate to the room in which it will be installed for several days prior to installation.

Cut Pile

When the loops are cut, you create a cut pile carpet.

Loop Pile

When the loops remain uncut, you create a loop pile carpet.

Patterned Loop

When the loops remain uncut and the loops have multiple heights, the result is a patterned loop carpet.

Cut & Loop

When cuts and loops are combined, you can create a wide range of patterns.

Cut Pile

When the loops are cut, you create a cut pile carpet.

Loop Pile

When the loops remain uncut, you create a loop pile carpet.

Patterned Loop

When the loops remain uncut and the loops have multiple heights, the result is a patterned loop carpet.

Cut & Loop

When cuts and loops are combined, you can create a wide range of patterns.

Plush (Cut Pile) Styles

Smooth (known as a Saxony) - This style of cut pile carpet is achieved when the tufts of yarn are sheared to a low, smooth pile height for uniform color and a formal look.

Texture - This popular style offers a smooth, level finish, but the yarns have more twist, which creates a less formal look.

Twist (known as a Frieze)  The yarns in this style are even longer, creating a soft, comfortable, casual appearance.

Shag - The yarns in this style are even longer, creating a soft, comfortable, casual appearance.

Loop Styles

Level Loop (often called a Berber) In this style, all the loops are the same height. The dense, firm surface of a loop pile carpet makes it ideal for high-traffic areas.

Patterned Loop - The yarns in this style are also looped, but they are at two or three varying heights. The various heights can be arranged to create a wide range of patterns and textures.

Patterns

Patterns - Pattern carpets beautifully blend loops and cuts in varying heights for dramatic, unique patterns, ranging from floral designs to geometric to pin-dot.

Prints

Prints - As the name suggests, these carpets feature a design printed directly onto the carpet for a stylish, often dramatic look.

Thinset is used to install the Ditra.

Finished with Ditra and we are now ready to tile.

Tile is installed over Ditra immediately.

  Tile is finished and now we are ready to grout.