7 Flooring Materials for Your 2022 Build or Remodel

If you're planning to build or remodel a home this year, you have a lot to think about. Whether the house is an investment property or your family's future home, you want to make all the right design choices.

When it comes to flooring, you want something beautiful, durable, appropriate for each area, conducive to the feel you're going for, and within your budget. Let's explore a few of the top flooring types you may want to consider and their ideal usage areas, costs, and pros and cons.

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Hardwood is a classic flooring choice that has stood the test of time for a reason. Its beauty and depth are hard to match, as are the unique look and feel of each piece. With a wide variety of styles and finishes, there's a hardwood for almost any decor style imaginable.

This flooring also offers an impressive 75% return on investment. And speaking of investments, if this is for a rental property or you have kids or pets, you'll want an especially durable hardwood, like engineered or bamboo flooring with a water-resistant finish. These floors are easy to clean but may need refinishing every 10 years or so.

Cost: $5 to $20 per square foot, plus $3 to $12 per square foot for installation

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Pieces of hardwood form repeating geometric patterns on these tiles, which come together to form larger patterns. You may remember this less expensive wood flooring option from decades past, but parquet is back.

Cracks between the small pieces mean you'll want to skip this option for damp areas like bathrooms and kitchens. It comes in many colors and patterns -- herringbone and basketweave are quite popular for creating a midcentury feel.

The distinctive patterns mean this can be a divisive choice. If you're a fan, it may be best suited for a home your family plans to live in for a long time rather than an investment property.

Cost: $7 to $45 per square foot, plus $3 to $12 per square foot for installation

If you live in the South, you may have thought carpet was over. For decades, the classic flooring material has been losing ground to cooler hard materials in warmer climates. But the warmth of a plush, luxurious carpet underfoot can still be quite desirable in cooler climates. That is especially true in bedrooms, where people are likely to spend the most time barefoot.

The look and feel can be quite inviting and luxurious. But because carpet can’t be thoroughly cleaned as easily as hard floors, it may be best to skip if pets or kids will be on it. Natural carpet choices include cotton, sisal, and wool, while popular synthetics include nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.

Cost: $1 to $20 per square foot; installation may be free with purchase or up to $1 per square foot

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Once reserved for an industrial or more modern aesthetic, concrete floors can now be stained to work with almost any decor. The polished finishes of these floors -- available in an almost endless variety of colors and designs -- can bring a unique depth and surprising warmth.

If your home already has a concrete subfloor, what you'll pay for is the refinishing. Concrete provides a low-maintenance, easy-to-clean, eco-friendly option. Of course, it's a very hard floor, so that must be taken into consideration. It may only be suitable for living areas, and you may want to pass if you have small children.

Cost: $3 to $30 per square foot

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Laminate is a synthetic flooring option made to look like real wood. High-end laminates are very difficult to tell from the real thing by either the look or the feel. And water-resistant options mean you can use laminate throughout your whole home.

It's an easy-to-clean, low-maintenance option that can be quite durable at higher price points. And like hardwood, the wide variety of colors and finishes means the right laminate can look fantastic with almost any decor style.

Cost: $2.50 to $10 per square foot, plus $0.70 to $2 per square foot for installation

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Tile is another classic flooring choice that comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, designs, and even shapes, making it quite versatile. The terms porcelain and ceramic are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between the two.

Porcelain is made of a finer clay than ceramic, and while both materials are quite water-resistant, porcelain absorbs less than ceramic. Porcelain is also the harder material, and though both can be used throughout a home’s interior, porcelain can be used outdoors as well.

Cost: $0.50 to $35 per square foot, plus $4 to $32 per square foot for installation

While all flooring types come in a wide range of prices, stone tends to be the most expensive. Natural stone flooring can be a stunning and highly durable choice.

Stone tile actually refers to a group of natural flooring materials. Marble and travertine are perhaps the most well-known, but other options include sandstone and limestone. Even granite, better known as a high-end countertop material, is used in stone flooring tiles.

Their nonporous surface makes cleaning a breeze, and they can help keep you cool in a hot climate. It can be slippery, so it is best avoided in rooms where it could get wet, and its hardness means it's not an ideal choice if falls are a large concern.

Cost: $4 to $32 per square foot, including installation

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Whether you want your home to have a formal, palatial feel or a more casual farmhouse vibe, installing the right flooring throughout will be key. And most of these options are extremely durable. That's great news -- unless you're unhappy with your choice. Carefully evaluate your flooring options for each area of your home, and you'll be happy to see them endure for years to come.

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