Flooring Types and Their Pros and Cons

If you’re keen to give your home a refresh, updating your flooring can completely change the way your day-to-day living ticks. From enhancing the look of each room as you walk in to how it feels underfoot, it can feel like a breath of fresh air!

However, with so many materials, styles, and finishes to choose from, it can also be tricky to know which option will work best for your home and lifestyle.

At GOFLOORIT, we make that choice easier. With a huge selection of carpets, engineered wood, laminate, click-fit, and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), plus expert guidance and professional fitting, we help homeowners across Towcester and the surrounding areas find flooring that looks beautiful, feels great, and lasts for years to come.

For personalised advice, visit our Towcester showroom or give us a call. We’re always happy to help you explore your options.

What Flooring Types Do You Have to Choose From?

 

To help you gather ideas, let’s now explore the main flooring types you have to choose from and the pros and cons of each.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

LVT is one of the most versatile flooring choices available. It’s designed to replicate natural materials such as wood, slate, and stone, but with improved comfort, durability, and practicality. If you want something stylish that stands up effortlessly to busy family life, LVT is hard to beat.

Before diving into the details, it’s worth noting that LVT works particularly well in modern open-plan homes where a seamless, consistent finish is desirable. It also suits homeowners who want a premium look without the maintenance that comes with hardwood or natural stone.

Pros:

• Waterproof and highly durable, it’s ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and busy homes

• Easy to clean and maintain

• Comfortable underfoot, it’s warmer than stone or ceramic

• Works brilliantly with underfloor heating

• Huge range of realistic wood and stone designs

• Quiet with excellent acoustic performance

  
  

Cons:

• Slightly higher upfront cost compared with laminate

• Needs a smooth, well-prepared subfloor

• Professional fitting is recommended for best results

  
  

Overall, LVT is a fantastic choice if you want beauty and practicality in equal measure. It brings warmth, realism, and long-lasting quality, making it a popular favourite for modern family homes.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is perfect if you love the timeless look of real wood but want something more stable and adaptable to modern living conditions. Because engineered wood is constructed from multiple layers, it offers far better resistance to temperature and humidity changes than traditional solid wood.

This makes it a great option for living rooms, bedrooms, and open-plan areas where you want a premium finish. It’s also ideal if you’re hoping to add long-term value and elegance to your property.

Pros:

• Beautiful, genuine wood finish

• More stable than solid wood

• Compatible with underfloor heating (when specified correctly)

• Long-lasting and can be re-sanded (depending on wear layer)

• Adds real value and elegance to your home

  
  

Cons:

• More expensive than laminate

• Not suited to areas with standing water

• Needs proper care to prevent scratches and dents

  
  

If you want a floor that elevates your home and delivers natural beauty, engineered wood is an outstanding long-term investment; perfect for creating warm, characterful spaces.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has come a long way in recent years. With highly realistic finishes and impressive durability, it’s a go-to option if you want style without the price tag of hardwood or LVT. It also suits almost every room, except areas with high moisture, and is ideal for busy households.

This makes laminate especially popular with families, landlords, and anyone looking to refresh their flooring cost-effectively. It’s also a smart choice if you want a striking wood-effect or stone-effect look without high maintenance.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly without looking cheap

• Highly scratch-resistant

• Wide range of styles and finishes

• Great for high-traffic areas

• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Not fully waterproof (though some water-resistant options exist)

• Can be noisier underfoot without good underlay

• Damaged boards usually need replacing, not repairing

Laminate is perfect when you need a durable, stylish, and affordable floor that can cope with everyday life while still looking impressive.

Click-Fit Flooring

Click-fit flooring is ideal if you want quick, clean installation and flexibility over time. Thanks to its simple interlocking mechanism, this type of flooring is designed for ease; whether you’re renovating a single room or planning a whole-home update.

It’s available in wood-effect and stone-effect designs and works well in spaces where you want a consistent flow. Many homeowners also like click-fit because individual boards are easier to replace than traditional glue-down options.

Pros:

• Fast installation, thanks to interlocking design

• No glue required

• Can be easier to replace individual planks

• Available in many wood-effect and stone-effect styles

• Cost-effective

  
  

Cons:

• Subfloor must be level

• Not all ranges offer waterproofing

• Lower-end versions may feel less solid underfoot

  
  

If you want stylish flooring with minimal disruption during installation, click-fit is a practical, flexible choice that offers excellent value.

Carpet

Carpet is still one of the most popular options for creating warm, inviting rooms, especially in bedrooms, lounges, and on staircases. It adds softness, comfort, and sound insulation, which makes a huge difference to the feel of your home.

With modern manufacturing, carpets now come in a wide range of textures, fibres, and colours, from luxurious deep piles to durable twists designed for high-traffic areas. Many are stain-resistant, making them ideal for family life.

Pros:

• Soft, warm, and comfortable underfoot

• Excellent sound insulation

• Available in thousands of styles, colours, and textures

• Modern stain-resistant options ideal for families

• Great for improving cosiness and creating inviting spaces

  
  

Cons:

• Can stain (though modern fibres are far more resilient)

• Shows wear in high-traffic areas

• Not suitable for wet rooms like kitchens or bathrooms

  
  

If you want to make your home feel welcoming and comfortable, carpet remains the number-one choice, and when paired with quality underlay, it feels even better underfoot.

Which Flooring Is Right for You?

The right flooring depends on your lifestyle, how you use each room, and the look you want to achieve. Whether you prefer the authenticity of real wood, the practicality of LVT, the value of laminate, or the comfort of carpet, the best choice is the one that fits your home and how you live in it.

At GOFLOORIT, we’re here to guide you through every option. Visit our Towcester showroom to explore flooring samples, or arrange a home visit for tailored advice, a measure-up, and a free estimate.

Turn your home into a space you love with flooring that’s beautiful, practical, and built to last.