related problems and asthma —not to mention their capacity to absorb water, harboring and hiding mold. These problems can be mitigated by frequent steam cleaning, but this at least partially negates the initial savings in cost. LINOLEUM Linoleum is a hard, durable material that has also fallen out of favor in recent years, giving way to tile and hardwood. However, it is cheap ($2- 9/ft.), the color goes all the way through (a nice attribute if you should drop a kitchen knife on it), and it can be cleaned or patched easily. It also lends itself to design creativity as it is easy to cut into unique shapes and styles. Linoleum can be a good way to create an eye-catching look for your kitchen or bathroom. However, that same design flexibility can lead homeowners to give in to the temptation of trends and wind up dating their floors out of the market. It also needs to be polished occasionally to continue looking good and will stain if you do not clean spills quickly enough. CERAMIC TILE Tile is one of the most durable options available. It will take a hit from nearly anything you drop on it. Should the tile get scratched, it can easily be buffed out. Tile is also highly stain resistant and still fairly inexpensive at $2-9 a square foot. Tile is also advantageous from a design perspective, as there is a nearly unlimited number of options available for creating eye-catching designs. Naturally, the same caution about those designs mentioned with linoleum applies here. Additionally, ceramic’s strengths are also often weakness in other ways. That same durability can lead to breaking anything you do drop on it. And if the tile does chip, it can be very difficult to do a quality repair job on your own. Tile can be harder on your feet as well, making you want to rush back to those carpeted areas. Dirt also tends to collect in the grout lines, making it difficult to clean.
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