• Hardwood flooring is a long-lasting alternative to carpet, tile or laminate.hardwood floor texture image by GoodMood Photo from Fotolia.com
  
  Carpet, tile and laminates are three of the most frequently used flooring materials today. If you're in the market for something different, consider bamboo veneer, true hardwood or vinyl sheet flooring. Bamboo is a green building product, while hardwood offers a durability not found in many types of tile and stone. Vinyl sheeting offers a watertight floor without a lot of spaces or grout lines.
  
  

Bamboo

• Green building products such as bamboo are beginning to flood the market. Sometimes sold as bamboo hardwood, the product is actually a veneer glued to a more durable plank.
  
  Bamboo is a soft wood that regrows to harvesting height within three years. This makes it a more sustainable flooring option that is better for the environment. Bamboo veneer comes in many colors and shades, although it is most durable in its natural, pale shade, since the wood is heated to deepen the color.
  
  Bamboo can be floated, nailed or glued to the substrate, offering more installation alternatives than traditional hardwood or laminates.
  
  

Hardwood Flooring

• Nearly all types of wood species used in flooring fall under the category of hardwood. Hardwood floors are among the most durable materials for flooring on the market. They can be stained, sanded, installed in intricate patterns or inlaid with other materials.
  
  Hardwood ranges in durability and price depending on the wood species, with pine and oak being less expensive than cherry or walnut.
  
  

Vinyl Sheet Flooring

• Vinyl sheet flooring, or resilient flooring, is an alternative to vinyl tiles. This springy, soft flooring is installed in large pieces or strips, and is therefore more durable and watertight than traditional vinyl tiles.
  
  Vinyl sheet flooring is flexible, can be installed over any substrate and comes in a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns. Adhesives and thicknesses can differ by manufacturer. The thicker products promise longer wear and more durability.