Surface wear tests reveal the toughest floor coverings

The Consumer Reports organisation has performed surface wear tests on a variety of floors using an abrasion machine. Laminate and porcelain tile flooring came top, with vinyl in third place.

Every floor covering has a wear layer. Laminate flooring has a very tough clear plastic top layer. Vinyl flooring has a strong resistance to foot traffic, dents, stains and sunlight.

Though wood did not rate high for surface wear in the tests, it is still a good choice of floor covering. If it becomes worn or scratched, the floor can be sanded and re-coated protective top layer to make it look like new again. Laminate and vinyl flooring will need replacing after a few years, but wood that is periodically sanded can have a greater lifetime.

Joan Muratore, a floor tester for Consumer Reports says:

"If you love wood and are handy and can refinish it or are willing to pay a professional to do it, it's not a bad choice.”

Wood flooring in North Wales is a popular choice because of its aesthetics and suitability for many room styles, traditional or contemporary. It may not stand up to dragged furniture, dropped pots and dogs with sharp claws, but it looks beautiful, is environmentally friendly and can add up to 10% to the value of a North Wales home.

Many North Wales businesses choose natural wood to impress visitors, but if surface wear is an issue in high-traffic areas, vinyl or laminate may be a better choice, or they could opt for carpets or carpet tiles.