From stone to tile, wood to vinyl, linoleum to laminate, the choices can seem endless. How do you sift through the features and benefits of each to choose the product that is best for your home and your needs, from installation to maintenance and upkeep? And, equally important, how much is it going to cost to get the floor of your dreams?

New flooring, no matter what type you select, is more affordable than you may think. The key to success in finding the right floor is to go to a reputable, high-quality flooring retailer who can help you make sense of all the choices available in today’s diverse marketplace.

“Besides offering great service, the latest designs and an extensive array of product choices, today’s quality flooring retailers also compete when it comes to price,” says Gary Finseth, director of marketing for Tarkett Residential, a large flooring manufacturer. “But, their greatest ability is to differentiate themselves with professional sales people who can educate you to make the best purchasing decision for your home and your lifestyle.”

A knowledgeable flooring retailer will help you identify the best floor covering choices that complement your style of living, as well as the colors and finishes that suit your individual tastes. This includes more than just showing samples of various flooring options. A quality flooring retailer helps consumers understand how traffic, cleaning needs and other factors can influence a flooring decision – especially when performance and value are the key factors in most every decision.

For example, you might love the look of real hardwood floors, but if your home has a lot of traffic and activity, an indent- and wear-resistant laminate might be the best (and far more affordable) choice for you. Today’s laminate offerings are designed so authentically to mimic wood and other surfaces, it’s often hard to tell the difference.

If you’re looking for a more performance-based flooring option, some great new products offer unique designs and the performance consumers prefer for their day-to-day living. One option retailers recommend is Tarkett FiberFloor, a fiber-backed resilient sheet that is warm and comfortable underfoot, is water- and moisture-resistant, stands up to scratches, scuffs, stains and indentations, and is easy to maintain.

Or, if you’re interested in a high-end flooring look such as marble, stone or ceramic tile but don’t like their cold, fragile and pricey applications, many floor-covering retailers recommend turning to luxury vinyl tile. Products like NAFCO’s PermaStone duplicate the look of natural ceramic and stone tile, but are warm, soft and even come with multiple grout options (or none at all) for installation.

And installation is part of the complete package of details and services that comes with a specialty flooring retailer especially if you don’t have the time, tools or temperament to do a quality install yourself. The best retailers take care of all the details so you don’t have to worry about them.

A good retailer will provide you with recommendations and services such as:

* Suggest the proper moldings and why moldings are needed for certain flooring transitions.

* Recommend premium underlayments, such as Tarkett’s Quiet-Cor, that provide better sound insulation and moisture penetration.

* Proper measuring and estimating services to avoid waste or materials shortages.

* Complete installation, including the necessary cutting of door jambs and other accessories.

* All the right tools, including specialty saws and underlayment tape (these are tools that most do-it-yourselfers wouldn’t think to purchase).

* Full installation warranty.

* Individualized follow-up, usually 30 days after installation, to fix any problems.

Most people don’t shop for flooring every day — or even every year — so with so many choices, styles, prices, features and benefits available, it’s nice to know that today’s quality flooring retailer is there to help.

For more information, visit these helpful Web sites: www.tarkettna.com and www.nafco.com.

The first type of flooring that you can redo your kitchen in is vinyl. This is actually among the most popular type of flooring due to the fact that it is relatively inexpensive and it also comes in many different varieties. You can purchase this type of flooring in a tile, or even in a sheet – the choice is yours. There are many different types of patterns, colors, and more that can work perfectly with a wide assortment of decoration themes in the home. There are a couple of downfalls that you need to be aware of if you select this type of flooring for your kitchen. That is, the vinyl can stain relatively easily, and it is prone to damage caused by exposure to moisture.

The next type of flooring that is common to kitchens is linoleum flooring. In the not so distant past, linoleum was considered old fashioned, but today’s linoleum is not the flooring of your grandmother’s time. Now, if you select this flooring type, you will find that it is a bit more expensive than vinyl flooring. Thing is, when you make home improvements, you will want to select flooring that is durable and can stand up to wear and tear as well as any moisture. If this is what you are looking for, then linoleum flooring is sure to be an excellent option.

Tile is another popular kitchen flooring choice. There are three standard types of tile that you can purchase.They are ceramic, quarry, and porcelain. Tile comes in many different decorative forms, and additionally, is highly durable. It is sure to stand up to high traffic, moisture, spills, and other incidents that may occur in the kitchen.

Wood is very popular in kitchens today. Many homeowners love the look and feel of wood flooring – especially in the kitchen. Wood flooring can make a kitchen give off a rustic appeal, and lends warmth to a modern kitchen. It is a type of flooring that is relatively flexible overall. You can choose from maple, oak, bamboo, pine, cherry, and even simulated wood! If you want to redo your kitchen flooring with wood, you will find that there are many different styles, designs, and types.

So, go ahead, pick a new kitchen floor, it’s sure to have a big impact in whichever material you choose.