If you're looking to build an addition onto your home and have young children, you may be wondering whether there are materials that are more kid-friendly than others. Below are three kid-friendly qualities that you should consider when shopping for the floor material that's right for your home's new addition, as well as some recommendations on certain flooring choices.

1. Spill-Resistant

If you have a young child, you know that more food and drink ends up on the floor than ever makes it to your child's mouth. This makes it important to consider which floors are best for spills.

Vinyl flooring is one option that may catch your eye. Vinyl – when high quality and properly installed – has very few seams which means that water and other fluids will be unable to penetrate through to the subfloor. This means you don't have to worry about swelling, staining, or sub-floor mold. Bamboo is another high-quality choice that resists spills and stains quite well.

2. Scratch-Resistant

From high chairs to push toys, there's no doubt that there are numerous kids' products throughout your home that can cause scratches on improperly chosen floors. Fortunately, there are flooring options available that can reduce the odds of scratches occurring.

Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly flooring option that looks great in every room of the house, and resists scratches extremely well. Bamboo is a fantastic compromise for those who want hardwood flooring but are worried about durability – bamboo is much less likely to absorb fluids than other hardwoods, and is great for high-traffic areas of the home. Not sold on wood? Laminate is another choice. This flooring style allows for easy cleanup, and while it's more prone to scratches than bamboo, the scratches are much less noticeable.

3. Slip-Resistant

You want a beautiful floor for your home, but you also want it to be functional and safe. Fortunately, there are slip-resistant flooring choices available.

If you're considering laminate for your home, for example, it's important to consider that many laminates are quite slippery, especially when wet. There are textured laminates, however, which provide a better grip and can lead to less slips and falls. Is vinyl or bamboo more your style? There are low-gloss options available for both flooring materials, so if "shininess" isn't a factor for you, these choices may prove to be best.

While vinyl, bamboo, and laminate are great flooring options, especially when considering durability and child safety, there are certainly more options out there to consider. Before making your choice, be sure to consult with an experienced contractor like one from Priore Custom Homes and Renovations.