Technology has the floor. A dizzying assortment of “engineered” materials – meaning, essentially, man-made fabrics, laminates, other hard surfaces – provide homeowners with all sorts of new flooring options and combinations of texture, color, utility, and environmental/green sensitivity. And it is all more durable, more functional, and easier to install and maintain than ever before, as well.

One of the biggest trends of recent years has been the extent to which hard surfaces have become more prevalent than carpeting, both for new construction and for remodeling. “Ten years ago, 75% of our sales were carpeting. Now it’s no more than 40%,” said Gill Veilleux, president of Floor Systems in Lisbon.

But carpet manufacturers are fighting back, according to Diane Dube, of Sherm Arnold’s flooring in Lewiston. “There are all kinds of new fabrics that are more rugged and durable, more vibrant colors, and carpeting is often a less expensive option, especially in tough economic times, and for re-hab projects.” But hardwood laminates, new kinds of vinyl tile, and environmentally friendly upgrades are also affordable options for long-term investments, “especially,” she added, “for people from away.”

“Engineered hardwood” is a laminated product that sandwiches a layer of hardwood over a core of what is little more than sawdust or wood waste, sometimes a foam or plastic filler. The hardwood surface is as thick as the functional surface of 100% hardwood flooring, is at least as long-lasting, and is often easier to maintain. Engineered wood products can be installed in places that are not compatible with solid hardwoods, can be found in a wider range of wood species and finishes, from traditional oak to maple or hickory, wide-width planks, “distressed” or hand-scraped surfaces. From an appearance perspective, it is virtually indistinguishable from solid wood.

Laminated flooring simulates wood surfaces, but it has also evolved well beyond early versions that were little more than patterned linoleum. It features authentic grain finishes, is both durable and easily cleaned and maintained. Also built around a wood fiber core, laminates can resemble a variety of wood surfaces, but also stone, ceramic, or brick.

New chemical processes help reduce or neutralize emissions from formaldehyde used in its production. And laminates are very easy to install, with sections just snapping together. “A lot of flooring is designed to be easy for the do-it-yourselfer,” Veilleux explained. “It’s not only more economical [for the homeowner], but it’s often more convenient. There’s a limited labor force, so if you install it yourself, there’s no need to wait to be scheduled.”

Doing it yourself is especially attractive with some of the trendiest and most eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo or cork. According to Veilleux, bamboo flooring is between 25 and 100 percent harder than northern red oak, and even 12% harder than rock maple. And bamboo grows like a weed and is a quickly replenished crop. It is also available in a wide variety of finishes and comes with the same sorts of long-term warranties typical of hardwoods.

At the higher end of wood options is cork, resilient and flexible, often at least as durable as hardwood when properly maintained, offered in a variety of finishes and colors, hypoallergenic, and environmentally sustainable. Hard surface flooring also includes tiles, made from an expansive variety of materials, from vinyl to ceramic, slate, granite or stone. Dube described “Dura-ceramic” tile as solid vinyl that can be installed with grout, looks like ceramic, but is more comfortable and easier to maintain.

But the resurgence of carpeting is being fueled by the use of new materials, too. Shaw Flooring (www.shawfloors.com), from a subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway, provides a nylon carpet that is made from post-consumer recycled nylon carpet, and which is intended to be, well, recycled again. Among the newest trends in carpeting are fibers made from recycled plastic beverage bottles, combining all sorts of environmental responsibility with durability, color, texture, and easy maintenance. And for exceptionally comfortable footing, you can pair new carpeting with innovative, eco-friendly cushy padding made from wheat flour. Although as durable as any traditional padding, this newest element feels something like walking on, ahem, fresh baked bread.

While innovations in carpeting are emerging as a response to hard surface flooring, the growth of hard surfaces in the past 10 years corresponds to the evolution of materials, finishes, colors, and textures, too, and the notion that flooring has become an important design element. All the enhancements in the industry combine to say, simply, walk all over me.