Ohhh that's a loaded question. The type of flooring and budget often come down to how much the house WILL be worth once the home is renovated. If you have a $3M home, you do NOT put down laminate. The opposite is true...if you have a $50K home, you do NOT add $25K in hardwood.

Where you live and what your house will be worth compared to renovated houses in your area will dictate your budget. If your neighborhood is upgrading and everyone is putting in solid hardwoods ($25K) then you don't want to be stuck with a house that is less valuable than those around you (if you can keep up with the Joneses then you should try to do so).

Of course this is a personal choice as to how high-end you want your home. If you feel you want a $25/sf hardwood or marble floor, then go for it. If you feel the property doesn't warrant this amount of expense then lower the price.

In essence you want the best floor you can afford. They are the one surface that is always being "touched"...every day something is sitting on them, touching them or walking on them. No other surface takes this abuse.

So what is the local housing market showing for house prices and what types of floors are being installed in your neighborhood? A local realestate agent can answer those questions in a heart beat.

For hard surfaces, i.e. investment flooring, 7-15% of your home's value. The less expensive the home, the more the % will actually be.