Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor or for the work of installing such a floor covering. It refers to any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface, and it includes materials such as carpet, laminate, tile, and vinyl. The choice of flooring materials is affected by factors such as cost, endurance, noise insulation, comfort, and cleaning effort. There are various types of flooring, including timber flooring, cork flooring, porcelain or ceramic tile flooring, and vinyl flooring, each with its own characteristics and uses