Flooring your house needs a lot of planning and research. Flooring at different areas depends on the level of moisture, durability and traffic at these areas for starters. There are many things to consider from costs, benefits and drawbacks while choosing the right flooring for your house. Here are some flooring options and how to choose the suitable one for your home.
Types of floorings
Hardwoods
It gives your interiors a royal finish and is an excellent choice. They are easy to clean and maintain. It also needs very less amount of vacuuming. They have a great resale value. A hardwood piece might cost you somewhere between $3-$15. A similar alternative which can cost you less is engineered wood. But the installation is going to cost you near hundreds to thousand dollars. The best place to install hardwood flooring is drawing room to keep it stylish. You can also add a rug to the floor for noise reducing purposes.
Drawbacks: They need time to time polishing in high traffic areas. They are loud to walk on and expensive. Standing water can also damage your hardwood flooring.
Tiles
Tiles are available in wide variations and are cheaper compared to other flooring options. They are very durable and scratch resistant. They are available as marble, porcelain, slate, granite, etc. It is easy to clean and stains will not bother you much. The cost varies from $1 to $20 per square foot. Installation of tiles are expensive and there are several experts in London flooring market from where you can get a good deal. It is perfect for the kitchen and bathrooms as they are water resistant.
Drawbacks: They can be very loud to walk-on. They are cold and heating techniques are expensive on tiles. They can break and the grout will get dirty easily.
Laminate
Laminates are cheaper than other alternatives. They are easy to clean and scratches can be repaired easily. They cost from $0.5 to $3 per square foot. If you are interested in expensive flooring you can check out stores which provide waterproof laminate flooring. They can look like hardwood or any design of your choice. They are pet-friendly and easy to clean. They can be installed in drawing rooms and rooms with high traffic.
Drawbacks: Some laminates cannot stand moisture or stagnant water. This type of damage will arise in a situation where you have to reinstall the flooring of the whole room. They cannot be refinished and cannot be put in kitchens and bathrooms.
Others
Other flooring options include carpet, vinyl and cork. Vinyl is good for sound insulation and perfect for laundry rooms. Cork is natural and is well known for softness and warmth. They can be used for bedrooms.
Things to consider before choosing your flooring
The areas where the moisture content will be high
You need to avoid using materials like hardwood and focus on other flooring options. You can choose a medium to high moisture content resistant material.
The number of members in the family, children and pets.
This defines the traffic you get in a specific area. Therefore, you will need a floor with superior wear resistance. Some engineered wood cannot resist scratch. It is wise to go for porcelain, ceramic, vinyl or laminate flooring these areas.
Square foot budget
Measure the area accurately and fix your budget. If you go for higher range there are more exotic hardwood designs which will add elegance to the room. Cheap porcelain tiles are available if you are looking for less expensive options but the installation is labor sensitive.
Maintenance
If you are looking for less maintenance then choose vinyl, tile, sheet or plank flooring. Laminate flooring is also good but needs special cleaning methods.
Installation
Have a plan for the installation of flooring. Most of the materials need professionals for proper laying out of the floor. This option is better as we don’t have apt tools for working with flooring and sometimes they may go wrong which is a waste of both time and money.
