One of the most important features to get right when you’re building or renovating a home, is the flooring. Flooring products cover a large amount of space in your home, which means it’s expensive to buy and to fit. Before purchasing flooring products there are certain things you should consider first.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is the term used to describe flooring made from one piece of wood. This type of flooring product is at the higher end as far as price is concerned because it is made from superior materials and lasts a long time. As its name suggests, hardwood flooring is durable and is easy to clean. However, fitting hardwood floors can be tricky and expensive. Hardwood floorboards also have a tendency to change shape over time.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is an affordable way to cover certain areas of your home. This type of flooring is easy to install, easy to clean and water proof. This makes it the ideal solution for areas of the house where there is a lot of people entering and leaving the house or where it more likely to have water spills. Vinyl is normally fitted in one piece. This is fine, so long as it doesn’t get damaged or torn. However, if this happens, vinyl is an awkward flooring product to repair and you may need to replace a large section of it.
Processed or Composite Wood
Processed or composite wood flooring products are not as rigid, sturdy or expensive as hardwood flooring products. They are the perfect solution if you are on a tight budget and are normally easy to fit. You may also be availing of consolidation services for your finances which is another reason why this cheaper product may be the ideal solution for you.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles
Floor tiles are still one of the most popular flooring products available. These products come in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs, so home owners have a wide range tiles to choose from. They are easy to clean, replace and are a waterproof, durable flooring solution for most rooms in your home. The only draw backs to fitting tiles is the grout that holds the tiles in place. This grout can get stained over time. Tiles are also a cold, hard surface to walk on, so they may not be suitable for every room in a home.
Carpets
Carpets add a warm, comfortable feel to any room. They are made from various synthetic materials including nylon and polyester. It is also possible to buy carpets made out of wool. Carpet is the perfect type of flooring to keep heat in. However, carpets are difficult to keep clean and expensive to clean. Unlike many wood products they are not the most durable flooring solutions, with many types of carpets getting worn out or damaged after a few years.
Alternative types of wood
Other wood types such as cork and bamboo are also used in homes. Cork is an attractive, durable type of flooring solution. However, it may not suit everyone’s budget because it can be more expensive than other types of flooring.
Like Cork, Bamboo is another environmentally friendly flooring product. It is extremely durable, easy to fit and an easy wood to clean. However, it can be damaged by water and stains if it’s placed in direct sunlight.
Home owners have more flooring options than ever before. Older flooring products like carpet, tiles and wood are still popular, while newer technologies have given these types of products new life. However, before you purchase this type of product, it’s important to remember that it’s a costly addition to your home. Most people expect flooring products to last for many years into the future. With this in mind, you should carry out thorough research about each type of product and make certain you are buying the best possible flooring solution for your home.