When choosing a type of flooring to purchase, it’s definitely recommended to do a little research and check out what other homeowners are saying about the type and its classifications. Read more to identify what type is applicable to your lifestyle.
Carpet Flooring
The hands-down softest of all the options is carpet. Being a very popular choice, carpet flooring can be an economical way to cover a room or entire house. Not to say that it’s cheap, there are expensive materials that can be just as costly as hardwood or stone. The patterns, colors, textures and designs make carpet the perfect addition as it can get along with interior.
Occasionally, some carpets are not made for the long-haul. Wear and tear could be a disqualifier. However, with modular carpet tiles, this issue might be on-the-way to being solved. In a worn spot, using the modular method, it’s relatively easy to pop-out the bad piece, replacing it with a new tile.
Whatever your choice, you can always mix-and-match. Carpets with hardwood, or tiles with stone. The possibilities are many and just depend on what you will be using the room for or the image you are trying to create. Source: redBeacon
Laminate Flooring
Is a relatively new invention which has taken the world of floor surface covering by storm. Versatile, easy to maintain, and reasonably priced, some people consider this a “super material.” Today laminate flooring can simulate the look of dozens of different natural hardwood materials.The printing process can also reproduce the appearance of a variety of natural stone, and ceramic flooring materials.The wear layer of a laminate floor protects the material from stains and some spills making cleaning and maintenance relatively easy. Typically the only regular requirement is sweeping or vacuuming of the floor to remove grit and dirt which can slowly erode the floors wear layer over time.
The installation of a laminate click together floor is one of the easiest do it yourself flooring projects you can undertake. New innovations in the manufacture of this material have made it so you do not even need to use adhesive. You just roll down a sheet of underlayment material, and then snap the planks or tiles of the floor into one another. An entire room can usually be finished in just a day or two. New innovations in the manufacture of this material have made it so you do not even need to use adhesive. You just roll down a sheet of underlayment material, and then snap the planks or tiles of the floor into one another. An entire room can usually be finished in just a day or two. Source: AboutHome
Wood Flooring
One of the most sought-after amenities in a home, because of its natural appearance and warmth underfoot, wood is beautiful and timeless. Original hardwood floors are among the benefits of older traditional homes. Newer homes that have a lower price point but that still want the natural look of wood often use laminate to win over homebuyers.
Hardwood flooring is made of harvested trees; pricing depends on how exotic the trees are. In general, hardwood is considerably higher to buy and to install. Hardwood is the real deal; it is gorgeous and, depending on the type of wood, can add considerable value to your home. Hardwood can be repaired by sanding imperfections and refinishing. This gives it the edge over laminate, in that it will last for years. Source: Freshome
Stone Flooring
Stone floors are beautiful, sturdy and extremely long lasting – and they can work in just about any room in the house. In fact, they are one of the only flooring materials (aside, perhaps, from concrete) that can be used both indoors and out with ease.
Stone lasts forever – There is a reason the most ancient structures built by humans that are still standing are made of stone – it’s an incredibly strong, hardy material. If you are designing a home you hope to live in for many years to come, stone floors are a solid choice. Compared to wood floors, which will eventually require refinishing, and engineered wood floors, which may need to be replaced after a time, stone floors require very little maintenance. If you crave indoor-outdoor flow, using the same stone inside the house as outdoors is a great way to connect the two spaces. Especially when the stone is paired with large windows and sliding glass doors – or even a pivoting wall, as shown here – the effect is stunning.
On warm days, you will appreciate stone’s natural ability to stay cool to the touch, even when outdoor temperatures climb. Padding barefoot across a bare stone threshold in summer is an utterly satisfying feeling. In winter, radiant heat beneath stone floors is a luxurious, energy-efficient way to heat your home. Stone conducts heat well, making it a top choice for underfloor heating systems. If you or a family member suffers from allergies, stone floors may help in your efforts to keep dust and allergens out of the house. The hard, nonporous surface does not give allergens anywhere to hide, making cleaning more effective. Source: Houzz
Tile Flooring
Tile is extremely durable and will never really “wear out” as other flooring materials might. Glazed tiles are easy to clean and won’t stain (though the grout could if it is not sealed properly), so you can drop just about anything on it without hurting it. It’s ideal for people with allergies because it is less likely to collect pollen, dust or bacteria. Tile flooring adds to a home’s value and re-sale appeal.
Floor tile typically falls into two broad categories – ceramic and stone. Ceramic tiles are made from soft clay that is fired to hardness, sometimes with a glaze coating. Stone tiles are cut from natural rock formations such as marble and slate. Since they aren’t fired, stone tiles can’t have a glaze, but they can be given a clear shiny surface coating. Tile must be installed over a firmly supported subfloor to prevent chipping and cracking. The subfloor should be, at minimum, a 5/8-inch thick exterior grade of plywood that is topped by a ½-inch cement backer board. However, the necessary thickness will depend on the tile. Adding a glaze to ceramic tiles dramatically changes its appearance, and any color imaginable is a possibility. Depending on the glaze, the finish may appear glossy, satin or textured. Glazes are applied either as a single or a double layer. Source: AngiesList
These are just general guidelines for standard flooring. If you want to know more about floors, please contact us.
