Make the Right Decision when Choosing Flooring
There are numerous factors which need to be considered when choosing what type of flooring to go for. Getting new flooring put in in your home can breathe new life into it and can be a great way to reinvigorate your living environment. It may not be as expensive as you think either.
A big consideration on what flooring to choose is what the role of that room is. Flooring which is suitable for the dining room may not be appropriate for the kitchen for example. Some of the more widely used types of flooring are carpet, vinyl, wood, and laminate.
Laminate flooring can be a fantastic alternative to wooden flooring if you are looking for a wood effect floor at a lower cost. Laminate flooring consists of a sheet of MDF with a wood-effect plastic surface fixed to it. One pitfall of laminate flooring is that whilst it is resistant to sctratches once it is scratched it is extremely difficult to repair. That aside it can still be a perfect choice for a kitchen, where the plastic coating provides an easy to clean surface. On the other hand a solid wood flooring would not be appropriate in a bathroom, or indeed any room which is likely to get very wet. Some woods are more vulnerable to the wet than others.
If you are looking to fit a wooden floor, it’s critical you have a suitable surface to fit it on. Ideally your existing floor needs to be flat, and dry. There are options however to resolve uneven flooring problems, such as laying ply throughout, or employing an underlay to create a ‘floating floor’.
Often laminate flooring is sold as a product you can fit together yourself which is another useful way of keeping costs to a minimum. Solid wood flooring requires a higher degree of DIY skills, so it can sometimes be advisable to get solid wooden floors fitted professionally which on the downside can add a considerable cost.
One point to remember many people do not realise when they measure their room to calculate how much flooring they will need – is that it is important to include a 10mm gap around the edge of the room for the wooden flooring to expand and contract.
As a fundamental part of any interior design scheme, it is crucial to choose the correct flooring. Whilst wooden or laminate floors can be ideal – often for a more chic minimalist look; carpet can be a better option if you are trying to achieve a more traditional home feel. The important thing is you take into account the various factors you need to consider before ordering new flooring.
