Choosing The Right Flooring

Flooring choices for the home and place of business are plentiful. There is something to suit everyone’s taste, purpose and budget.

To choose the right type of material you will need to consider a few things ahead of time, such as how the room is typically uses along with the lifestyle you have. Also, to consider is whether you prefer ease of maintenance over aesthetics.

Taking a few moments to contemplate these considerations and prioritizing what is important will help you narrow down what you would like to have in the space.

Floors take up a lot of visible space and it is natural to want them to look great. Taking in the practical aspects of your choice should coincide with the right blend of fashion and prudence.

What Should I Know Before Choosing

Choosing the right floor relies on you looking at “wants” and “needs”.

The wants part of the equation is usually the easier since you have probably seen what appeals to you. However, the needs analysis helps with the practical part of the decision.

Each type of surface has its advantages and disadvantages.

Considering the following points and questions will help narrow your focus.

You also might have preconceived ideas about the type of surface you want but not all materials are suitable for every space.

1. Which room or rooms are you considering?

The function and location of the room will have some bearing on the best surfacing to use.

An obvious example for illustrative purposes is that you don’t want carpet in the kitchen or dining room due to the propensity for spilled foods and liquids. In contrast, a more subtle fact is that solid wood isn’t suitable for basements due to the moisture issues associated with below-grade (below ground level) rooms.

Rooms and spaces that adjoin entry doors from the outside are prone to seeing a lot more dirt and grit than an upstairs bedroom. No floor will last forever if the grit isn’t regularly swept up but some materials do better than others in this situation. Either decide on a suitable material or commit to the upkeep required to maintain more delicate surfaces in these situations.

The bottom line here is to choose a surface that’s suitable for the function and location of the room. A Flooring expert can help you make that right choice.

2. Consider your family status and lifestyle — do you have children, elderly or disabled family members? Do you have any pets?

How you and your family live makes a difference in choosing a floor type. Children usually mean more wear and tear from running, banging and playing with toys.
Some of the laminate products might be better in this scenario than site-finished solid wood due to the optimal wear characteristics of laminate. These products have factory-applied coatings that are designed to be very durable and scratch-resistant. The surface finish of a site-finished wood floor (one that’s sanded and top-coated in your home) doesn’t have the same durability characteristics as those factory-finishes.

That being said however, a lot of the engineered wood floors (wood flooring that’s pre-finished at the factory) are made with very durable surface coatings, similar to laminate.

The grout seams associated with tile may be an annoyance or even a hindrance for family members with wheeled walkers or wheelchairs. The wheels could catch or “clunk” as they pass over the grout, especially wider grout lines.

Pets like cats and particularly larger dogs have claws and shed. Hard surfaces work well for cleanup from pets that shed whereas carpeting might retain pet hair and dander. On the other hand claws can also scratch a wood floor. If you have big dogs with big claws, tile or wood/laminate flooring with the most durable surface finishes (like aluminum oxide) may be your best bet.

3. Does anyone in the home suffer from asthma or respiratory allergies or have sensitivities to chemicals that aggravate these conditions?

Carpeting can harbor allergens that are more easily cleaned up from hard surfaces. Carpet and other floor materials can contain higher VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that might contribute to ill health effects, particularly with those who are more sensitive to airborne allergens and contaminants.

4. How much care and maintenance are you willing to put into the floor?

Some materials have higher maintenance needs than others if you want them to last and maintain their aesthetic appeal. Wood should be swept or vacuumed often to avoid the dulling and scratching that comes with ground-in dirt. Stone or tile is durable although their finish will eventually succumb to a lack of regular sweeping.

5. How important to you is your floor from a style and aesthetics perspective? Do you want a high-end expensive surface or will a more economical choice do?

If you like the look of Brazilian Cherry but don’t need to have real solid wood to make you happy, compare laminate with wood. You might be surprised to find a laminate that’s a close match to real wood but for less money. If you’re remodeling or building a new home you can apply the savings to something that provides greater service and satisfaction in the long term such as upgraded appliances or cabinets.

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