Choosing the Right Flooring
There are numerous factors which need to be thought about when deciding what kind of flooring to install. 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 makes sense for the front room may not be appropriate for the bathroom or kitchen for example. Some of the most popular types of flooring are carpet, vinyl, wood, and laminate.
Laminate flooring can be a fantastic substitute for solid wood floors if you are looking to achieve a wood effect floor for a fraction of the price. Laminate flooring is made from a sheet of MDF with a wood-effect plastic surface glued to it. The downside 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 easily cleanable surface. On the other hand a solid wood flooring would not be a good idea in a bathroom, or indeed any room which is likely to get very humid and wet. Some woods are particularly sensitive to moisture such as beech.
If you are planning to install a wooden floor, it’s important you have the right surface to fit it on. Ideally your existing floor needs to be flat, and dry. There are options however to counter uneven flooring issues, such as laying ply throughout, or employing an underlay to create a ‘floating floor’.
Often laminate flooring is sold as a product you can install without help which is another useful way of keeping costs down. 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 substantially to the cost.
Something many people do not realise when they measure their room to work out how much flooring they will need to buy – 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 vital to select the right 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.
