Flooring is essential in interior design, whether building a new home or remodeling an existing one. When you consider how much space your floor takes up in your home, you will see how it significantly impacts the aesthetic.
Choosing the best type of flooring for each area of your house is difficult. Today’s market offers a wide range of flooring options.
Different Types of Flooring
Hardwood Floors
Wooden floors, such as hardwood floors, are highly popular in almost every part of the country because they are beautiful and complement a wide range of interior design schemes. Hardwood floors come in polished, contemporary, and rustic farmhouse designs with varying grains, tones, and finishes.
These floors are versatile, and their appearance can complement any interior design. They are durable and can withstand up to five refinishing to remove surface scratches. When properly treated and cared for, hardwood is both durable and resilient. However, hardwood flooring’s most notable disadvantages are the expense and maintenance associated with hardwood flooring.
Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered wood floors have a real wood veneer over a heat-formed wood core in the middle. It also has a base-supporting layer to prevent shrinkage over time. The durability of engineered wood makes it an excellent choice for many homeowners. It is also less difficult to install than solid wood flooring.
Engineered wood planks are less likely to contract or expand when the temperature or humidity changes. So, they are more stable than most of the other types of flooring out there. A high-quality coating on engineered wood floors will improve their durability and look.
Laminate Floors
Laminate flooring is made from layers of high-density fiberboard. In fact, a photographic image of tile or wood is laminated to the surface of the flooring beneath a tough, wear-resistant coating. The benefits of laminate flooring include its ease of installation, anti-scratching properties, and low cost. Laminate floors are ideal for any area of your home that is not subjected to moisture. As a result, you should avoid installing laminate flooring in your bathroom.
Real Stone Floors
Real stone floors are both practical and stylish. They are ideal for your home’s kitchen and bathroom. There are different kinds of stone flooring, such as slate, limestone, marble, and terracotta tiles. Each of these floors has a unique look and feel that will make your home look stylish and modern.
When done right, a stone floor should last forever. However, it should be installed on a sturdy and sound subfloor to prevent movement and cracking over time. Natural stone is porous and must be properly sealed. In fact, resealing the floor every six months is required to maintain its durability and aesthetics.
Tile Floors
Homeowners all over the country prefer tile floors. It is one of the most long-lasting, contemporary, and stylish types of flooring for hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms. It comes in various patterns, finishes, and styles to meet your needs and budget. Tiles are also scratch, moisture, and dent resistant. It’s a low-maintenance, easy-to-clean flooring option.
Vinyl Floors
The components of vinyl flooring are polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers. There are added color pigments to improve the floor’s aesthetic. Vinyl is non-porous and ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom. It’s a versatile material that can be used to mimic tiles, stone, wood, and glass. Compared to tile floors, vinyl is more comfortable to walk on and warmer on bare feet. Vinyl floors of high quality can easily last for more than 20 years.
10 Ways to Choose the Right Flooring For Your Home
1. Ask Yourself Why You Need New Flooring
Before pulling swatches and comparing finishes, consider why you decided to replace your flooring in the first place. Have you been living in your house for a while and grown tired of the dated decor? Are you deciding on floors for a custom home? Are you tired of vacuuming your carpet and looking for a low-maintenance solution?
These factors will help you narrow down your search for the best flooring materials. Consider that you’ve lived in your home for fifteen years, and you’re still looking at the same tile that was there when you moved in. You should likely consider new decor trends and search for a modern finish that complements your lifestyle.
If you’re replacing your carpet because you’re tired of cleaning, it makes more sense to choose a durable and easy floor than hardwood, which can instantly soak up spills. Create a list of your primary concerns to serve as a guide for your research.
Perhaps you’re installing new floors because children and pets have worn down your previous ones. In this case, you would likely choose laminate floors, which are more durable and resistant to scratches.
2. Consider the Room
Different flooring materials may be better for different rooms in your home. While you may be tempted to install a hardwood floor in the kitchen to make a nice transition to the dining room, wood is porous. Even if it’s sealed and treated, it can still soak up spills, causing damage to the floor. If you prefer the look of hardwood, you can opt for a more durable material that resembles classic wood. Another durable and water-resistant alternative is ceramic tile.
Carpet is often the best option for bedrooms because it is warm and cozy and reduces noise better than laminate or hardwood flooring. It’s also more difficult to clean, but because you probably spend less time in your bedroom than in your living room or playroom, it won’t wear out as quickly.
3. Know What You Can Afford
Determine your budget once you know what you need and how it will fit into your lifestyle. You are no longer as limited by the cost of materials as you may have been in the past; there are a variety of durable and inexpensive options that are just as stylish as their more expensive counterparts. However, having a budget in mind when you visit the showroom will prevent you from falling in love with an expensive finish.
You can use high-end flooring as a source of inspiration to select lower-cost options that mimic the look and feel of a more expensive finish. Keep your home’s overall value in mind. You don’t want to exceed your budget, but materials at the higher end of your range could be advantageous if you ever decide to sell your home.
4. Budget for Installation
You may want to install your new floor yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. If you’re doing it on your own, look for flooring that is easy to install. See if you can find someone to demonstrate how to install and secure the floor. A mistake could cost you money in the long run, so make sure you know what to do before you begin your DIY project.
If you want a professional to install your new floors, include the installation costs in your budget. When it comes to flooring, you’ll have a better idea of what you can realistically afford.
5. Choose The Right Flooring That Compliments Your Design
Unless you’re building a new home or extensively renovating your current one, consider how your floors will fit in with the rest of your décor. Take pictures and note your existing color palette before removing everything from your room and heading to the showroom. Pay attention to the textures and fabrics of your existing furniture to find a floor that complements it.
Your style will influence your flooring. A concrete floor may be appropriate if you live in an industrial space with exposed piping and ceiling beams. If you want a more rustic look, consider a Pergo floor that looks like classic oak.
6. Consider Your Dimensions
The size and layout of your room will influence your flooring options. For example, if you’re decorating a large room with vaulted ceilings, you can use a darker color without making the room appear much smaller. If you’re looking for flooring for a small kitchen, you should probably stick with a lighter color scheme.
You can always offset the floor color by changing the walls, but some colors don’t work well in small spaces. In a small bathroom with dark walls, navy blue tile can make you feel claustrophobic. Lighter finishes will help to open up the space and make it feel airier.
7. Choose The Right Flooring
You should be ready to buy your floors if you’ve done the steps above. If you’re still confused or overwhelmed, make a list of questions and make an appointment with a flooring contractor. They can help you narrow down your options and choose the best floor that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Call Us Today
No questions asked. Our flooring services at Handyman of Cypress can repair, install, and maintain your floors. Flooring is our specialty, and we carry a wide variety of options. To reach us, call (832) 224-3073 right away.
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