What You Need to Know about Flooring
There are numerous factors which need to be considered when choosing what type of flooring to go for. Getting new flooring fitted 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 the function of the room it will go in. Flooring which makes sense for the front room may not be suitable for the kitchen for example. Some of the most widely used types of flooring are carpet, vinyl, wood, and laminate.
Laminate flooring can be a fantastic alternative to solid wood floors if you are looking to achieve 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. The downside of laminate flooring is that whilst it is scratch resistant 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 in fact any room which is likely to get very wet. Some woods are particularly sensitive to moisture such as beech.
If you are planning to fit a wooden floor, it’s critical you have a suitable surface to fit it on. An ideal surface would be flat, and dry. There are options however to counter 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 assemble yourself which is a great way of keeping costs down. Solid wood flooring requires however a higher degree of DIY competence, so it can sometimes be advisable to get solid wooden floors fitted professionally which 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 an integral part of any interior design scheme, it is crucial 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.
