Even the most exquisitely designed home can still be improved with just exactly the right flooring or carpets and rugs. The opposite is also true, of course. The look of even the most perfectly planned home design can be completely ruined by the wrong choice of flooring or carpets and rugs. Deciding on the most appropriate choice can, therefore, be nerve wracking. To ensure that you make the best decision, you can seek professional advice.
Your choices in flooring include hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate.
If you want hardwood flooring, you have to decide on either solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring. You can buy solid hardwood flooring in strips or planks that need to be sanded and then customized. Engineered hardwood flooring is said to be more durable and resistant to moisture, though, because it has three to five layers of laminated wood. The grains of each layer are set perpendicular to each other to add structural stability. Both solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring need proper installation and sealing. This will protect them from the absorption of spills and staining. For maintenance, hardwood flooring only needs weekly mopping and regular vacuuming.
If you want tile flooring, you have to decide on natural stone, ceramic mosaic, glass or metal.
Natural stone tiles come in various types like granite, slate, marble and limestone. Granite is considered the strongest stone among these, with high density that enables it to be resistant to moisture and the growth of bacteria. It is ideal for use in kitchens and areas with high human traffic. Slate is another strong stone, with the added benefit of having a slip resistant texture. Marble, on the other hand, is slippery and not as strong. It is, therefore, recommended for use in areas with less human traffic. Limestone is quite soft and is mostly used only as a decorative accent in areas with very little traffic.
Ceramic mosaic tiles come in two types, either glazed or unglazed. These are also seen as durable. Glass and metal tiles, on the other hand, are not used by themselves as flooring but are featured as accent pieces.
If you want vinyl flooring, you have to decide on no-wax vinyl, urethane vinyl or enhanced urethane vinyl. No-wax vinyl flooring, being the oldest variant, is also the weakest of the three. Urethane vinyl flooring is an improvement. It is more resistant to stains and scuffs and requires less maintenance. Enhanced urethane vinyl flooring is the latest variant and is, therefore, the most advanced in features. It can resist moisture, enough to be used even in bathrooms. It is also resistant to harsh household chemicals. The only maintenance required is mopping and sweeping. There are various designs and colors available for vinyl flooring, including designs that capture the look of hardwood or natural stone.
If you want laminate flooring, the only decision you will have to make is on color and design. Laminate flooring designs can also look like hardwood or natural stone but comes cheaper and, surprisingly, more durable. It is resistant to warping, staining, scratching, fading and moisture.
An alternative or complement to flooring is carpeting. Your choice in carpets include those with cut pile, loop pile and cut & loop pile yarn fibers. Among these, you also need to choose between various styles such as broadloom carpets and wool berbers.
Whether you choose flooring or carpeting, you can still layer them with rugs such as Oriental rugs. You can buy these in the form of runner rugs, area rugs and round rugs.
To get the best advice and a wide choice of flooring, carpets or rugs, you can rely on Carpet One Floor & Home. They guarantee all their products and will not only deliver but also install them professionally in your home.
