Flooring
When it comes to floor coverings you have a tremendous number of options. In addition to different colors, textures and patterns, there are many different types of flooring. Common choices include carpet, wood, vinyl, laminate, tiles and area rugs. less common choices include bamboo and cork.
What you ultimately choose should depend on your needs and wants. Flooring choices are made for both decorative and practical reasons. Not only does flooring need to look good but it also needs to fit your purpose. For example, if you want to decorate a bathroom or kitchen, you need to take into consideration not only how the flooring will look but also how the flooring will perform in these rooms. In a kitchen and/or bathroom, the flooring must also resist moisture so, although it might feel warm and soft underfoot, carpet is not a good choice for either of these rooms. Following is some information about the most common flooring choices. Carpet: Many people like the color options, warmth, comfort, texture and feel of carpet. Additionally, carpet is quiet underfoot, acts as a form of insulation from both cold and heat and absorbs sound (which is great if you live in a two story home or live in an apartment or condominium) Another advantage is that carpet can be relatively in-expensive.
If the above advantages of carpeting appeal to you, you may wish to have wall to wall carpeting installed. There are two commonly used types of wall to wall carpet in North America: Berber and broadloom. Berber carpet is often made from a synthetic fiber and has looped pile that runs in parallel lines and it has a tweedy look to it. Berber is becoming increasingly popular and, although it is more casual, it is very durable and often has a stain resistant finish which makes cleaning spills much easier. Broadloom carpet is any carpet that is made on a broad (wide) loom and the carpet can either be tufted or woven. Normally, broadloom carpet is anywhere between 12 to 15 feet wide, which minimizes seaming on wall to wall carpeting. Another type of carpet is Ax-minster carpet (this originated in Ax-minster, England in the 1700's) and this is a patterned, woven carpet that can be used as wall to wall carpet or can be custom cut for area rugs. This type of carpeting isn't as popular as berber or broadloom for homes; however, because of it's durability and ease of cleaning and the wide range of patterns and colors, it is often used in commercial areas (such as hotel lobbies etc.) The expense of carpeting depends on the carpet's fiber, finish and construction including the pile (height of the fiber), density (the amount of fiber tufts per square inch) and texture (how the fibers are twisted or looped). Some of the synthetic fibers types are nylon, acrylic, polyester, and olefin (also known as polypropylene) and a natural fiber type is wool (which is often more expensive). carpet manufacturers are making carpets more durable and stain-resistant nowadays which, besides the advantages listed above, is why carpet remains a popular flooring choice. Tip: carpeting experts recommend that good quality underlay (also known as padding) be used especially in areas with high traffic (to increase the durability of the carpet), in areas where you want a soft and cushy feel under your feet and in areas where you want extra sound absorption. It is important to note that good quality underlay will increase the life of a carpet. Wood: Wood flooring in either hardwood or softwood is a great way to add a naturally beautiful product while adding warmth and charm to a home. Hardwood floors are normally made of oak, maple or birch while softwood floors are made of pine, cedar, spruce or fir.
If you are interested in wood floors, be aware of the fact that wood floors need to be maintained by coating them with a polyurethane every year or so and the floors should be waxed and buffed on occasion.
Wood floors are growing in popularity and this has helped with manufacturers being able to produce better finishes and more options for where wood flooring can be installed. Wood flooring can now be bought in long strip planks, engineered planks and 3/4" solid wood and the end results of each look very similar. Besides looking wonderful, elegant and charming, wood floors are also quite easy to clean as long as they are properly maintained. After wood flooring is installed, it is often treated with a sealant and finished off with clear urethane. It is also possible to buy pre-finished wood flooring.
Tile: There are many different types of tile to choose from, including ceramic, marble, stone, mosaic, clay, slate, granite etc. One of the biggest benefits of tile is being able to select from a number of various pattern options. Additionally, tile looks beautiful, is durable (in most cases), is east to clean and requires minimal upkeep.
There are disadvantages to tile and the most notable ones are the expense, the coldness of tiles under an individuals feet (unless you install under floor heating) and the fact that things can break if they are dropped on tiles or the tiles might possibly chip if they are not the most durable type. When selecting tiles for the floor, always make sure you select flooring tiles (as opposed to decorative tiles for showers, walls, back splashes, etc.) Besides selecting tiles, you will also want to select a grout color that will create the desired look. Tip:Tiling experts recommend that you order approximately 10 percent more tiles than you require so that there are extras in case of breakage. After all the tile is installed, you should keep any leftover tiles because these can always be used as replacement tiles if any of the installed tiles chip over time. A good tile layer can cut out the chipped tile and replace it with one of the extras. Vinyl: Vinyl flooring is made from synthetic materials. There are a number of advantages to using vinyl flooring. It is inexpensive, durable,easy to clean and maintain and it is good for high traffic areas and areas where moisture might build up such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms etc.
Laminate: Laminate flooring is a great option for flooring because not only does it look like real hardwood but it is much more durable, easier to maintain and easier to clean than real hardwood. Additionally, laminate flooring is highly stain and fade resistant and it is more affordable than real hardwood. Although laminate flooring has numerous benefits and closely resembles the look of hardwood, keep in mind that it is not a true wood product and is therefore not "the real thing". If this doesn't bother you then laminate flooring may be the right choice for you.
Area Rugs: A quick and easy way to add color, texture, warmth and character to a room is to place an area rug within a room. Additionally, area rugs can cover problem areas (stained carpets, for example) or scratched hardwood or vinyl. Some other reasons to use an area rug are to create intimacy or a feeling of coziness, to create a seating area, to define a space, to provide warmth under your feet, to reduce the noise in the room, to create a focal point, to establish a color direction or to bring colors in a room together and to protect flooring. Area rugs can be purchased in varying sizes and shapes and in varying materials and the costs can range from inexpensive to very costly. As with carpeting, area rugs are also available in may different fibers including both synthetic fibers (such as acrylic, nylon and ole fin) and natural fibers (such as wool, cotton or sisal (plant fibers) or jute). Tip: It is important to always use a similar sized nonskid pad underneath an area rug. This pad will prevent the rug (and people) from slipping, make it easier to vacuum, and most importantly protect the area rug from wear. Additionally a pad will protect hardwood floors, laminate or vinyl flooring underneath from scratches from the course bottom of an area rug. |
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