Flooring Types to Explore

Flooring is the process of permanently covering the floor of a house with a piece of material that may range from wood to vinyl.

The floor makes up 100% of the house. Imagine your house without floors to walk on. It is one of the main components of the home. There is no specific type of flooring that is ideal for every room. Each flooring has what it brings to the table and what makes it special.

The following are flooring types to consider for your home.

Hardwood flooring: This is one of the most popular types of flooring in the United States. It consists of wooden planks between 0.5 to 0.75 inches thick. Its width can range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, which are called stripes, to 4 to 8 inches, which are called planks. Hardwood flooring can be made from many types of wood species, such as oak or maple. Reclaimed d wood can also be used for flooring.

They are best used in rooms with low human activity such as hallways, living rooms, bedrooms. Hardwood flooring usually comes finished or unfinished. If you buy the wood unfinished, you will have to sand and finish it during installation. We recommend you buy the pre-finished wood, as it is more cost-effective and less work-intensive.

Pros

●      It looks great and aesthetically pleasing

●      It can be refinished up to five times to remove scratches, making it very long-lasting.

●      It is easy to clean and maintain. Regular sweeping and mopping of your wood will go a long way.

●      Hardwood flooring can be easily installed by individuals.

Cons

●      When exposed to moisture for a long time, the wood can undergo warping. They are therefore not advisable to use in wet rooms such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.

Ceramic File: This is gotten from a mixture of clay and shale fired in a kiln like pottery. It is a very hard material that comes in a large range of colours, shapes and patterns. Not all ceramic tiles are tough enough to be used as flooring. Different types of ceramic tiles include glazed ceramic, porcelain, quarry tile and terracotta.

They are best used in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms.

Pros

●      It comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Thereby giving you a large range of choices.

●      It is possible to create unique patterns in ceramic tiles.

●      Ceramic tiles are very durable.

●      They are highly moisture resistant. They are also resistant to scratches and dents.

●      It requires little or low maintenance.

Cons

●      They always feel hard and cold to the feet.

●      They amplify the sound of footsteps

●      It can be quite slippery, capable of causing home accidents when wet unless coated with anti slips.

●      Grout lines that join the tiles together can be difficult to clean when stained.

Laminate Flooring

This has thin layers of plywood or compressed fibre with the upper layer being a photograph under clear plastic coating. The uniqueness of laminates is that they can look like wood, stone, tile or other flooring materials. It can be installed in high foot traffic areas such as kitchens, foyers, or playrooms.

Pros

●      Your flooring can look like wood or stone for less money.

●      It is easy to clean and requires little maintenance.

●      It has high resistance to scratch, dents and stains, which saves time and money.

Cons

●      It can be slippery when wet.

●      It doesn’t fair well in a damp and moist environment

●      It may look like wood, but it can’t be refinished when it wears out. It has to be totally replaced.

Vinyl Flooring.

This is quite a resilient flooring made of flexible materials and feels soft to the underfoot. It is made when a layer of PVC plastics is placed over a layer of felt. A layer of foam can be added to the vinyl to make it cushioned. Thereby making it more comfortable to walk on. The thicker vinyl has textured surfaces that can make it look like stone or wood.

It can come in a large sheer that is unrolled and cut into desired sizes before being glued to a subfloor. There is also a vinyl flooring that clicks into place like the engineered wood. It is best used in kitchens, baths and high traffic rooms.

Pros

●      It is a tough material that is resistant to moisture.

●      It is not affected by heavy human activity.

●      It is comfortable to walk on and very warm.

●      It comes in a large range of colors and patterns.

●      It is very durable and long-lasting.

Cons

●      Quality vinyl Amy be difficult and more expensive to get.

●      It is more vulnerable to scratching than harder types of flooring.

●      It is only good for one use. Once it wears out, it cannot be refinished. It can only be completely replaced, which makes it less cost-effective.

Carpets.

Over the years, carpets have proven to be a favorite for bedrooms and living rooms. They are made by pulling soft fibres like wool or nylon through a woven backing. This is then glued on more layers of backing to strengthen the materials. They can occur in various ranges of color, textures and materials. It is very versatile and can be made from nylon, wool, acrylic, or polyester. Carpets also vary in thickness. It can be used in the bedrooms, living areas and low moisture areas.

Pros

●      Feels warm and soft to the underfoot.

●      It is slip-resistant. You are likely to always remain to stand.

●      It is easy to install.

Cons.

●      It is very difficult to clean.

●      It can harbor dirt that regular vacuum cleaning cannot reach.

●      It can easily be stained which ruins its whole outlook.

●      The fibers can harbor allergens like pollen which can be harmful to people.

There are various materials you can use to cover the floor of your home. You can contact The Furniture Phoenix for consultation on the most suitable for you. Recommendations will be based on your budget, your home type, preference and quality of materials.