Flooring Considerations
November 19th, 2008There are many factors which need to be thought about when choosing what kind of
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can breathe new life into it and can be a great way to improve your living environment. It may not
be as expensive as you think either.
An important factor when choosing flooring is what the role of that room is. Flooring which makes
sense for the dining room may not be suitable for the bathroom or kitchen for example. Some of the
most widely used types of flooring are carpet, vinyl, wood, and laminate.
Laminate flooring can be a fantastic substitute for wooden flooring if you are looking to achieve a
wood effect floor for a fraction of the price. Laminate flooring consists of a sheet of MDF with a
wood-effect plastic surface fixed to it. One pitfall of laminate flooring is that whilst it is
scratch resistant once it is scratched it is not possible to repair. Apart from that it can still be
a perfect choice for a kitchen, where the plastic coating provides an easy to clean surface.
Conversely solid wood flooring would not be advisable 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 install a wooden floor, its critical you have the right surface to fit it
on. An ideal surface would be flat, and dry. There are options however to resolve uneven flooring
issues, such as laying ply throughout, or employing an underlay to create a floating
floor.
More often than not laminate flooring is sold as a product you can fit together 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
on the downside can add a considerable cost.
Something many people do not realise when they measure their room to work out 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 a fundamental part of any interior design strategy, it is important to choose the correct
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.