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Flooring

Don’t get stuck “tip-toeing” around choosing your flooring materials. Today there are options galore and some have been with us forever, others have been re-born again and some are designed with the latest new technology. As with other types of decorating choices, flooring requires some homework and participation in figuring out what best suits your family home.

When looking at flooring it’s easiest to start with the footprint of your home. Walk through your home, taking notes as to the size of the areas, the kind of use that particular room or space will have, and keeping in mind your “lifestyle”. Not all of us are neat and tidy and love doing housework on a regular basis, so probably easy maintenance flooring would be best. If your “lifestyle” is more formal and doesn’t receive as much traffic then upgrading the material choices in those areas can be considered.

The main categories for flooring choices are: Carpeting, Vinyl, Ceramic Tile, Natural Stone, Hardwood, Laminates, and Concrete. There are numerous colour choices and there will be something for everyone no matter what colour scheme you may have. My sister always responded when I asked what colour carpeting she was selecting by saying she wanted something that matched with “dirt”, considering she had children at home she was for the most part pretty successful in doing that. But who knew dirt came in so many shades, that is the marvellous thing about flooring materials today, you will find your perfect match.

I’ll give a brief overview of the main flooring products on the market today. Starting with Carpeting: It’s been a staple for many decades and improvements are always being made. Carpeting always has made a room feel cozy and warm, especially underfoot and complemented any décor. The texture of carpeting is important to consider because the style in which the fibres have been woven will either work well for you or not. For example a shorter pile or loop is best if you have pets or a high traffic area. A denser pile cut, which is called Saxony, is better in a more plush or formal setting. Carpeting is either natural or a synthetic product. Wool is a natural fibre and can be used in conjunction with cottons or other natural fibres, often found in a variety of area rugs. The major synthetics fibres are nylon, acrylic, polyester and olefin. Wool can look and feel rich but is higher in maintenance. From the synthetic fibres nylon is the strongest, most durable and most stain resistant. It is great from high traffic areas and easy to maintain. Olefin would be next in the strength category, it is resistant to moisture, pilling and staining. Polyester is not as durable as nylon but holds up well in the wear and tear factor. It is considered to be non-allergenic and repels moisture and mildew. Don’t forget the Padding or Underlay as it is just as important as the carpeting. I usually recommend purchasing the best underlay in particular if you’ve chosen a slightly cheaper flooring material, the underlay will make a big difference here. Carpet Tiles and Squares are fairly new on the market and have been made to be user friendly and easy to install. There are a variety of colours, textures and patterns so you can mix and match to suit your décor. Area Rugs are perfect for accenting a new or old floor. They provide excellent coverage to a floor that has seen better days perhaps, and a wonderful splash of colour to a room where you want to highlight not only the flooring but a fabulous area rug as well.

Remember when Vinyl flooring was a mish mash of wild colours, checkerboards and spots. Well vinyl flooring no longer has a “budget” look to it, but it does fit into most everyone’s budget. Vinyl is frequently used in the “wet areas” of a home such as a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or basement. With today’s technologies vinyl flooring has come a long way and has been reproduced with realistic coverings such as brick, wood, marble and stone. Vinyl remains popular today because of the cushioning effect you have underfoot even when the pattern could simulate a hard surface. The wearing of vinyl has three types which are no-wax, urethane and enhanced urethane and the enhanced urethane is considered to be the best quality and longest lasting. Vinyl flooring also comes in stick on tiles as well. These are great for small projects where you are trying to give a quick facelift, or for a project that you want to keep the budget in check or easy enough for a do it yourself project. You can’t go wrong with a vinyl floor selection.

Natural stone is always a wonderful choice but you must consider it carefully before starting your project. Depending on the type of stone selected you want it to be comfortable for walking on, consider the costs involved because it will usually be more, the maintenance required, and the slipping factor. A brief overview list of natural stones is Limestone, Marble, Slate, Quartzite and Granite. Not all Natural stone is perfect for every room or application. You must consult with your retailer on the pros and con’s of which natural stone is best suited for your home. Limestone comes in both tiles and slabs, some are soft and porous and not suitable for a flooring tile while others are hard and can be used for high traffic areas. Marble also comes in tiles or slabs and the colours and variations come in the traditional feathery veined marbles to some new ones that are being discovered throughout the world. Most household applications of marble are highly polished and therefore that is its appeal. Under the right circumstances marble can scratch. Slate can be used both indoors and out and in addition to being so versatile it is the most slip resistant of the natural stones. The appeal to a natural slate floor is the variation of the colouring in the stone. It is rich looking to the eye and can be to the budget as well. Natural Stone will accent and compliment any décor beautifully. It’s a luxury if your able to incorporate it into your home.Continued

©2006 BayGrafix