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Are you trying to give your home a fresh look? Is there something missing from your rooms’ design that can complete the atmosphere?
If so, then it may be time to introduce new flooring. Before you do so, however, you’ll need to factor in several elements.
You’ll need to worry about more than how the flooring looks and fits in with the rest of the room. It needs to be strong enough for the area and be able to handle whatever moisture level is common in your house.
It also helps to figure out what costs you’ll have to deal with, as well as if you’ll need any help installing the flooring. By following our home project tips, you’ll be able to answer put a plan together for your dream floor.
How to Choose the Best Perfect Flooring Options
Here are some tips on how to choose the best perfect flooring options for your home.
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- The Various Options You Have in the Kitchen Flooring
- The Understated Benefits of Stone Flooring Options
1. Picking Floor Material
It’s important for your floor to match the walls, ceiling, and rest of the room you’re working on. If this is your first time working on such a project, then you should be aware of the material options you have.
Those who want to know about the popular material should check out laminate flooring. Homeowners who can’t decide on surfaces and flooring materials will be happy to know that this option can look like any of them.
Hardwood flooring is right up your alley if you want control over how it looks. You can customize it with different finishes and woods, as well as choose boards that were scraped by machinery or by hand. On Direct Flooring Online you can find various hardwood flooring options for every room.
Another material that can mimic just about any other is vinyl. It is also designed for easy installation in case this is your first flooring experience.
You can try ceramic flooring if you want multiple options for looks. Comfort and warmth are easy to access if you go with the carpet material.
Then, there’s stone tile flooring, which can handle the worst scratches and scrapes thanks to options like marble, granite, sandstone, and travertine. You can learn more here about what stone flooring can do for your home.
2. Location
Where you have your project is also important for choosing flooring options. This is because certain materials are made for certain environments.
The main factor to consider when working on the room of your project is moisture. Some materials are able to avoid cracking or degrading while exposed to higher moisture levels.
You are more likely to experience a more moist setting in a basement or kitchen due to the presence of wet material and varying temperature settings. This is also common in kitchens due to the hot baths and showers you or your loved ones might take.
If this is where you’re introducing new flooring, then we recommend vinyl, ceramic, and stone. Installing a porcelain tile with whatever you’re using can be extra handy for medium and high levels of moisture.
However, if you like laminate, hardwood, or carpet, then a room with little to no moisture is the best setting. The options previously mentioned will also work here.
3. Maintenance for Flooring Options
How your flooring will perform depends on how well you take care of it. Floor maintenance can be a time-consuming process, especially if it’s for a large room.
Some of you may have busy schedules with work or school and can’t afford the time to constantly check on your flooring. In this case, vinyl and laminate are the way to go.
All you’ll need for removing stains and dirt on these materials is a broom or damp mop. This will make cleaning up after a big party with friends and family a much easier experience.
However, if you don’t mind spending an afternoon cleaning your floor, then hardwood and stone. It may take longer to clean stains and smudges, but your floor will still look strong and beautiful once you’re done.
It also doesn’t hurt to hire a professional floor cleaning service, especially if you’re new to the flooring material world. They can make your floor look good as new very quickly, and they might have advice for tools and techniques in case you want to do it on your own in the future.
4. Children and Pets
You may have a good track record of staying clean wherever you are, but the same might not be said for your children or pets. Parents and/or those with cats or dogs will need to be extra careful about what types of flooring they go with.
The constant running around young kids do, whether they’re playing with siblings or have friends over, can leave some wear and tear. Older kids who play sports may be bringing in the harsh elements of nature with them when they come inside after a rainy football or soccer game.
Animals make it much harder for your flooring to stay clean and durable. When your dog or cat isn’t walking in wet or covered in mud, their claws may be leaving deep marks.
Ceramic, vinyl, and laminate are the best options for parents and pet owners. That is, of course, unless you are able to train your pet to clean the floor.
Those without kids or pets can stick with carpets, hardwood, or stone. However, having any of the other options is a good way to play it safe in case you do have kids or pets down the line and don’t want to change your floor.
5. Budget
Your flooring choices will also depend on how much money you have for your project. We advise finding the materials that best fit your budget, especially if you have work planned for other parts of your home.
If you’re looking to save as much as possible, then it’s best to look for sheets and tiles made of ceramic or laminate. These tiles and sheets normally cost around $2 or less.
Those who would like to save money but don’t have it as their top priority should look at options in the range of $2 to $10. Vinyl and hardwood are the most common materials in this range.
You can use high-quality or luxury laminate, hardwood, and vinyl if you don’t care about how much you have to spend. Tiles and sheets for these materials are usually priced at $5 and above.
Be sure to take advantage of any deals available at the hardware stores you go to. You may be able to afford fancier materials at a cheaper price.
6. DIY Flooring
Selecting flooring is also based on if you plan to install it on your own. While certain materials are qualified for “Do it yourself” (DIY) projects, others require assistance.
Those who plan of installing the flooring by themselves should stick with vinyl and laminate. These options are easy to install because they can connect to adjacent boards.
Reducing costs is another reason why some people choose DIY projects. As far as flooring goes, regular versions of laminate and vinyl, as well as some forms of ceramic, fit the bill.
On the other hand, carpet is best installed with a helping hand. This material isn’t as solid as the options we previously mentioned, which means you’ll have an easier time keeping it flat if you have someone working with you.
Certain types of flooring materials are also best installed by a professional, such as hardwood and ceramic. You may have to fork over some money, but the flooring will be done right the first time and will be able to last.
Our Take
You need to consider the flooring options that are available to you so that you make your floor look how you dreamed it would. Factors such as moisture, costs, location, and additional family members will determine what materials are right for your home.
With the right planning, however, you can add flooring that will make your rooms look stylish and brand new.
Check out more of our design tips today so that you can combine looks, functionality, and comfort in your home.
