The selection a flooring available these days has become incredibly diverse. There are so many choices these days, that walking into a flooring centre can be a little intimidating. In fact, you might want to set aside a whole day to consider the different options available. From manufactured hard woods, to carpet, linoleum, all types of tiles, and even rubber. There is a type of flooring available for every design and budget. Here are some of the most common types of flooring and some of the things you should know about them.
- Tiles: Tiles come in an incredible variety of materials, patterns, sizes, and quality. They have been around for thousands of years in one form or another, from the time the ancient Greeks made mosaics on their floors. These days you can even get ceramic tiles that look just like wood. There are also new methods for applying patterns to tiles, like digital printing. So, now there are some very creative and some very cheesy tiles available. But there is certainly something for every taste. A newcomer in the tile market is polished concrete tiles where you can find stunning designs at affordable prices. They have a unique andelegant appearance, quite often looking like stone, but there are other attractive patterns available.
- Carpet: Carpet is a comfortable choice, and it has the added benefit of being an acoustic shock absorber, so life is a little more peaceful in a carpeted room. Before you choose a type of carpet you should consider the amount of traffic that room is going to have. There are two main types of carpet, loop and cut pile. And there are 6 main types of fibre used. Nylon, Olefin, Polyester, Acrylic, Wool, and Triexta. Some of these are recyclable. The combinations between the type of carpet and the material used will give you different benefits. There is not enough room here to break it down, but a conversation with a flooring expert will help you understand more easily.
- Hardwood: hardwood flooring used to be simple to understand. There were different kinds of wood, and some were more expensive than others. These days there are not only different materials that emulate hardwood, but the actual hardwood also comes in a variety of profiles and even has different surfaces available. Also, the application of hardwood has advanced and now a floating floor application is quite popular. And with interlocking profiles, hardwood can be laid down in a relatively short time. When looking at hardwood you should also consider laminate flooring, which can look exactly like hardwood and can be very long lasting but a little bit easier on the budget.
The type of flooring you choose will have a big impact on the look and feel of your home. It will also affect the value and the longevity of your design. You need to carefully consider your flooring choices, and it is best to be considering the whole house and choosing items that work well and complement each other. Fortunately, there is a lot of expertise out there to help you make excellent choices.