Are you searching for new flooring for your home, but are confused by all the options you have? You may not think much about it, but the kind of flooring you install will have a significant effect in how your home appears, as well as its finishing.
Homes that look inviting to others seem to have one thing in common – their owners pay a lot of attention to the décor and floors of the home. If that is what you want, you need advice from the best builders, as well as knowing what to pick like epoxy flooring in stamford. Paying attention to every detail means realizing that not every space allows all types of flooring. You must consider its fundamental use. For instance, you might want to use hardwood for your restroom and using in your garage floor epoxy to make it durable and resistant.
Ceramic Tiling
This is the best option if you live in a flood-prone area and your floor requires some waterproof protection. It also lends itself well to bathrooms since the floor is regularly exposed to water, and you can use it as countertops, indoors and floor tiles. Certain varieties of ceramic tiles that have a high gloss finishing will have a tendency to scratch as time goes by.
If you are considering using ceramic tiling for outdoor areas, it is best to go for those an unglazed finish, due to the possibility there is standing water. There are various finishes for ceramic tiles, including textured ones (to prevent slipping), matte, glazed and embossed.
The best ceramic tile finishes are those that have a porcelain color, as they easily hide damages and scratches because of their composition. However, the drawback with them is that grout lines (the fillings of the spaces between the tiles) can be difficult to clean, and the tiles can chip if their quality is low.
Hardwood floors
This is a classic among many homes because it combines the durability aspect of proper flooring with the beauty and elegance of simple floors – something that is hard to come by with many other flooring materials. The finishes are also of different types, and you can choose whatever will make your home look inviting from shops such as Hardwood floors Dallas – they include walnut, maple, oak, pecan, birch, beech, pine, hickory, cherry, and many others.
The surface is durable, resistant to wear, and you can refinish it when you want. The problem they may have is that certain types might darken as time passes by, while others might create gaps in the surface of the floor due to continual shrinking. Maintenance involves applying some polish solution and sweeping.
Laminated floors
This is the best type of flooring to get if you are on a budget and want to have the elegance of stone or wood, as it is cheap to install and very easy to maintain. It provides you with a durable and strong surface that is resistant to chips, burns, fading and scratches. Its high durability also makes it an excellent choice for areas with high traffic, and it is appealing enough to come in a variety of designs and colors, while also bearing resemblance to many natural materials.
However, even with all the advantages it has, there is a problem – you cannot refinish it once it is installed. If you are thinking of installing it in a room with high moisture levels such as toilets and bathrooms, you need to make sure you choose specific laminates for this purpose.
Do not let this discourage you though – laminate floors are increasing significantly in terms of their popularity, thanks to the ease of installing them, as well as their easy maintenance – they are easier to maintain than hardwood floors, for instance. They are also not affected greatly by moisture, unlike wood.
Marble floors
These are among the most versatile and durable tiles to use, making them very useful for multiple rooms and surfaces. You can use them on floors, columns of hallways, and walls.
Their popularity is because of their easy maintenance – they are easy to clean, and they do not chip easily. In addition, they are very easy to engrave using stylish designs and textures, and you can customize them to suit your individual taste.
Their addition to a room makes the room look elegant, as they also come in different colors. They are also used for activities and products of building materials and sculpture. You can get the tiles in different sizes, though the most common size is usually 12 x 12.
Cork floors
If you have a room that requires a lot of standing and walking while still maintaining comfort, this flooring is the best option. The best example would be a children’s room, where your children can play in without getting injured. The material is made by peeling off the bark while you save the tree, and this makes sense when you consider the cost of installing these floors.
Their advantages include the fact that they are very easy to clean, and are very good at insulating your home while making it soundproof (which is why they are good for children’s rooms). They are also non-allergenic, unlike many types of floors, and they are resistant to insects as well. In addition, they are environmentally friendly as they use natural materials.
However, not many people can afford this material, as it is costly. You can get more affordable alternatives, though this will depend on the color and characteristics of the material itself. Installation can be between $1.10 per meter to $6.25 per meter.
Bamboo floors
This is among the latest addition to floors, and it presents a more environmentally friendly solution compared to traditional floor material. The flooring is elegant, long-lasting and you can get it in a variety of colors ranging from light tan to honey brown.
The surface remains easy to maintain as it is clean and strong, but it tends to darken when exposed to sunlight or as time passes. In addition, it should not be left wet as this increases the chances of rotting. They are either lined horizontally or vertically.
Final thoughts
The types of flooring materials you can use in your home are numerous, but your ultimate choice will depend on what you want, what you can afford, and the purpose of the room. Make sure that you choose the best one you can get, and it will serve you well for a long time.