Mitchell Dean

Flooring materials have become more varied than anyone thought possible and they offer a combination that will fulfill your homes function and fashion. You might feel a bit confused from trying to make these choices and deciding what material will suit your family’s needs. What follows are some practical and aesthetic considerations you should make when deciding on flooring changes;

Each room in your house serves a specified function. You should think about this when considering materials.

Kitchen

• This area of the house is a high traffic area and will have dirt tracked in from the outside entry door.
• Spills are very common from cooking and pouting liquids so the floor in this area must be easily cleaned.
• Consider the use of non-stick flooring for safety purposes.

Solutions:

• Vinyl floors should be considered as they are a good choice for bathrooms and kitchens. If a glass or plate is dropped these types of floors have more bounce to possibly prevent breakage. A textured patter might be harder to clean.
• Tile Floors, laminate floors and hardwood floors are wonderful alternatives to use in the kitchen. The use of rungs and mats can soften these types of hard floors.

Bathroom

• It is important to have waterproof floors in the bathroom in case of tub, sink and toilet overflows.
• Washable flooring is also important in this area of your home.
• Non-slip floors are preferable for safety purposes.

Solutions:

• Vinyl floors are the traditional choice for bathrooms.
• Ceramic tile floors are gaining popularity these days.
• Newer versions of laminate floors and wood floors have been adapted for use in bathrooms even though they suffer from excessive moisture.

Living Room

• This is the focal point of your home.
• This area varies in use from a family room to a formal receiving area.
• You should choose flooring that matches the rooms function and décor.

Solutions:

• Carpet offers vibrant colors and varied styles that will accommodate formal or even informal uses.
• Hardwood flooring provides an attractive and even durable option especially if you use an area or throw rug.

Dining Room

• This area requires wear resistant flooring if the room is used regularly.
• Another necessary consideration is the use of a stain resistant floor.

Solutions:

• Carpet is a solution but tiled floors, wood floors and laminate floors are important.

Bedrooms

• These areas are usually overshadowed by the furniture in them.
• Traffic is not much of a problem in these rooms.
• Natural flooring should be considered that will adapt to décor changes.

Solutions:

• Carpet is the traditional flooring choice.
• Wood or laminate is a good flooring option.

Slate floors and concrete floors are usually options for areas such as a laundry room, but not areas within most high traffic areas.

Before you purchase flooring you should make detailed measurements of the rooms and create a scale drawing of the area. It is recommended that you take these drawings and measurements with you when you go shopping. The flooring specialist will utilize these to provide you with the best idea fitting your economic and décor needs.

Consider if you or anyone in your family has allergies. If the answer is yes, than you should consider some type of hard flooring because carpet will hold dust mites and such. If you have heated floors than not all flooring materials are adaptable to this type of heating.

Finally you should consider if you are going to hire a flooring specialist for installation or are you going to attempt to lay the floor yourself.