Considering the Ideal Types of Residential Flooring

There comes a time when you want to add a few changes in your home, or one big change that would make all the difference. Bits and pieces of decorations are always a good idea for this kind of project, like providing your abode with subtle decor like lampshades, but if you’re up for a bigger impact on functionality and décor, then flooring deserves to be among your priorities.

If you feel the need to hide your flooring under covers like carpets and rugs, keeping imperfections from the eyes of others, that’s definitely a sign you’re in need of a flooring upgrade. You can be sure you’ve made a winning change in your interior by investing in new flooring. Now, since there’s a wide range to choose from, I’m going to cover some of the popular options you could give a try.

Vinyl

Known as one of the most resilient types of flooring, it has been trendy for quite some time now and it isn’t difficult to see why. It’s a modern and practical solution as it’s made of affordable materials, like PVC over a layer of felt, which makes it a flexible and comfortable choice that won’t break your bank.

In addition, it’s also resistant to scratches, doesn’t expand or contract with moisture, and absorbs sound. Thanks to these properties, it’s a suitable choice for high traffic areas and rooms where there’s lots of moisture, like the kitchen, bathroom, and wet room.

Among other benefits, you can choose from a vast array of types too, starting with the hassle-free loose lay vinyl plank flooring famous for its easy installation and easy removing as it doesn’t require any adhesives. This is so because it works with a grip with the subfloor thanks to the friction on the back of the vinyl. A type you can glue is the ultra-stylish sheet roll vinyl, which also allows you to cut it to the needed size. And if you’re up for the click-style you’ve got the vinyl planks that are to be glued one at a time.

Besides this, you’ve got a variety of designs to pick from too based on colour and pattern. Depending on what you’re after in your home, you can buy vinyl that resembles natural oak, varnished wood, salvaged wood, cement, parquet, and even textile. Having all these variations in mind, you could also try different types for the different rooms instead of buying the same loose lay vinyl flooring in the same colour and pattern.

Laminate

Another option that’s good at mimicking other materials, be it wood, stone or tile, laminate is easy to install because all you need is a good choice of adhesive or sealant to place it over existing flooring. All this without needing any nails, which makes for a great DIY project too.

This is due to the fact it works with a floating floor system. And this type of flooring comes in both planks, like the loose lay vinyl plank flooring, and tiles. What makes it better than other choices, such as wood, is the fact that it’s very resistant to scuffing and scratching.

The price and low maintenance are other benefits people love about it. But one flaw is that it becomes very slippery when there’s water and in case you don’t clean it up fast, it could get in between the layers and damage the planks or tiles. This means it’s not that suitable with rooms with moisture as in the case with vinyl.

Hardwood

As a traditionally popular but pricier option, this type of flooring has got a timeless appeal that never goes out of style – especially nowadays when the focus is on homes furnished with designer furniture and decorative pieces of natural materials. Depending on how exotic the wood is, the prices can be on the higher end, and since it’s the flooring that has to be nailed to the wooden subfloor, requiring more work, you might want to get it installed by a professional instead of trying your luck with DIY.

This kind of work further adds to the costs. Still, despite the price, it’s a great choice because it’s long-lasting and might add more to the value of your home. Though it’s not that resistant to scratches, you can refinish it and get rid of them. It’s also very easy to clean. And moreover, it’s available in a variety of styles from a variety of woods, plus it comes finished and unfinished.

If you care about the environment and your carbon footprint, you might want to make a purchase that’s sustainable in which case you should look for flooring that’s certified. When it’s made of FSC certified wood it means it comes from forests that are managed in a sustainable manner. For those who’ve got more money to spend, reclaimed wood is also a good alternative because this way you know you’re not harming the environment in any way, as you’d be using wood that was already used.