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What are the factors to consider when choosing flooring?
Flooring is an integral part of your house, covering every square metre; hence you should choose it with very careful consideration. Changing the flooring in the future will cause lots of inconvenience for you and your family, so it is best that you choose the most suitable flooring the first time round, which can be confusing given the ever-increasing variety available. This article lists out some questions you should ask yourself when choosing flooring.
1. Which room of the house are you choosing flooring for?
You would not choose wooden flooring for your bathroom; neither would you want to carpet your kitchen. Tiled flooring is a common choice for bathrooms, as it comes in non-slip varieties, vinyl is an easy-to-clean option for kitchens, and wooden flooring gives bedrooms a chic look. Consider how much stress and traffic each room will experience before deciding on the flooring.
2. Do you have children or pets in the house?
You might consider carpeted flooring to cushion a toddler’s falls, or scratch-proof laminate flooring or ceramic tiles if your pet is allowed to roam freely around the house.
3. Do you have concerns about health and allergies?
If someone in your family is allergic to dust, carpet flooring is not advisable. Shift your attention to flooring types that are easy to clean and do not trap dirt and dust easily. Vinyl flooring or ceramic tiles are good choices as they are water-resistant so you can use a wet cloth or mop and stand up well to cleaning chemicals. The seams between vinyl tiles can also be sealed to keep bacteria from growing.
4. Is the flooring you have chosen easy to clean?
A carpeted floor will require regular vacuuming to remove dust, wooden flooring needs to be cleaned carefully with a damp cloth, and ceramic tiles or marble flooring can be mopped quite easily. Marble flooring cannot be cleaned with harsh chemicals. Choose a type of flooring which is easy to clean if you have a busy lifestyle so that cleaning is less disruptive.
5. What is your budget?
As mentioned earlier, flooring covers the entire surface area of your house, so it is likely to be a significant part of your renovation bill. Some flooring types are more expensive than others, depending on their durability, place of manufacture and availability. A carpet made from synthetic fibres is likely to be cheaper than one made from natural wool. Ceramic tiles specially imported from overseas are likely to cost you a premium. Some types of hardwood flooring are more expensive because the trees they come from are rare. A contractor should be able to show you various flooring types which suit your budget. There are many types of vinyl flooring available which resemble more expensive flooring like hardwood and ceramic, but are more budget-friendly.
6. Are you aware of the installation costs involved?
Besides paying for the flooring, you have to deal with installation costs too, which may add up to be a large sum too. If you have the time and skill, you can consider laying the flooring yourself. Vinyl comes in peel and stick DIY kits which are user-friendly. Wooden flooring may require professional work as some types need to be nailed down and this could be beyond the regular homeowner. Ceramic tiles will require considerable skill to lay, so most people would prefer to hire a contractor.
7. What is the maintenance costs involved for the type of flooring you have chosen?
Over time, your flooring will experience wear and tear which may be expensive to repair. Cheaper flooring may not be very durable, and the initial savings may be less than repair and maintenance costs. Ceramic flooring is durable and scratch-resistant but it may chip if you drop heavy load on it. Tiled flooring is a good choice because you can simply replace the affected tile. If your flooring is imported, getting a replacement can be expensive as you will now be importing the tiles in small quantities, and it may be difficult to find if it has gone out of fashion already. Of course, taking good care of your floor will make it last longer, and this applies to all types of flooring.
Choosing flooring for your home can be daunting, but it is really about finding the best match for your lifestyle. If you ask yourself the right questions and seek advice from professional flooring company, it should be a breeze!
