Choosing the right floor for your home can be troublesome. There are many things you need to consider, not just the floor itself, but the walls, too. But if you were to sum it into two words: aesthetics and protection. The first one is self-explanatory . You need to make your home look better wherever you can by improving its overall appearance (you still have your budget in mind). And on the other hand, you want to protect your investment.
Consider the traffic your floor will receive
There are lots of factors to consider when buying a new floor for your home. It’s important to figure out what you want, what you need and how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping.
Consider the traffic your floor will receive. If your floor is in a high-traffic area, such as a living room or kitchen, you’ll want to look at a hardwood or ceramic tile floor. Laminate and carpet will wear down quickly if they’re under a lot of foot traffic.
Consider where your floor is located. If your floor is located in an area with direct access to the outdoors, such as a deck or balcony, make sure that any material you choose can handle outdoor conditions. You may also want to consider using one type of material for indoor and another for outdoor. For example, carpet indoors and pavers outdoors.
Consider maintenance. If you don’t have time to clean floors regularly, then hardwood and laminate may not be the best choice for you. However, if time isn’t an issue and you like the look of hardwood floors, then go for it!
Use scratch-resistant flooring
Scratch-resistant flooring isn’t just for pet owners.
The fact is, any hardwood floor will scratch over time. Whether it’s from pet claws or your own furniture, scratches are inevitable. This is particularly true if you have a high traffic area or an active household.
However, not all floors are affected equally. One of the best ways to limit the risk of scratches is by choosing a scratch-resistant flooring option.
Scratch resistant flooring comes in many different forms, but there are two common types of materials that tend to be more resistant to scratching than others:
Engineered hardwood – Engineered hardwood floors are made from real wood and can be sanded and refinished multiple times. They’re also often more resistant to water damage than solid hardwood floors. Because they have a top veneer layer of real wood, they look similar to solid wood floors while offering greater resistance against scratching and dents.
Bamboo – Bamboo is one of the most scratch-resistant materials available on the market today. Because it’s so dense, it’s incredibly durable and can withstand high levels of foot traffic without showing signs of wear and tear.
Use heat-resistant flooring
Heat-resistant flooring is also important in areas where you will be doing a lot of cooking. A kitchen usually has a stove and oven, both of which generate a lot of heat. The floor will absorb this heat, and if it cannot withstand the heat, it will be damaged.
For example, wood floors can be damaged by a lot of heat. However, if you were to use tile flooring instead, your floor would not be harmed. Tile flooring is one of the best options for withstanding high amounts of heat.
You should also consider using carpet that is resistant to moisture and stains if you are planning on using your kitchen for cooking. Carpet that is resistant to moisture and stains will last longer than regular carpet, and it will not have to be replaced as often.
If you are going to install new flooring in your kitchen, then you should make sure that it is durable enough to withstand all kinds of spills and stains. You should also choose a color that matches the rest of your decor so that your new floor does not clash with everything else in the room.
Homeowners who want their kitchens to look great and last for years should use heat-resistant flooring in their kitchens.
Wrapping up
There are a lot of different materials that can be used as flooring in your home. Many guys (and gals) would be totally lost if they started down the path towards choosing the perfect floors for their home, but with a little bit of help and knowledge, the whole thing becomes a lot easier. The first thing that you need to do is to figure out what kind of floor you want. There are plenty of choices, but once you cut that down, it’s mostly just picking between hardwood, laminate and carpeting.