Flooring is the material used to cover a subfloor for support and give a good walking surface. The right choice of floor covering can impact a space’s look and comfort.
For example, a soft material like carpet is better for rooms that require lots of standing. It also helps with noise reduction and provides insulation. For more information, click the For more information, Visit Us Now.
Hardwood is a natural floor covering that adds warmth and a sense of elegance to a home. It can also increase a home’s resale value and is easy to maintain. It is available in a wide variety of species, widths, stain colors and grain patterns. A wide range of options means it’s possible to find the right flooring to complement any decor style.
Solid hardwood is the traditional wood flooring option found in most homes. Solid wood floors are milled from a single piece of timber and may be cut in a variety of ways including flat-sawn, quarter-sawn or rift-sawn. They can be packaged unfinished for a site-finished installation or finished at the factory. The moisture content of the wood is carefully controlled to prevent warping during transport and storage.
Hardwood flooring can be installed as a floating floor or glued down to the subfloor. The tongue and groove design makes it simple to fit together the planks and secure them to each other. Some hardwoods are produced with a click-lock design that eliminates the need for glue and speeds up installation.
When choosing a hardwood, consider the hardness and grain pattern. Hardness is determined by a number on the Janka scale and determines how well the hardwood will hold up to everyday wear and tear. A harder wood like oak or hickory will resist dents and scratches more than a soft species such as pine or fir. The grain pattern is how the lines in the wood appear and can be made more pronounced with a hand scraping or other slight distressing technique.
Regardless of which type of hardwood flooring you choose, you will enjoy the natural beauty, feel and aroma of this timeless material. There are many benefits to installing hardwood floors in your home: it is an environmentally friendly choice, it’s hypoallergenic and helps to keep indoor air clean. In addition to those, it creates a sense of elegance and warmth and adds a feeling of spaciousness to your rooms. Unlike carpet, it will not trap dirt and dust making cleaning and maintenance much easier.
Laminate
Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring material that looks like real wood. Unlike hardwood floors that require the use of glue to adhere to the subfloor, laminate planks are held in place by friction and the weight of the board itself.
The core of a laminate floor is usually made of high-density fiberboard (HDF) which can be coated in melamine resin for durability and moisture resistance. The top surface has an image layer, typically of a natural wood grain or stone finish that is imprinted using a digitally enhanced process. A clear protective top wear layer protects the image from scratches, fading, moisture and stains.
Depending on its AC rating, laminate can be used in different rooms of the house and for light to moderate commercial use. Typically, a foam or felt underlayment resides between the laminate and the subfloor. This detaches the boards and reduces the noise and vibration produced by footfall, while also insulating against cold floors and providing a soft feel underfoot.
As an alternative to traditional wood and vinyl tile, laminate floors are more durable and cost effective than natural hard surfaces. They are available in a wide selection of look-alike designs that can emulate popular domestic and exotic wood species, as well as ceramic tile and natural stones like slate, granite, and travertine.
When deciding on a look for your laminate floor, consider the color and texture of your furniture, walls and other features. Light and medium colors brighten a room, while darker and richer shades create an airier feeling. If your laminate has a textured surface, be careful about placing sharp or pointed furniture pieces on it. This may cause the textured surface to crack or scratch.
Once you’ve selected the planks that best suit your room, it’s time to start laying them out. Begin laying the planks side by side, leaving a small space between each row. Once you reach the end of a row, fit the cut piece into the tongue-and-groove connection at the edge of the last row and secure with a pull bar. This will prevent water from migrating into the joint and damaging your floor.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is a durable, cost-effective option that’s easy to install. It’s also versatile and offers a wide range of design options that mimic the look of stone, tile or wood floors. However, it’s not as water resistant as some other types of flooring and can be prone to damage if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
The first thing to note about vinyl is that it’s a synthetic material made from PVC. During production, a blend of polyvinyl chloride plasticizers is heated and mixed with fillers, stabilizers, pigments and other additives. The materials are then combined to create sheets that are then cut into tiles for installation. Vinyl is available in both square and plank shapes with a range of thicknesses. Some of the thicker varieties are used for commercial flooring as they offer high resistance to tearing, scratching and impact damage.
While vinyl is more resistant to scratches than laminate or wood, it still can be damaged by sharp objects and pets’ claws. It’s not as water resistant as some other flooring, and standing water can seep through to the subfloor if it is left to sit for too long. It’s a good idea to wipe up spills immediately and to use felt pads under furniture legs to protect your vinyl floors from damage.
Vinyl has a soft feel and can be comfortable to stand or walk on. It’s an ideal choice for older adults or people with mobility issues as it’s easier on the joints than hardwood or tile. It’s also easy to clean and relatively inexpensive compared to other floor types.
Vinyl’s ease of installation is a big draw for DIY buffs. It doesn’t require any specialized tools and can be installed in one day for a small room. However, the quality of the subfloor is key to a successful installation. The surface should be free of any cracks or chips. Any unevenness can telegraph through the vinyl and cause an uneven floor that looks bad and can compromise the longevity of your new flooring.
Tile
Tile floors work well in any room of the house, but are especially popular in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms and moisture-prone spaces like mudrooms and laundry rooms. They’re also easy to clean, requiring only sweeping and mopping to keep them looking new.
Tiles come in a range of colors, styles, shapes, and textures. They can create a modern, minimalist feel or complement an old-world or rustic aesthetic. They can also be patterned or printed to make your floor stand out. And with new technologies, tiles now look more natural than ever before, with options for wood-look porcelain and even hardwood-look tile.
Another advantage of tile is that it’s long-lasting and durable. It’s able to resist wear and tear from high traffic, kids, and pets and can hold up to the occasional spill or leak. Plus, it won’t crack or chip as easily as some other types of flooring.
Ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles are often glazed, which protects them from water damage and staining. They’re also made with natural materials and have a wide array of color choices. And while glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most common, there are also glass, metal, wood, and marble options as well.
If you’re looking for greener flooring, a lot of tile choices qualify for LEED certifications as regional materials (MR Credit 5.2) and/or low-emitting materials (EQ Credit 4.3). And because they’re fired in kilns at very high temperatures, they’re one of the few flooring options that doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds or other harmful chemicals.
Because of their durability and easy maintenance, a properly-installed tile floor can last ages, especially when sealed regularly. It’s also hypoallergenic, inhospitable to dust mites, germs, and mold and is often used as a replacement for carpet for people with allergies or asthma. Tiles can be used in commercial and residential applications, including garages, workshops, patios, swimming pools, pool decks, sports courts, gyms, and schools. They can be bonded, grouted, or loose-laid and are available in vinyl, rubber, and plastic tile formats as well. Some of these are interlocking and can be installed without adhesive or mortar, making them suitable for DIYers.