Transform Your Home With These 5 Flooring Options
When looking at flooring options, there are so many great options, you will want to set aside a good amount of time to look at them all. You also need to ensure that the underlayment is the proper type for the floor you choose. The performance of the flooring depends on the type of underlayment.
Foam, cork, polyethylene film, combo-foam, felt and titanium are some of the types of underlayment available. Some are better at reducing sound that travels through floors. Some are better to use with different types of flooring than others are. You will choose the best underlayment for the type of flooring you choose. Try not to skimp on the underlayment, as you may not be happy with your flooring if the underlayment is not the best for the type of flooring you choose. The underlayment not only affects the way sound travels through the floor, but it also affects the way the floors feel.
Choosing Your Flooring
Before choosing your flooring, think about where you are installing the flooring. If you, your family or guests are prone to spilling things or getting water on the floor you may not want to install hardwood floors in a bathroom or kitchen. While a little bit of water that is wiped up immediately doesn't hurt the floors, if you do not catch the spill right away, water could seep between the joints of the wood. The underlayment and wood could warp and may start to develop mold over time.
~ Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring works with most subfloors. Most vinyl flooring is now glue-less and lies over the subfloor. Instead of sheets, it is now available in planks. Some vinyl flooring looks like hardwood, so if you prefer hardwood in areas that are prone to spills, you could use vinyl flooring with a hardwood look. More advanced vinyl flooring snaps together, which makes it easy for a homeowner to install. Vinyl is durable and easy to maintain.
~ Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring became widely popular in the 1990s. This type of flooring does not include the high maintenance required of wood floors but does provide the great appearance of wood floors. Laminate floors are not attached to the subfloor, they "float" over it. Laminate floors do not use glue. It is easy for a homeowner to isntall this type of flooring as it simply snaps together.
~ Ceramic Tile Flooring
Ceramic tile flooring is most popular in bathrooms and kitchens, though it can be used in any space you want to easily maintain. It is certainly durable, it does not harbor germs and it is easy to clean. There are many colors and styles to choose from and actually may be one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to update a space.
~ Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood flooring is one of the best flooring choices you can make. Hardwood floors never go out of style. This type of flooring should be installed over a wood subfloor. You can choose from many types of wood and stain colors, but natural oak is the most popular and has been for years.
~ Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Because it uses less of the premium hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring is eco-friendly. It can be glued down to other types of subflooring or installed as a floating floor over concrete. Engineered hardwood floors are excellent for heavy traffic areas, so they are a great choice for popular areas in the home such as the kitchen, dining or a game room, and are also great for commercial applications.
Other types of flooring include cork flooring and bamboo flooring. Check your flooring options carefully when building a new home or business, or when you are renovating your home or business. There are many options to give you beautiful, decorative floors with varying degrees of maintenance required to keep the floors looking beautiful.
About the Author
Monte Boddecker relies on finding quality Hagerstown construction supplies and appreciates the service and expert advice at his Hagerstown lumber yard. ProBuild provides these exceptional qualities in the DC metro area, including a Winchester lumber yard to fulfill all your construction needs. Visit http://www.probuild.com/locationDetails?locationId=628 for more information.
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