If you’re planning to replace your flooring, consider your budget first. Then consider style and installation options, such as whether or not you’ll be able to lay the new floor on a DIY basis.
Tile floors are easy to maintain and can be laid in a variety of patterns and colors. They are also slip-resistant and won’t harbor mildew. Click https://thompsonandboys.com/ for more details.
One of the most traditional flooring materials, hardwood floors add natural beauty and value to your home. Hardwood floors come in a wide range of styles, finishes, and colors that complement many decor choices. Wood is a natural choice for floors and is durable, naturally renewable, and easy to clean.
There are two types of wood flooring: solid and engineered. Solid wood floors are made from planks that are milled from a single piece of timber. The timber is kiln or air dried before it’s sawed into the desired sizes and shapes for your floor. The solid wood can then be finished at the factory, or it can be installed “unfinished” and finished later on site.
Solid wood flooring is usually more expensive than engineered wood floors, but it’s important to consider the cost of installation as well. You will also pay for the extra labor to stain or finish your wood flooring after it is installed.
The best hardwood floors are made from species that are naturally durable. Oak, maple and cherry are among the most popular hardwood options. More exotic species of wood such as hickory, brazilian cherry and mahogany are also available, but they tend to be more costly than domestic hardwoods.
When comparing the durability of different species of wood, you should also consider the Janka scale (a rating system used to determine how hard a particular hardwood is). The harder a wood is, the higher it will rank on the scale.
Most varieties of hardwood can be refinished a number of times. Refinishing involves sanding the surface of the floor to remove dents and scratches, then applying a new coat of stain or paint. It’s important to use a quality stain or paint, and the finish should be water resistant to help protect the floor from moisture damage.
The thickness of the hardwood veneer is also a factor in the price and durability of your hardwood flooring. A thicker layer of veneer is more expensive, but it can be refinished more times, potentially adding decades to the lifespan of your hardwood floor.
Tile
Tile is a durable flooring option that can hold up to the heavy foot traffic and humidity of living rooms and kitchens. The durability of tile means that it is also well suited for children’s play areas and can handle the occasional mud or pet mess. With a wide variety of styles, colors and textures available, tile can add a luxurious touch to any room.
Tile floors can be as sleek and modern as a marble countertop or as rustic as a wood-look floor with the added benefit of being easy to clean, slip-resistant and stain-proof. The varying colors and styles of tile flooring allow homeowners to create the unique look they want for their homes, with options from a linen-textured sage green to a rich blue hue or a metallic sheen.
When laying a new tile floor, the first step is to prepare the area by applying a layer of backer board that must be dry and free of any cracks or chips. After the backer board is down, the tiles are laid with thin-set mortar. Thin-set is available in a range of formulations, from traditional cement mixed with pigment to latex formulas. Each type handles a different aspect of the installation, so it is important to use the type recommended by the tile manufacturer.
There are three basic types of tile: porcelain, ceramic and stone. Porcelain tiles are manufactured from denser clay and fired at a higher temperature than ceramic tiles, which makes them more durable. Ceramic tiles are glazed, making them easy to clean and offering a range of color and design choices. Stone tiles can be glazed or unglazed and come in a number of varying hues and textures, from the smooth sheen of granite to the textured surface of onyx.
When it comes to tiling, the most common method is to lay out the first four tiles around the center of the room with spacers between them. This will ensure that all the tiles will be evenly aligned and placed properly as they are installed. Once the tiles are set, the remaining mortar should be allowed to harden before grouting. It is important not to add water to the tiles or mortar once it starts to harden, as this will weaken the bond and affect how well the tiles will stand up over time.
Vinyl
When some people hear the word “vinyl” they think of the sheet/roll flooring their Mom used to have in their kitchen or the stick down tiles they put down in college. While modern vinyl flooring does not look anything like the sheets and tiles of the past, it is still a synthetic option designed to mimic natural materials at a typically lower price point.
Sheet vinyl is made of a plastic known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and contains additives such as stabilizers, lubricants, fillers and pigments to improve durability and function. The chemicals in PVC are a concern as they can release volatile organic compounds during manufacturing, which can then leach into the environment or cause harm to human health when inhaled or ingested. Some of these volatile organic compounds are carcinogenic or cause other health problems when absorbed into the body.
Vinyl is also a non-sustainable option for flooring as it uses large amounts of natural resources such as oil and wood. In addition, the production of vinyl is energy intensive and emits greenhouse gases. While many manufacturers offer low-VOC versions of this type of flooring, ventilation is often not effective in reducing levels of VOCs to acceptable limits.
Luxury vinyl plank, abbreviated as LVP, is a relatively new floor covering option that seeks to imitate the appearance of natural flooring options such as wood and tile. Most LVP products are sold in plank format to imitate wood or tile flooring, but some are available in a sheet style to imitate stone flooring. LVP is more durable than traditional vinyl and can be installed in areas of the home that require moisture resistance, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms.
In addition to being more durable and waterproof than most laminate flooring, LVT is also easy to clean and maintain. This type of flooring can be mopped or vacuumed with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which significantly reduces the amount of dirt and allergens that is released into the environment. While it is not as environmentally friendly as reclaimed hardwood or recycled content laminate, this type of flooring is a good choice for homeowners who want to minimize their environmental impact.
Carpet
Carpet is a popular flooring option that adds warmth and comfort to any room. It offers a range of benefits including noise reduction, thermal resistance, and stain resistance. However, it is important to remember that carpet does require more maintenance than other flooring options like hardwood and tile.
When selecting a carpet for your home, it is important to consider the fiber type, face weight, twist (if applicable), and pile density. A quality carpet should have a minimum face weight of 34-40 ounces and a twist level of 5 or more. It is also important to choose a durable pad underlayment that will extend the life of your carpet.
A carpet’s thickness helps reduce the impact of footfalls and furniture dings on the floor. This will keep your floors looking new for longer, and it can also help to save energy.
Additionally, carpets provide an excellent acoustic barrier to the sound from your footsteps, which can make rooms in your home quieter. This can be especially helpful in reducing noise pollution from loud televisions or computer speakers, as well as noise that can travel between rooms in your home.
Another benefit of choosing carpet for your home is that it can reduce the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. These are harmful gases that can cause health problems, so it’s important to look for low-VOC carpet flooring if you want to protect your family’s health.
Allergens like mildew and dust mites thrive on carpet, so if you suffer from respiratory or allergy issues, you may want to opt for a harder flooring material like hardwood or tile instead of carpet. However, you can find plenty of carpets that are hypoallergenic and low-VOC to ensure a comfortable and healthy living space for all of your family members.
Although carpet is a great choice for many rooms in your home, it’s not recommended for high-traffic areas, as it tends to wear out and show dirt more easily than other flooring materials. It’s also important to regularly vacuum and clean your carpet to ensure that it stays fresh and free of stains.
