subject: Varied Choices In Flooring, Carpeting And Rugs [print this page] All types of residential units, from grand homes to townhouses, condominium units or apartments, need to have appropriate flooring, carpets and rugs. Any homeowner can achieve any look for any theme with the right flooring, carpets and rugs that are complementary to the chosen interior design. It is even possible to change a look even without touching athe paint or furnishing of a room but by merely switching to new flooring, carpets and rugs. It is very important, however, to match them not only with the aesthetic look but also with the required function of a room. If you happen to choose the wrong flooring or carpets and rugs, you could actually spoil the appearance and utility of the room. There are so many choices, though, and making a decision can sometimes be difficult. It is advisable to ask for assistance from experts on the matter.
With the varied options on hand for flooring the most widely known are hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring.
If you want hardwood flooring you can opt for either solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring can be bought in the form of either strips or planks which have to be sanded before they are stained. Staining is the means of customizing the look based on the shade preferred by the customer. Engineered hardwood flooring comes in the form of several layers of wood fused and laminated. Whether you have opted for solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring, it will need proper installation and sealing. This way, your flooring is protected from staining due to spills. Maintenance for hardwood flooring is easy with regular mopping and vacuuming.
If you want tile flooring you can opt for natural stone, ceramic mosaic, glass or metal tiles.
If you opt for natural stone tile flooring, you can pick from among granite, slate, marble and limestone tiles. Granite tiles are the strongest and most dense. They are also resistant to moisture and bacterial growth and are therefore best used in kitchens and high traffic zones. Slate tiles are also strong and have the additional advantage of being slip resistant even when they are wet. They are therefore best for pool sides and bathrooms. Marble tiles, in contrast, are quite slippery and are recommended for areas with low traffic. Limestone tiles are the softest and are mostly used as accent pieces.
If you want vinyl flooring you can opt for no-wax vinyl, urethane vinyl or enhanced urethane vinyl. The best of the three is enhanced urethane vinyl flooring because it resists moisture and harsh household chemicals to the extent that it can be used even in bathrooms. It also requires low maintenance, simply needing sweeping and mopping. There is a large variety of designs and colors available for vinyl flooring, including realistic stone and hardwood flooring look alikes.
If you want laminate flooring you can opt for any design or color you want, including those that look exactly like natural stone or hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring is much more affordable than natural stone or hardwood flooring, though, and is even more durable. Laminate flooring also resists moisture, warping, staining, scratching and fading.
To replace or to complement your flooring you can use carpeting. There are cut pile, loop pile and cut & loop pile carpets available in various styles like broadloom carpets and wool berbers.
You could also opt to layer rugs on your flooring or carpeting. There are choices such as runner rugs, area rugs and round rugs. For an elegant look, Oriental rugs are favored.
Carpet One Floor & Home will be able to assist you in choosing the right flooring, carpets or rugs for your home.
