subject: Which Flooring, Carpeting And Rugs Are Right For Your Needs? [print this page] Flooring or carpets and rugs are basic to most residential units, whether these are grand homes, townhouses, condominium units or apartments. The exact look a homeowner wants can be achieved if the flooring or carpets and rugs are matched to the desired interior design. Sometimes, a different look can be achieved without changing the rooms paint or furnishings by simply changing the flooring or the carpets and rugs. They still have to be appropriate, though, not only to the aesthetics of the room but also to its function. If the wrong flooring or carpets and rugs are chosen, both the look and function of any room could be ruined. It is quite difficult to decide on a choice given the wide array of options available. To determine what fits your needs, you can ask for the advice of experts.
Among the various choices available for flooring the most popular are hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring.
Those who want hardwood flooring can choose either solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring is sold as either strips or planks. These still need sanding. They are then customized through staining based on the shade desired by the customer. Engineered hardwood flooring on the other hand has several layers of laminated wood. Whether you choose solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring, you still have to have it installed and sealed properly. This will protect your flooring from spills and stains. To maintain both types of hardwood flooring, only regular mopping and vacuuming is needed.
Those who want tile flooring can choose from among natural stone, ceramic mosaic, glass or metal tiles.
Those who choose natural stone tile flooring can choose from among granite, slate, marble and limestone. Limestone tiles are quite soft and are often used as accents. Marble tiles are slippery and best for low traffic areas. Slate tiles are quite strong and are slip resistant even when wet. Granite tiles are very strong and dense, moisture resistant and resistant to bacterial growth. They are best for kitchens and areas with high traffic.
Those who choose ceramic tile flooring can choose either glazed or unglazed ceramic tiles. Both are durable. Glass and metal tiles, however, are best used as decorative accents.
Those who want vinyl flooring can choose from among no-wax vinyl, urethane vinyl or enhanced urethane vinyl. No-wax vinyl flooring is the earliest variant with the weakest features. Urethane vinyl flooring resists scuffs and stains better and requires less maintenance. Enhanced urethane vinyl flooring is the latest variant and is resistant to moisture and most household chemicals. Because of its advanced characteristics it can be used even in bathrooms. Simple maintenance requirements are sweeping and mopping. Vinyl flooring is sold in a wide variety of designs and colors, with some of them looking like stone or hardwood flooring.
Those who want laminate flooring will also have a wide variety of designs and colors to choose from. Like vinyl flooring, laminate flooring can look very much like natural stone or hardwood flooring. Ironically, laminate flooring is not just less expensive but is also more durable than natural stone or hardwood flooring. It is resistant to moisture, warping, staining, scratching and fading.
Carpeting can be used to either completely replace or just complement other types of flooring. There are three types of yarn fibers used in carpets, namely, cut pile, loop pile and cut & loop pile. Consumers are often more concerned with the styles of carpets, though, such as broadloom carpets and wool berbers.
Rugs may also be layered over flooring or carpeting. There are runner rugs, area rugs and round rugs. Oriental rugs are a favorite of many.
Whatever flooring, carpets or rugs are right for your needs, Carpet One Floor & Home can help you.
