Is your home looking a bit drab and you feel it’s time for a revamp? Maybe it is just one room that is letting the rest of the house down.
Often a coat of paint or a deep spring clean can do the job. However, if you have some money to spend, a new floor covering can change the look or the atmosphere of a room instantly. There is no need to replace like for like. Go to any DIY superstore and you are spoiled for choice with the vast range of high-tech flooring solutions out there.
If you are in need of flooring specialists, Ward Flooring is amongst many other experts in this field.
In this article we will talk about my top five floor coverings.
Tiles
Moisture is a problem, mainly in kitchens and bathrooms. It is important we protect the fabric of our buildings as well as we can, and tiles are an excellent solution. In a myriad of shapes and sizes, tiles are robust and functional. You may need to consider the structure of the floor you are laying them on, however. Tiles cannot be laid directly onto floorboards. If your bathroom has a wooden floor you should first put down a layer of moisture resistant material that comes in sheets and can be cut to size.
Vinyl
Vinyl is leaps and bounds ahead of the old linoleum that we remember from our childhood. It has had a resurgence in popularity over the last decade, and is now available in many modern designs and exciting colours. This type of flooring is good in bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms. Vinyl can be sealed around the skirting board with silicone in a wet room. It is not as durable as tiles, but does a good job, can be laid by anyone, and is reasonably priced.
Carpet
Still a firm favourite type of flooring for living rooms and bedrooms across the country. Carpet says comfort and warmth. There are many showrooms with thousands of carpet samples to choose from, so making your choice could be the most difficult issue. Carpet will be around forever.
Laminate
Laminate flooring, however, has become one of the top products of the decade. It is relatively easy to install by the enthusiastic amateur. The picture above demonstrates the variation of products. We all think of imitation wood effects, however, as you can see, laminate tile effects are a top idea. Tiles can tend to be cold unless you are lucky enough to have underfloor heating. Laminate tiles solve this problem. As with all laminates, a layer of insulation can be laid first so you feet stay cosy and warm.
Natural
Sanding your floorboards and varnishing them was a big thing in the ‘90s thanks to programs like Changing Rooms. However, people soon learned that it was noisy, the boards scratched easily, and allowed spiders and other creepy crawlies to make a comfortable home for themselves in the gaps around skirting boards etc.
I hope this article has given you pause for thought and stirred your imagination. Renovating is great fun. It needn’t be expensive but if you love top quality products, you must be prepared to pay for them. It is worth it, though, if you can. So get your tool out and rip that old flooring up before you change your mind. Good luck.