When choosing the right flooring for your home you are tackled with many decisions and this can make it difficult for you to choose the right floor.  There are many important factors that must be taken into consideration when choosing flooring as it is an important decision that shouldn’t be overlooked. When exploring flooring options, minor details can be missed and can cause you to make the wrong decision.

Here are some of the key factors to look into when making your next flooring purchase…

Where?

Where in your home are the floors being installed? is the question you should ask yourself. The kitchen? Bathroom? Bedroom?  Each area in your home has its own needs when it comes to flooring and this is what will help you to choose the flooring best fits your area. Flooring in washrooms are usually prone to humidity and water, so a water resistant and strong/durable flooring would be the best pick. Hallways or doorways are usually high traffic areas that would require a strong and scratch resistant floor. In order to choose the right floor for the right location you’ll need to do a bit of research on your different floor types.

Who?

Although it may not seem quite important, it is crucial to consider who will be taking a step on your floors. Children can unknowingly damage wood by denting it with toys or scratch the wood, while running around. You must choose a strong and scratch resistant flooring option such as solid wood floors when it comes to children. If there are pets in the house, same case as with the children. Durable and strong wood is the way to go as pets can easily damage wood if you don’t pick the right one.

What?

What are you willing to pay and what is it you want?

There are many different flooring options and some can be more pricey than others so you really have to consider your budget and your needs and wants. If you want a real hardwood look but it is a bit pricey you can consider laminate. If you want an even cheaper option vinyl is the perfect choice. Besides just the flooring, installation comes in play. If you are considering installation you should take a look at your budget and if considering a duty project you can soave some bucks if you are on a tight budget DIY projects are always an option. Along with your budget and pricing you must also make sure the floor fulfills your needs and completes the look you want.

Why?

Why is it that you want some new floors? Do the old ones need improvement? Are you going for a new look?  When choosing flooring, take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of your flooring choices to see which ones the perfect choice. Whether you are looking for something low maintenance, scratch and water resisting, something that adds an antique feel or maybe something that’s soft or tough. These are things you should pay close attention. After taking a look at your floors strengths and weaknesses and what you need from your floors you will be able to find a floor that is comfortable and pleasing to the eye.

Choosing the right flooring isn’t an easy decision, but it can be. Taking a closer look at your floors can ensure you don’t make any mistake in choosing your floor. Besides just the look of your floor you must consider whether the floor is comfortable, has long term advantages or disadvantages and if it strong enough for your workspace. Considering things like who, what, where and why can give you everything you need to know about your flooring and help you make the right choice.

Laminate, Solid wood and Vinyl are all flooring options that require little maintenance but little maintenance does not mean no maintenance. Floors might not need to be cleaned on the daily but occasionally, they do require some love…You know a brush of a mop and a few strokes of a broom.

Flooring can last up to years but only if it is properly taken care of and although over years floors can loose their shine, correct maintenance can help your floors look as good as new.

Here is everything you need to know on how to take good care of your floors…

1. Vacuum or sweep your floors at least once a week or every day. This will help remove dirt and sharp objects such as pebbles that could damage your floors.
2. When mopping avoid dampening your mop too much as excessive water can damage floors. Floors should only be mopped once in a month and microfibre mops are the best especially for hardwood.
3. Liquids can seap into the seams of floorboards and can easily damage wood. Spills must be wiped up immediately.
4. Walking with shoes on floors is perfectly fine. However, high heels are sharp edged shoes can scratch floors especially wood and shouldn’t be worn on floors.
5. Furniture can scratch floors if moved around a lot as well as sharp legs on chairs and sofas can scratch or dent floors. Felt pads should be placed on furniture legs to prevent damage.
6. Mats should be placed under furniture, high traffic areas and under water bowls in order to help prevent damage to floors. Mats can also help trap dust and debris.
7. If your hardwood floors are looking a bit dull, they can be refinished easily. Hardwood should be refinished at least every 5 years.
8. Only floor cleaners should be used on flooring as other substances can contain acids that can damage floor finishes.
9. If hardwood is damaged;scratched or dented, they can be sanded. Wood should be sanded every 7-10 years.

As most know already, hardwood is an excellent flooring choice for any room or property. Hardwood is durable and adds a touch of class to any room in your house.Hardwood is strong, scratch resistant, easy to clean/maintain and works as an insulator.  However, besides hardwoods many benefits for homeowners and their families, harwood can also benefit home buyers and sellers.

Hardwood is considered a luxury item in housing and it can increase a home’s value and pricing benefit both home sellers and buyers. In past years statistics have shown that hardwood is proven to increase a house’s value by at least 18%. Hence, hardwood is the easiest option to go to when trying to increase a house’s value for real estate agents.

The Benefits:

1. When renovating your new property, flooring is probably the most affordable option. Rather than picking options like granite countertops, wall to wall carpet and tiles, hardwood is a much beneficial and reasonable option since it is much cheaper and increases home value.
2. Hardwood has many benefits that please home buyers such as easy maintenance. Hardwood is also environmentally friendly and can last up to years. These key advantages  can attract home buyers to a houses with hardwood.
3. Hardwood has a traditional appeal towards home buyers as well as hardwoods elegant and up-scale look is pleasing to home buyers. Hardwood also comes in many different looks and finishes
4. Hardwood flooring is valuable and increases  a house’s overall worth and cost.    

When renovating your new property it is best to stick to hardwood as it will benefit both the home seller and buyer. Hardwood increases a house’s overall resale value and it is very durable and a great flooring choice for any room in your home. Hardwood can be pricey but it’s worth it as it’s value can make a house more precious and up scale. Hardwood is also cheaper than other options and is worth its price, so next time you are renovating your new property hardwood is the way to go!

Picking the right flooring can be a very hard decision for most as there are many things that must be taken into consideration before you make your pick. The decision can be even harder if you are a pet owner. Although it’s important that your choice of flooring meets your needs it must also be on good terms with your pet as flooring can be damaged easily if mistreated by pets.

But no need to fret, here is the ultimate guide to choosing pet friendly flooring…

Non- Glossy is the way to go!

When having a pet in the house you should never choose a glossy floor. Floors with a glossy finish tend to showcase footprints dust and fur/hairs which means lots of cleaning. Whereas, non glossy floors tend to hide away things such as fur and don’t capture your pets footprints. Non- glossy floors also prevent your pets from slipping easily.

Handcrafted

Handcrafted hardwood, create a rustic and rough look which helps to hide away scratches, furs/hairs and dents within the woods grain patterns.Handcrafted hardwood also adds an antique natural look to your home while at the same time keeping your maintenance level on an all time low.

Hardwood – A Pet’s best friend

Vinyl – durable, scratch resistant, washes out sound of pets.

Laminate- durable, long lasting, not easily scratched.

Hardwood- strong/durable, scratch resistant, can be refinished.

Above are the top 3 flooring choices for pet owners; laminate, hardwood and Vinyl. As you can see all of these are great flooring choices for pet owners but hardwood would probably be your best pick.. Hardwood comes in many looks and finishes and has excellent durability so both you and your can be satisfied.  

Although strong and durable floors are said to last a lifetime, in order for this to happen it is important for them to be taken care and both you and your pet are responsible for this.

Now that you’ve taken a look at your different pet friendly flooring options it is time to look over ways to keep your wood safe from your pets.

1. While running around pets can easily scratch wood with sharp nails so it is important  you cut your pet’s nails occasionally to prevent scratches and dents.
2. Clean up urine or any dirt tracked in by you pet as soon as you can. Acid in urine can damage wood if left uncleaned for a certain period of time.
3. Water can easily damage wood if it isn’t wiped up quickly. Therefore, mats should be placed underneath water bowls and litter boxes.

Choosing the right flooring for your bedroom is a very important decision. When choosing flooring for your bedroom you need to make sure it’s comfortable as it’s the first thing you’ll feel in the morning after getting out of bed. You also need to make sure the flooring is attractive and classy and fits in well with your bedroom decor.  

Here are 5 of the best flooring options for a bedroom…

Hardwood

Hardwood is a very popular flooring option when it comes to almost any place in your home but is especially great for bedrooms. Hardwood floors provide a soft and warm feel under the foot as they are great insulators. Along with being comfortable, hardwood enhances the look of almost any place in your home. Hardwood provides a natural and classy look to a bedroom. Also, hardwood can help to compliment decor in a bedroom.  Overall, hardwood can make a bedroom appear more pleasing to the eye. However, besides how hardwood feels under your foot or looks  it is also very durable and easy to maintain/clean and if properly taken care of , it can last for ages.

Vinyl

Vinyl is the perfect  flooring option for those of us who like to switch up the looks of our bedroom on the regular. Vinyl is a very  durable and affordable flooring option. It is easy to install and if it’s time for you to make another bedroom switch you can easily remove it and install a new color and that too for a good price. Vinyl is especially great for large bedrooms with washrooms, as it is water resistant and is fairly scratch resistant.

Laminate

Laminate is a popular and excellent flooring option for your bedroom as it can imitate the look of an expensive hardwood but for a cheaper price. Laminate comes in many colors and it can add a classy feel to a room like that of hardwood. Laminate Is also very comfortable and easy to clean. Lastly laminate is scratch resistant, so don’t worry too much about pets getting into your room.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is very similar to hardwood except it’s made of a type of grass and it is much stronger and durable than solid wood making it perfect for bedrooms. Also, it adds warmth as it works as an insulator. Bamboo flooring is highly scratch resistant and if scratched it can easily be refinished as well as it requires very little maintenance. The floor can simply be wiped down with a damp mop. Overall bamboo flooring would be a great for a room full of kids or pets because it’s durability.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood consists of a core of plywood with a top layer of hardwood veneer and just like bamboo flooring is much more durable than hardwood. Engineered wood has good moisture control and is water resistant making it good for  a bedroom with a washroom. The only downside to engineered is it can be a bit pricey but as long as long as you choose the right company  that won’t be an issue.

Now after learning about the 5 best flooring options for your bedroom it is time to consider which one matches your needs and is perfect for your home and the people in it.

Whether you are considering hardwood or laminate for your new  washroom, bedroom, office or even your new home, both flooring types can have their pros and cons.

As a customer unfamiliar with flooring, walking into a store might be overwhelming and you may be confused at what exactly it is you’re looking at. Hardwood? Laminate? or maybe it’s…Vinyl?

These may be questions picking at your head while making your next flooring decision but have no fear because here is everything you need to know about hardwood and laminate.

Laminate

Laminate is a multi layer synthetic flooring that is designed to imitate the look of hardwood or stone and this is where the phrase “Looks can be deceiving” comes in play. Laminate may look like the real thing but it’s not.  However, it’s as close as it gets if you can’t afford the real thing and has many benefits. Laminate is made up of layers of fiberboard with a photographic layer placed on top. Now let’s take a closer look at the PROS and CONS of Laminate.

PROS:

• Laminate is easy to maintain and clean. Spills and stains can be wiped away in a second.
• Laminate consists of an excess layer that protects the photographic layer and this makes it near to impossible for laminate to dent or be scratched.
• Laminate can create a look of hardwood and stone if that’s the look you are going for.   
• Laminate is fairly easy to install.
• Laminate is very cost efficient.
• Laminate can last up to years if properly taken care of.

CONS:

• Excessive water can seep into the seams of the boards but this isn’t a problem as long as the laminate floor aren’t in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Laminate cannot be refinished if damaged, planks must be replaced.
• Laminate might create the look of real wood but…it’s not

Hardwood

Hardwood is the real deal, no plywood, no fiberboard, just pure 100% solid wood.  

There are many types of hardwood floors as well as hardwood flooring comes in many colors and lengths.

PROS:

• Hardwood has an attractive and classy look which enhances the look of almost  any room.
• Hardwood also known as… “Wood that’ll last a lifetime”. Hardwood is your friend to stay as long as you be nice.
• If scratched or dented there’s no need to worry as Hardwood can be sanded and refinished.
• Hardwood can also increases a house’s resale value.
• Hardwood is also easy to maintain and clean as it doesn’t trap dust.

CONS:

• Hardwood can be a bit pricey but if you’re looking for durability then it’s definitely worth it.
• Hardwood is prone to leakages so spills need to be wiped up fast.
• If not taken care of properly will require tons of refinishing.
• If not properly installed on an even surface can be a bit noisy.

As you can see both Laminate and Hardwood can have advantages and disadvantages as all flooring does. However, depending on your flooring needs one might be a better option than the other.

Flooring might not seem quite important when it comes to business and is usually overlooked but believe it or not no matter how small or large your office space, flooring can greatly impact your business.

Whether it has a negative or positive impact depends entirely on the choice of flooring in contrast to your business. When it comes to office flooring there are many options; carpet, vinyl, laminate and solid wood floors.

Carpet

In the past carpet may have been a common flooring choice for office buildings. However, in recent years business owners have been gearing toward more classy and easy maintenance flooring choices such as Vinyl, Laminate and Solid Hardwood Floors.

Don’t get me wrong Carpet can have its perks like being noise resistant, cost effective as well as it comes in many different designs and styles but at the same time carpet calls for a lot of maintenance. As well as it can be especially vulnerable when it comes to stains and spills so when picking carpet there are many things that must be taken into consideration in order to make your investment worthwhile.

Vinyl

Vinyl may not have been quite popular in the past but it’s making a comeback and that too better than ever. Vinyl flooring is available in several textures, colors and sizes. Vinyl being resistant to scratches makes it the perfect choice for widely used office spaces. Vinyl also proves to be very convenient for office spaces as it is water resistant, easy to maintain as stains can be removed easily.

The only downside to Vinyl is it can be dented or scratched easily. However in that case the dented plank can easily be replaced. Therefore Vinyl flooring can be quite advantageable and causes very few issues.

Laminate

Laminate being cost efficient and having its many benefits such as requiring low maintenance and its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic makes it an excellent choice for commercial use buildings.

One of the major cons of Laminate is that it must be replaced if damaged rather than refinished but Laminate, being highly scratch resistant helps avoid this issue.

When choosing Laminate smaller office buildings usually work best but Laminate is suitable for almost any office building.

Hardwood

Hardwood is almost perfect for any office building. Hardwood has many advantages such as improving the looks of almost any office space as well as it is strong and durable, easy to clean and maintain and lastly instead of being replaced it can simply be refinished.

Although hardwood ha its many benefits, going for a fancy look like hardwood can be pricey but not unless you find the right store with the right deals. Overall hardwood flooring works for every business no matter office size or the usage of the space.

In order find the right flooring for your business you must really consider the advantages and alongside the disadvantages of your flooring options. and see if they work for your office space and  the people in it. Every area in your building has its own needs and picking the right flooring mainly depends on who and what. Who being, the people in your workspace and what being the everyday activities  going on in your building.