A Guide to the Different Types of Flooring

Every house should have floors to make it functional. The main goal of the flooring is to maintain a safe and non-slippery moving surface. You have a lot of choices, and they mainly depend on your personal preferences and needs. The size of your family is also important. Other factors include the age of the children you have and whether you own a pet. The climate you live in is also something to look into. That’s why you should consider all of the options and learn as much as you can about every flooring.

Vinyl

vinyl flooring
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Vinyl has become one of the most popular flooring options among homeowners. It’s durable, simple to clean, and you could easily find and buy rolls of vinyl flooring for sale in your local store and even online. This flooring is made from synthetic materials like PVC vinyl, fibreglass, and a plasticiser. Its durability comes from these multiple layers stacked, and it has a strong and thick core that gives you stability and comfort while walking.

The one that manufacturers make nowadays is thicker than the vinyl of the past. This means that it’s oftentimes waterproof and not just water-resistant. It can reach a thickness of 5mm. This is one of the main reasons why it’s so popular. Plus, it’s very versatile. You can place it in the bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, and hallway. The patterns and textures are almost endless. It can mimic the look of stone, wood, ceramics, or tiles.

There are different types of vinyl flooring when it comes to its installation process. Two of the main options are panel flooring and sheet flooring. If you’re looking for something that looks like ceramics or wood, panels will do perfectly. This is a good option for areas with heavy foot traffic and rooms that have heavy amounts of moisture.

If you’re looking for a simple installation or something you can turn into your own DIY project, sheet vinyl is the way to go. Remember not to put vinyl atop vinyl and make the surface as smooth as possible. Don’t put it over carpeting or linoleum as well because it won’t last for more than a few years. Get a strong base, dry it out completely and remove all the cracks or holes.

There are many benefits of having vinyl floors. First, it looks luxurious but it’s very affordable. This is important if you’re doing the whole house. Second, it’s very easy to install and you’ll need just a couple of tools to do it. Third, you have a huge variety of patterns, colours, and designs to choose from. No matter what’s your preference or interior design, there’s something for everyone.

Fourth, it’s very comfortable because of the padded under layering. And finally, it’s stain-resistant, which is a great feature in busy homes with small children and pets. Just wipe the spill with a cloth or paper towel and you’re done. For additional protection, put protection pads on the furniture legs so they won’t scratch the vinyl when moved, or add a covering like fringe floor rugs that can also further elevate the look of your home.

Hardwood

hardwood flooring
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This type of flooring is constructed from solid lengths of wood that manufacturers mill from a single piece of wood. Then they cut and sand it and give it a smooth finished face. The pieces will vary in colour, depth, and texture because they are unfinished, raw wood. However, this is the thing that makes them distinguishable and enhances their beauty. Most of these floorings are pre-finished and you can use them as soon as they’re installed.

You can sometimes find hardwood flooring where you find rolls of vinyl flooring for sale but the best way is to buy from specialised stores that have reliable suppliers and use high-quality hardwood. To install this floor, you’ll need to hire professionals because it’s hard to do it on your own. Hardwood needs time to acclimatise to the space. Otherwise, it may twist or cup under moisture. After installing, the crew should sand, stain, and polish the floors. This gives them the perfect finish.

Marble

Marble is one of the most beautiful natural floors you can find. It’s a product of Mother Nature so you can find it in many different shades, colours, and vein patterns. Always do some research about the seller and watch out for artificially coloured marble. To get a uniform space, buy marble with the same thickness. This is a job for professionals, so don’t try to do it on your own. It requires tools, knowledge, and a lot of heavy lifting.

Because of its porous nature, marble can easily get stained. Even some chemical cleaning products can leave marks and stains. Because of this, you shouldn’t use marble in kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms as you can do with vinyl flooring sheets. Always use non-toxic cleaners, a mop and warm water to get it cleaned. This is the perfect flooring for warmer climates because it keeps you cool. And if you live in colder regions, this is not the flooring for you.

Granite

granit flooring
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Granite is a strong material, a combination of different minerals like silica, quartz, mica, obsidian, and feldspar among others. Because of its beauty and durability, homeowners often use it as flooring and as their countertop material. These slabs can vary in colour, they have a nice depth and subtle distinctive crystals all over them.

You can choose polished, flamed, or brushed granite. This depends on the room you’re covering, the amount of foot traffic and moisture levels. This is a luxurious material that will never lose its colour and boldness. It’s a statement flooring that will brighten up the room. The installation process is very labour-intensive, so it’s better to call a professional team to do the job.

Linoleum

Over the years, linoleum lost some of its popularity, but now it’s having a big comeback. This is due to its improved performance and innovation. It comes in different thicknesses and, depending on this, the price will change. The thicker the linoleum, the pricier it’ll be. This is a fairly flexible material, which means it won’t crack.

It’s also available in many colours and patterns, so you can fit it into many interior designs. It can mimic different materials such as wood, tiles, or ceramics. It has an easy installation process, and you don’t have to call the professionals if you have the right tools. Plus, it has antibacterial properties and it’s eco-friendly.