How To Choose A Floor

As you renovate your home, one thing to consider is choosing your ideal and desired flooring. This is easier said than done, since there are so many options around. However, the following guide will help you to  find your ideal flooring for your lifestyle. Here are some common questions to consider when choosing your flooring.

1. How much foot traffic will your floors have to withstand?

Taking into account your home’s needs while purchasing your floor will not only save cost, but also add functionality and comfortability to your home.

Will you be hosting a lot of guests for parties or gatherings?

If your living room will be a weekly venue for entertainment, then the floors should withstand high foot traffic.

2. Where am I installing the floor?

This is an important question to note when installing a floor. 

Obviously, when choosing flooring for your kitchen, water resistance must be taken into account. In a living room or bedroom, however, it would be more ideal to have a comfortable and warm flooring material.

3. Who will be living in the home?

The type of floor can be important for the safety and comfort of your home to a range of family members. For example, if you have children, slip resistant floors would be ideal to reduce any bruising or injuries as they play around. Likewise for elderly relatives, it would be more ideal for non-slippery surfaces for their safety like vinyl plank flooring. For the furry friends, you might want to invest in more scratch resistant options.

4. How much time am I willing to spend on maintenance?

Natural hardwood or bamboo flooring requires more diligence, especially in regards to moisture when cleaning. Whilst they are the most beautiful options, the maintenance requires more care.  On the other hand, if you lead a busy lifestyle, an easy-to-clean synthetic material like laminate or hybrid would be more tailored for your lifestyle.

5. How long do I want my floors to last?

Flooring is a long term investment. Of course, an ideal floor would last a very long time, so be willing to invest in a more expensive option. It really is worth it in the end. For example, carpet usually lasts 10 years before it is recommended for replacement. On the other hand, hard flooring, with the right maintenance, will last more than 25 years. In fact, solid timber flooring can last up to a lifetime with sanding and polishing every decade. 

However, if you do have children and pets who love to tumble around, you may tailor your floors to your children’s interests or your own interests with affordable flooring so you can replace them another time.

 6. What’s the reason for installing new floors?

Whether it’s the age catching up to your floors from many years of use or a new interior design trend taking over, flooring is much more affordable in the 21st century thanks to technology advancements. Furthermore, investing into hardwood timber flooring can push up your property prices.

Popular Flooring Types Based on Lifestyle

The type of flooring you choose really depends on your lifestyle and its needs. Take a look into what flooring would be ideal for you.

Flooring for Pet Owners

As a pet owner, you personally know about your flooring or any other items in your house that have been subject to pet scratches or damages. Therefore, it would be wise as a pet owner to invest in a durable floor that can withstand the rough and tumble of life. Also, a floor that has good traction would be ideal to ensure not only your safety, but also that of your pets. 

Low maintenance, durable high-quality flooring materials would be the ideal option for you as a pet owner.

The following are some flooring material suggestions:

1. Laminate Flooring - Water-resistant laminate flooring is great for pets since it’s easy to clean. In the case of cats or dogs soiling the floors they resist liquid ingress and unwanted waste due to its waterproof nature. Also, if your pets are the outdoor or playful type, laminate flooring can help guard against scratches and muddy paws.
2. Vinyl Plank Flooring - Vinyl flooring offers a non-slippery surface that is both durable and requires little maintenance. It is also very comfortable for your pets due to its softness. Yet vinyl flooring doesn’t trap all the unwanted fur and shedded skin that we always end up finding when we clean the house. Vinyl plank flooring also resists moisture and scratches, whilst reducing the noise of pets around the house.
3. Hybrid Flooring - Hybrid flooring is a flooring option that combines waterproof materials and durability. It is known to be 100% water-proof compared to other floorboards. Hybrid flooring also boasts high durability, having the ability to withstand dents and scratches even in high traffic areas, making it the perfect flooring for your playful furry friends.

Flooring for People with Allergies

The following flooring suggestions are for those who suffer from allergies. If you are, then you probably need easy-to-clean floors with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

1. Hardwood Flooring - Hardwood is an easy-to-clean floor since it doesn’t trap indoor air pollutants. This is perfect if you have allergies, often falling to the common hay fever symptom allergies at home. If you do choose timber flooring, then it would be wise to use a low-VOC finish, ideally a zero-VOC finish, to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
2. Bamboo Flooring - Like hardwood, bamboo is a natural material that does not have synthetic chemical compounds aside from glue which bonds the bamboo together. This means that they do not emit any respiratory irritants that could trigger an allergy.  

Flooring for Families with Kids

As a parent, you know that having a family can be challenging. With kids around, you would do anything to ease your load from all your responsibilities. Well, we’re here to help you in choosing the best flooring for your family. Sit back, relax and enjoy our tour through the types of flooring that are perfect for your family.

1. Laminate Flooring - Laminate flooring is more durable and scratch resistant. It is also moisture and wear and tear-resistant. So laminate floors can remain looking sparkling and appealing despite kids using the flooring space for their activities.
2. Hybrid Flooring - Hybrid flooring is a great option for families due to its waterproof nature. It is also very strong and can be used in all house spaces.
3. Hardwood Flooring - Hardwood flooring can withstand all of your kids' activities due to its sturdiness. It is also moisture-resistant and easy to clean.

 Flooring for Frequent Entertainers and Hosts

As a host, the aesthetically focused approach for your flooring type would be a priority. Yet, a low-maintenance and durable floor would be best due to high foot traffic.

1. Luxury Vinyl Planks - Luxury vinyl provides an extensive range of colours, textures, patterns, size choices and even the look of natural wood, like oak or stone. Vinyl also gives your floors the extra protection with its toughness and it is easy to clean.
2. Laminate Flooring - The look of natural wood, yet not needing to pay the equivalent is the desired approach to homes these days. The natural wood look just flaunts exuberance and liveliness for your home. Laminate floors are also scratch-resistant and dents become no problem as well.
3. Hardwood Floors - Hardwood flooring is the real deal since it is natural timber flooring. With its looks, comes durability and unique and natural wood patterns which mask over scratches and rather celebrate imperfections that no other synthetic material can provide. 

Flooring for the Environmentally Conscious

Investing in natural flooring materials without VOCs is the best option if you are concerned about your flooring’s impact on the environment. If you do want to make an impact on positively helping the environment, consider purchasing higher quality products to get longer lasting flooring so that you ease the strain on the manufacturing of new materials. 

The following are the best options for those who are environmentally conscious:

1. Hardwood Flooring- Reclaimed or recycled hardwood is by far the most eco-friendly choice if you want to make a positive effect on the environment. This is simply because of it being able to last a long time. It also does not have VOCs and contains natural materials. Of course, when finishing off your floors, do use a low or zero-VOC finish.
2. Engineered Hardwood Flooring- This type of wood flooring uses fewer trees for each panel. Therefore, it’s more environmentally friendly than solid hardwood flooring.
3. Bamboo Flooring - Bamboo flooring is a type of flooring that is environmentally friendly, especially in comparison to wooden materials. This is because of bamboo's ability to grow much faster than trees. High quality bamboo ranges do not contain VOCs after manufacturing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of Hard Floor is best?

If you're looking for durability, concrete is the first option for flooring. However, when it comes to aesthetics, concrete doesn't have a vantage point. Perhaps porcelain tiles are a great option for your kitchen and bathroom flooring with their waterproof and durability.

If you're looking for a wooden aesthetic, Engineered hardwood flooring would be a great flooring option. It boasts both the looks, the feel and also durability. Due to its engineered construction, it holds greater stability than that of just solid hardwood flooring and is also very easy to install.

What is the most popular flooring in homes today?

Laminate and hybrid flooring is a popular option, and it's seen in most homes. Whether it be a full coverage, a bedroom flooring or even a small rug, laminate flooring is a great option for all homes. They are both a budget-friendly option and with improved printing technology, they exude vibrant and realistic hardwood patterns to match luxurious aesthetics.

How do I choose a floor colour?

A floor colour has the power to provide atmosphere, aesthetics and the mood of the room. You could claim for a natural, minimalistic feel or opt for a more cosy and clean aesthetic. For example, colours such as beige, white and grey give a modern feel, while darker colours such as black or navy blue. provide a sharper and exude luxury into the home's environment. As you can see, there are many different types of flooring colours that are applicable and versatile to your taste. Floor colour is important in resonating with the wall colour and furniture designs as well, so make sure to take this into account.

What are the 3 types of flooring?

The 3 types of flooring are:

• Timber Flooring - These are one of the only floors made from real "timber" of trees. Timber floors boast the appeal of beautiful natural grains and the warmth of real timber.
• Carpet - Carpets are one of the most popular flooring options out there. They provide a nice underfoot feel, especially for those in high traffic areas. Considering carpet for a new floor is a wise option for the survival of your warmth in the winter.
• Tile - Tiles are the smooth option, due to its luxurious and waterproof characteristic. Tiles also reduce noise and are perfect for your kitchens and bathrooms.

How do I choose a floor design?

The single most important factor for your floor design is to match the design with your personality and style. Honestly, there is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your floor design. Just remember, you are the floor designer.