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Are you thinking of installing flooring in a room or throughout your house? First, you must ask a few questions before choosing the right flooring option for each location.
Take a look before at some of the factors you need to consider.
It stands to reason the type of room you will be flooring and the level of usage in that room.
If you’re the type that’s short on time and prefer low-maintenance floors, this will also be a factor.
For example, Bathrooms and kitchens need durable, anti-slip, and water-resistant solutions and wooden floors may not work here.
If a room needs water-resistant flooring, you can use engineered hardwood, but you will need a moisture-resistant underlay.
Suffice it to say - carpets are not an option here.
If you wish to have the same flooring running throughout almost all the main rooms in your house in different parts, you may need flooring that responds to fluctuating temperatures.
Consider the more versatile semi-solid wood flooring option if you want a wooden flooring effect. The semi-solid nature allows it to respond to fluctuating temperatures and moisture levels.
Suppose you need to inject cosiness into a colder climate or part of the house. In that case, carpets are essential- it is often the best option for your den, living room, parlour or bedroom areas that take in occasional traffic and are usually occupied during the colder times of the day.
Carpets can come in different fibres and lengths, not to mention colour and textures. But in general, they will add warmth to your home.
Carpets also provide cushion underfoot, making it a more welcoming space for relaxing.
If you are restoring a period property and need to maintain the vernacular style of your space, then your flooring options will be narrowed down. Go for hardwood or wood-like flooring.
You will also have to source oriental-style rugs and neutral or vintage-styled carpet that ties in with the style of your period home.
Due to the sheer volume of traffic and activity in your room/ household, durability and longevity are crucial factors if your room needs a very hard-wearing floor.
Tiles will be your most hardwearing and water-resistant option for busy, messy areas like bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and utility rooms.
Tiles may get too cold and hard underfoot for our Irish climate bedrooms and living den areas. If you wish to tile the whole house, consider adding a rug or mat, to make it a cozier space.
Tiles also come in various colours and textures, such as ceramic, porcelain, stone, concrete, marble, and granite.
Tiles are the apparent option for the easiest, most hygienic option in a hard-working part of the house like the kitchen. But not all tiles are the same, some are more porous, and some are more dense and hardwearing.
For more hardwearing options that do not crack if impacted by a hard object, go for :
Pets can be very hard on floors, peeing, pooping, scuffing and scratching. A durable floor that is easy to clean and has superior wear resistance is the only way to go. Laminates, tiles or stone and concrete flooring may all pass that test.
If installing underfloor heating, you may want to consider stone, porcelain tiles or even poured concrete. These options will efficiently conduct and retain the heat generated underfoot.
Lastly, your budget will be a crucial factor in the end. Even after you know which type of flooring will be best.
For example, you may decide on wooden flooring, but the type of wooden flooring you choose may still have to adjust to your flooring budget.
An excellent way to calculate the budget is to do a square footage calculation (or the Metric version). Flooring is usually sold by the footage, so do your homework first.
Measure the space you have and break down your budget total by the area you will be covering to make it easier to calculate your likely costs whilst shopping.
This will be a fundamental factor when calculating your likely budget
Some flooring options also require a professional flooring installer, so this will limit your options when choosing a flooring solution.
For example,
Either way, factor in the labour costs of your flooring installation.
If you cannot make up your mind, be sure to get switches or sample pieces to test in your actual home. you will need to see it in context against the other soft furnishings, textures and colour palettes in your home.
Stop by our Flooring section to catch an overview of the supplies and brands available.
There are handy tools, underlay and materials for self-installation of various types of flooring. We also supply easy-to-install DIY Wood or Wood Effect flooring solutions.