Saturday, 12 February 2011

Your Comprehensive Guide To Types Of Flooring

By Aiden Mundt


Let's say you're a happy couple who just bought your first house. Everything's going according to plan from the colors for each room to the furniture. But for some reason you get hung up on picking the type of replacement flooring. Your spouse wants to get carpet but you think about the kids' allergies. You suggest hardwood floors but aren't sure your hypoallergenic dogs won't claw the floor away. Plus there's the budget to consider. Here's the thing. You have to settle on something but aren't sure what. To help with that here's some frequently asked questions you might find useful.

What kind of flooring is good to use in the kitchen?

The ideal flooring for the kitchen is tiles. You don't need any special cleaner to clean it up. Just mop up the mess and you're done. The only drawback is you have to handle glassware carefully unless you're good at gluing mugs back together.

What's a good flooring option for houses with pets?

Your best choice is laminate floor tiles. They are scratch and claw resistant plus you can choose from an array of designs. Want to have marble floors that are only a fraction of the price? Laminate flooring can do that. It's easy to install and replace if needed. Unlike carpet, you don't have to take out the whole thing. Just take out the broken piece.

What type of flooring is easily cleaned?

The easiest type of flooring to clean would be tile and laminate. You don't have to use special products and solutions. Just wipe off or mop up the mess after it happens whether it's your pet's accident, stains or spills. It doesn't leave a mark. Tile and laminate flooring gives a whole new meaning to clean.

How much does the average flooring cost?

The prices will vary on the size of the area you want it installed and they type of flooring. To ball park it for your hardwood flooring may run about $5 per square foot. It will last up to 25 years with proper care. For decent carpeting installed think $2 -$4 a square foot. This will last about six to eight years with proper care. Lastly, tile or stone flooring costs around $2-$8 but can last a lifetime if properly cared for.

What is the best vacuum cleaner for laminate flooring?

Rather than uprights, use canister vacuum cleaners when it comes to floors. They're easy to use and control whether you want to go around and under tables. You'll want to use the parquet floor brush. Aside from cleaning, it will leave your floor shiny and bright.

What kind of flooring is best for the basement?

As we all know, basements are often dark and damp. Unless you do a finished basement don't expect that to change much. Laminate flooring is not the best option for basements. You might want to look at vinyl tiles. They aren't bothered by the damp and are easier to clean up should water seep in or your sump pump fail.

What type of flooring has the least maintenance?

Your options are laminate or tile flooring. They're both easy to clean and maintain. Although there are some little kinks like scratches for laminates and grout for tiles. These can be fixed with some oxygen bleach for tiles and easy replacement for laminates.

If you're still confused, you can ask your local floor retailer for helpful suggestions. After that you can have an installer do it for you but be warned, flooring is not a cheap investment. Yet done correctly you won't regret it and will soon forget the cost.




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