If you are buying a new property or looking to renovate, there are pros and cons for the different flooring types available.
Here, we take a look at some of them because quality flooring helps make your home a more pleasant place to spend time, though some owners will have trepidation about renovating their floor space.
The other issue when it comes to replacing floors is that many of us are confused about what we should put down and there’s a wider range of choice than just using carpet, the traditional floor covering in the UK. Also, undertaking a project does not have to be arduous or expensive.
With a low budget and very little work, you can turn eventhe ugliest of floors into something more striking and modern.
Indeed, the availability of coverings means there is a lot to consider and, along with carpet, there’s laminate flooring, vinyl, wood, stone tiles, porcelain tiles, and rubber flooring among them.
Along with the growing choice available, flooring manufacturers have become more creative and it may be worth considering hiring a professional floorer who will have the expertise to make your chosen surface an impressive and welcoming sight.
The various types of flooring available
So, in no particular order, let’s have a look at the varioustypes of flooring available.
The pros of and cons of using carpet
Traditionally, everyone’s room in a home was carpeted. And though carpet can be a great choice for a living room, it may not be the best option for a bathroom that may become wet on a regular basis.
There’s also a wide range of styles, sizes, colours, as wellas patterns to choose from to make them a sound choice.
Pros of installing carpet
- They help reduce noise;
- Are an effective heat insulator;
- Deliver a cosy and warm feeling to the look and style of a home;
- Available in a wide range of budgets so you can get a style that is inexpensive to stretch between the walls.
Cons of installing carpet
- Downsides include not being durable and if there is a lot of foot traffic, then they are susceptible to wear and tear;
- They are not the best surface when dealing with spills and stains, particularly if you have youngsters and toddlers in your home, so cleaning them should be a regular operation.
Usually, a carpet should be vacuumed at least once a week and for a pile carpet, the owners should opt for a deep clean every year. This will help prolong their life and prevent them from looking dirty and worn out.
The pros and cons of using laminate
One of the most popular flooring surfaces in UK homes in recent years has been the installation of laminate. There’s a very good reason for this and it’s because laminate flooring is a quality product at affordable pricing levels.
For those who would like a floor that appears to be madefrom quality real wood or stone, then laminate is for you. The product itselfuses a high-quality image which is then glued onto a layer of composite wood tocreate the laminate.
Pros of using laminate flooring
- Installing laminate is much cheaper and durable then installing real hardwood or stone floors;
- Easy to fit since the laminate flooring simply clicks together so you don’t have to hire professionals as you would do for installing a wooden floor;
- You can recreate the elegant look of stone quite easily and it is a good choice for those homes with pets and children that can be easily cleaned with stains and spills resolved with by a damp mop;
- And because of the materials used, laminate is a tough, hard-wearing choice that is resistant to dents, scratches and heavy knocks.
The cons of installing laminate flooring
- Some may find laminate floors fairly cold in winter and quite hard underfoot;
- There may also be issues with humidity, but regular care of your floor will deliver a long life.
The other issue for those interested in fitting laminate floors is that the cheaper products do look fairly cheap, so it’s worth spending slightly more but this depends on where the laminate will be placed – if it’s in a busy part of your home, for example, then you’ll need quality laminate for this purpose.
The pros and cons of installing vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring has been a popular choice in the UK’s homes for many years, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, and is often a cost-effective choice.
However, vinyl has been developed in recent years withparticular advances in the patterns and bright colours and you can buy vinylthat resembles wood. It’s also possible to buy vinyl tiles and sheets,depending on your needs.
The pros of installing vinyl
- Along with being easy to clean, vinyl flooring resists water and will remain warm in winter;
- It’s a hard surface to damage and difficult to stain – a mop should deal easily with any spills.
Depending on the vinyl you choose, a quality vinyl floorcovering can deal easily with heavy use and delivers good floor surface option thatcan last many years.
The cons of installing vinyl
While vinyl will meet the needs of most people, you may findit difficult repairing a small section that has been damaged and to maintainits appearance, you may need to replace the entire floor.
The other options for floor surfaces in your home
We mentioned some of the more popular choices when it comesto covering a floor in your home and here’s a rundown of some of the otherpotential ideas for you.
Rubber flooring
This offers a textured finish and is a child-friendly option that is hygienic, warm underfoot and shock absorbent. Available in bright bold patterns, it’s an ideal choice for family bathrooms and kitchens.
You will need to appreciate that the surface can become slippery when it’s wet, so you should opt for a textured finish and many manufacturers will offer a high slip resistance rating.
There’s also an issue if it becomes damaged because rubber flooring comes as either a single sheet or a tile which is easily replaced, but the sheet may need to be replaced entirely.
Engineered wood flooring
Growing in popularity, engineered wood consists of several layers. The top surface will be a wear layer – this layer will be of higher quality to protect the wood.
This sits above other layers of either plywood or wood and arranged at right angles. It can be pricey for quality engineered wood flooring but it looks attractive and is a great choice for family homes.
Be aware with engineered wood flooring thatyou cannot leave wet towels or mats on the surface and any water should bemopped up immediately. Spillages that are left unattended will spoil thesurface.
Stone flooring
Stone flooring remains a popular choice in homes today since the stone tiles deliver an attractive finish and there’s a wide range of options available.
The cons of stone flooring include the fact that since natural stone can be a porous product, it is probably best to consider limestone or marble tiles.
However, it’s always worth checking to see whether the stone flooring has been treated with a protective sealant to help protect it from wear and water issues.
Ceramic tiles and porcelain
We’ve added these under one heading though they are not the same material. Porcelain consists of dense clay that has been fired for longer and at a much higher temperature than ceramic tiles so it is a less porous and hardy material to work with.
For ceramic tiles, the colour and pattern are usually fired as the surface layer where porcelain tiles will be coloured throughout. The tiles tend to be lightweight and will be uniform in size and are easy to work with.
They’re not only easy to clean, but also resistant to stains and are impervious to water. They are obviously very hard wearing and will deliver years of use even in a busy household.
The cons of porcelain and ceramic tile: beaware that highly polished porcelain can be slippery when wet so are not thebest choice for bathrooms. Remember too that the tiles will need grouting andyou need to maintain this which may not be the best choice for those who wantto live in a low maintenance property.
Essentially, when it comes to the pros and cons of the different flooring types, you will want to be meeting your budget requirements and also the aesthetics of how you want your home to look.
The ongoing maintenance of your chosen surface should also be a consideration but the bottom line is to balance any design or redecoration ideas with the impact that a striking looking floor will bring to the project.