Flooring Ideas for Renovations

If you are looking to renovate, flooring may be on your agenda for your new home. If it is, there are so many options out there that it’s definitely a good idea to get a handle on what these options are, and what the relative benefits and disadvantages each brings. Yes, it’s about look, but good flooring should also be about so much more. Here are some of the possibilities, along with the benefits the bring.

Hardwood

It’s a classic, and it fits into nearly every situation, no matter what your décor or style you are aiming for. However, the downsides to hardwood is that it can really only be fitted by professionals; it’s never cheap and it can get damaged, so it doesn’t have the lifespan of some of the other options on this list. That’s not to say that it isn’t durable, but it won’t last a lifetime either.

Tile

Another crowd-pleaser, tile flooring is a classic style and its greatest benefit is that it’s usually affordable. In fact, tiling comes in such a range of prices that you could spend anything from $10 to $100 per tile, depending on your budget and what you want to achieve with the finished look. Tiling can also be laid by competent DIY enthusiasts, so it can save you on fitting expenses, but you may end up looking at a wonky tile for the foreseeable future if it goes awry. It’s waterproof, which is a bonus, but tiles can get chipped pretty easily too, so that is something to consider. Of course there are so many different colors and textures you can really get the look you are going for, that perhaps you wouldn’t be able to achieve with some of the other options on this list, but perhaps the greatest drawback of tiling it that it is invariably cold, and for that reason it is popular in warmer climates. You can implement tools such as tile warmers, or underfloor heating, but that’s your savings gone, as these will inevitably eat into your finances for a long time to come.

Carpet

Carpet divides people: you either love it or you hate it. Carpet does tend to be more popular in colder climates because of the warmth it undoubtedly provides to a room, and it has comfort too. Many will talk of the luxury of stepping out of bed in the morning to the feel of carpet under your bare feet, and for this reason elaborate carpets are often found in hotel penthouses which aim for this higher degree of comfort. But like tiles, carpets come in all manner of variations and prices, so there is an option for everything. The material can change greatly, as can the color and texture, so picking out the right carpet can often be a time-consuming task. The negatives to carpets are clear, however. Firstly, they stain easily. There are effective stain-removal products on the market, but they won’t effectively remove every stain, and so your carpet can become to resemble a patchwork quilt after a period of time. The second disadvantage, and perhaps the one which those who dislike the product most often cite, is that they are perhaps not the most hygienic option available. Regular vacuuming is essential, but even this will not remove every piece of dirt every single time. And if you have pets, carpets love clinging on to animal hair, which can be a real negative for those who suffer from allergies. Dust mites also love living in carpets too.

“Carpets are divisive, to you can rule carpets in or out pretty quickly depending on where you stand. I can usually tell by a look on a client’s face whether it’s a good option or not,” states Jean Leclerc, a renovation expert at Academized and Paperfellows.

Vinyl matting

We are not talking about records, we are talking about that staple of bathrooms around the world: vinyl matting. Prices can vary but generally it’s a cheap option, and it’s hygienic too as it’s easy to clean and it’s obviously waterproof: hence the popularity in washrooms. It may not be the most glamorous type of flooring on the market, but for bathrooms and even kitchens that are going to see a lot of action, they are a great and classic option.

Rubber

Not as common as some of the other options on this list, but rubber flooring has two distinct benefits. The first is that it is relatively soundproof, which is something to consider in apartments, for example. The second benefit is that it obviously has a lot of give in it, so it’s great for families with small children who are prone to falling over.

Plywood

A nice, cheap alternative to hardwood flooring is plywood. As well as cost-effective, it’s surprisingly durable. For an old-fashioned rustic farmhouse feel, plywood is a great option, but it’s clearly not for everyone.

Stone

Stone is the rich person’s alternative to vinyl in the bathroom or kitchen. OK, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but it is certainly not the most cost-effective option on this list.

“It’s authentic and gives a great old-fashioned feel, which is why it’s popular in vintage and rural hotels, so stone could be a great option if you want something a little original and your budget is not so tight,” recommends Teresa Gremio, a design writer at AustralianHelp and Big Assignments.

There are other options too, but this evaluation of some of the most classic flooring styles can set you up for your big decision.

Author bio: Chloe Bennet is an interior design guru and marketer. Chloe develops content marketing campaigns at Dissertation Help UK and Write My Essays Online services. She helps with internal communication there, too. Also, Chloe teaches at Essayroo website.