New flooring can transform the look and feel of a room. There are many different types of flooring to choose from to change the look of a room including hardwood, ceramic, vinyl, carpet, laminate and more. Most people believe that changing the floor in their home is a very difficult job, requiring an expensive professional to do it. Fortunately today there are many products and directions that can help you to easily change the floor in your home yourself. Read on to find out more about how to change the floor in your own home.
Tips for Choosing Flooring
If you are looking to make a change to a room in your home you may think of changing the paint color but for even greater impact why not consider changing the floor? There are many different looks and styles of flooring that can easily be installed over the course of a weekend to transform a room. Although you may want to use your favorite color or pattern sticking to basic and neutral basics will help you to get longevity out of your flooring choice.
Some basic things to keep in mind when choosing new flooring include:
- Durability
- You will want to ensure that the flooring you choose is very durable and able to withstand heavy foot traffic.
- Consistency
- The flooring that you choose should be consistent with the flooring that is located throughout the rest of the home so that it looks streamline and cohesive.
- Ability To Clean
- Look for flooring that is easy to clean using a vacuum, dry sweeper or mop.
- Cost
- Make sure that you are getting good value for the flooring you are purchasing.
- Labor Involved
- When choosing flooring you should determine if you have the skill level and time to install it.
- Resale
- If you are planning to sell your home in the future look for flooring that is timeless and easy to care for so that it will appear to potential buyers.
Types of Flooring
Hardwood
Hardwood floors are a classic durable choice. It can be a more costly option, but it is often worth it. Hardwood floors are now used in any room of the house. You can choose from pre-finished hardwood floors or unfinished floors. There are many different stains, grades and widths of hardwood flooring to choose from.
Laminate
Laminate floors are an inexpensive and easy to maintain option for flooring. Laminate flooring is available in many realistic finishes to look like ceramic or hardwood. It is easy to install because it floats above the subfloor using a click and lock system.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is a durable option for high traffic areas in the home. The look of vinyl can mimic that of tiles, stone, wood or ceramic. It is easy to install, easy to clean and comes in every style and color imaginable.
Carpet
Carpet is a warm and comfortable flooring choice. It helps to absorb sound and is a popular choice for bedrooms, living rooms and other cozy areas of the home. Carpet is available in many different colors, weaves, textures and materials depending on your personal preference.
Peel and Stick Vinyl
Peel and stick flooring is becoming an increasingly popular choice because it is very inexpensive and very easy to install. It comes in many different patterns and textures and can resemble ceramic, stone or wood finishes. This is a good choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms and other high traffic areas.
Care and Maintenance
It doesn’t matter what type of flooring you choose regular maintenance is necessary. If you are cleaning hardwood floors use a cleaner that has been marked as safe so that you will not strip the floors of their stain or shine. If you have carpets make sure to vacuum regularly and have a spot stain remover on hand. You may want to have your carpets professionally cleaned every so often to remove deeply imbedded dirt and stains. Having the right cleaning items including a portable vacuum, dry sweeper and wet mop can all keep your floors looking their best.