Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood Flooring: Hardwood flooring, such as timber, is immensely popular due to its aesthetic appeal that complements various interior designs. Whether aiming for a polished contemporary look or a rustic farmhouse feel, hardwood offers versatility with varying grains, tones, and finishes. Treated and cared for properly, hardwood proves durable and resilient.
- Advantages: Versatility in appearance, long-lasting, withstands up to five refinishes, potential increase in home resale value. Engineered or natural plank wooden floors can be used throughout the home, adding natural warmth and style impact. Various patterns and customization options available. Easy cleaning with recommended tools.
- Disadvantages: Cost and upkeep are drawbacks, requiring professional assistance for a good finish. Limited suitability for moisture-prone areas like bathrooms. UV exposure may lead to fading, necessitating preventive measures. Scratch resistance varies, caution advised during cleaning and moving furniture.
- Top Tips: Lacquered timber is more durable, but scratches may require extensive refinishing. Consider an oiled floor for easier localized refinishing.
Navigating these considerations will help you make informed decisions when choosing the flooring that best suits each space in your home.
ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING
Engineered Wood Flooring: Engineered wood floors feature a genuine wood veneer over a heat-formed wood core and a supporting base layer, strategically used in areas susceptible to shrinkage. This construction ensures stability, making engineered flooring an ideal choice for spaces with underfloor heating, provided guidelines are followed. Moreover, its installation is simpler compared to solid wood flooring.
- Advantages: Engineered wood planks, due to their manufacturing process, exhibit superior dimensional stability, minimizing the risk of expansion or contraction with temperature and humidity changes.
- Disadvantages: Unlike hardwood, the thinner top layer of engineered wood may not respond as well to refinishing.
- Top Tips: Preserve the quality of engineered wood by treating it with a high-quality coating, similar to the care given to hardwood surfaces.
LAMINATE FLOORING
Laminate Flooring: Laminate flooring is crafted from layers of high-density fiberboard featuring a laminated photographic image (resembling timber, tile, etc.) covered by a durable, wear-resistant coating.
- Advantages: Laminate flooring offers several benefits, including its affordability, resistance to scratches, and straightforward installation. It proves to be an excellent choice for high-traffic areas in a busy household, except in spaces exposed to significant moisture (avoid use in bathrooms).
- Disadvantages: Depending on the manufacturer, laminate flooring may feel cold and hard underfoot. Poor installation can lead to noise and a clunky sensation.
- Top Tips: Opt for quality over extremely cheap faux wood laminate to ensure better overall performance. Generally, laminate flooring is easy to maintain and exhibits durability. Consider using laminate flooring in basement locations.
Tile
Tile: Our enduring love for tile stems from its exceptional durability, style, and contemporary appeal, making it a preferred flooring option for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.
- Advantages: Tile opens up a world of decorative possibilities with its endless array of patterns, finishes, and colors. Careful consideration of style, shape, size, and installation method can transform a small space, infusing warmth and character when executed correctly. We emphasize the diverse options in quality, texture, pattern, and color, suggesting that it may require the expertise of an interior designer or architect. Tile not only adds a unique design punch but also stands up well to wear and tear, making it suitable for high-traffic areas like mudrooms. Ceramic tiles, resist scratches, dents, and moisture, ensuring low maintenance and easy cleaning.
- Disadvantages: While the tile market offers a plethora of choices, it can become expensive. Savvy shoppers may find cost-effective options by exploring last season's designs, introducing an eclectic touch to their homes without breaking the bank.
- Top Tips: Consider the room's function and choose the surface finish wisely, as highly polished stone can be slippery when wet, and matte finishes may attract dirt. In wet areas like showers, opt for smaller scale tiles to enhance safety. In cold climates, underfloor heating can be a valuable addition for added comfort.
REAL STONE FLOORING
Real Stone Flooring: Genuine stone flooring varieties present a stylish and highly practical long-term flooring solution, particularly suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. When exploring the world of stone flooring, you'll encounter options like limestone, slate, marble, and terracotta tiles. Each of these brings a distinct character and warmth to spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and can exude elegance in a living room.
- Advantages: When installed correctly, stone flooring is known for its enduring quality and is often perceived to enhance the value of a property. However, it is crucial to lay it on a sturdy and sound sub-floor to prevent any movement that could lead to cracks. Natural stone, being porous, requires proper sealing upon installation and re-sealing at least every six months. Its porosity allows the stone to adopt the ambient temperature of a room, ensuring it feels neither too cold nor hard underfoot, unlike ceramic tiles. Additionally, stone flooring is an excellent choice for allergy sufferers as it does not harbor dust mites or pet hair.
- Disadvantages: Apart from potential additional costs and the risk of cracking or chipping if not laid properly, there are few drawbacks to choosing stone flooring. It stands as a solid and worthwhile investment.
- Top Tips: When deciding on stone flooring, carefully consider the room's usage. For spaces with children, ensure the presence of area rugs to provide protection for little knees.
Vinyl FLOORING
Vinyl Flooring: Vinyl flooring is composed of a blend of polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers, enriched with color pigments. It comes in sheet, tile, or plank form, making it a highly practical flooring option for kitchens or bathrooms due to its non-porous nature and a degree of resilience that provides comfort while walking. It serves as a swift and budget-friendly solution for room makeovers when time is of the essence, though it may not be the optimal choice for a forever home.
- Advantages: Vinyl is a versatile material that can mimic the appearance of timber, tiles, glass, and stone. Prices vary, ranging from inexpensive options (as low as a few pounds per square meter) to nearly the cost of some solid wood flooring. It can withstand moisture and heavy foot traffic, offering a comfortable and warmer feel compared to tiles. Despite its affordability, good-quality vinyl flooring can last up to 20 years.
- Disadvantages: While vinyl can replicate wood effectively, it lacks the resilience of real wood flooring and is not easily repairable. Concerns often arise regarding the emission of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it a less suitable choice for those who prefer an organic lifestyle, especially considering its limited recyclability. Vinyl has a relatively short lifespan, and its removal can be challenging.
- Top Tips: Phthalate-free vinyl floors are now available, but they are not considered a sustainable or green choice. The primary reasons for choosing vinyl are its affordability and practicality rather than environmental considerations.
LUXURY VINYL TILES OR PLANK (LVP)
LVP Flooring: If you seek the advantages of vinyl without the concern of it appearing inexpensive or having a limited lifespan, the luxury vinyl option is a compelling alternative. The introduction of luxury vinyl flooring marked a significant shift, providing homeowners with the aesthetic appeal of hardwoods without the associated maintenance hassles. Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) redefine the traditional perception of vinyl flooring – unlike the yellowing and plastic-like feel of older vinyl, LVP comes in the form of interlocking planks rather than sheets.
- Advantages: These interlocking planks are meticulously engineered to emulate the look and feel of hardwoods while offering enhanced durability. Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) are often more cost-effective than hardwood and are suitable for use throughout the entire home, including wet areas, as many LVP brands are waterproof. This makes them a viable choice for flooring in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Disadvantages: While it comes with a slightly higher price tag, it falls short of being the genuine article.
- Top Tips: Maintain your flooring by keeping it clean and free from debris to extend its longevity.
PVC, VINYL FLOORING ECO-GRIP *Must have in any commercial kitchen*
Eco-Grip Flooring: Eco-Grip® flooring is manufactured from 98% recycled polyvinyl with short staple fiber reinforcement to increase overall product flexibility and physical strength. Eco-Grip® provides superior shock absorbency and is impact resistant. The unique surface design produces excellent traction even when wet and/or greasy, and the “walk-in” feature provides increased slip resistance over prolonged use. Specifically designed not to shrink or harden when exposed to animal fats or caustic chemicals, Eco-Grip® is manufactured using polymeric plasticizers and is designed to remain stable through extreme temperature changes.
Applications: Ideal for areas requiring a durable, waterproof, easy-to-clean floor system, including: commercial kitchens, walk-in coolers, freezer, food prep areas, dish areas, commissary food service, mobile kitchens, and bulk food production facilities. Eco-Grip® can also be installed as a highly durable sanitary wall treatment, protecting walls from carts, bins, and water overspray.
Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
VCT Flooring: VCT stands for vinyl composition tile and by definition is made of recycled composite vinyl material that can withstand heavy static loads, is easy to clean, and is resistant to scratches and scuffs. This type of flooring is commonly used in high-foot-traffic areas and light industrial or commercial spaces. VCT flooring is also used in residential spaces such as garages, kitchens, or basements. Whether you have a small office space or a large retail store, commercial VCT flooring is a good option to consider for your floors.
Applications: Consider vinyl composition tile (VCT) flooring for your commercial space. This type of flooring is made from polyvinyl chloride pieces that are created into bigger sheets through the use of heat and pressure. Below are some excellent reasons why you should choose vinyl composition tile for your commercial location. Can Be Installed Directly onto a Concrete Surface. VCT flooring hides scuffing and small damages well. These scuffs will blend in with the flooring and will be difficult to see, keeping it looking new and clean. Also, depending on the design you choose, VCT flooring will help you hide dirt and debris. Overall, vinyl composite tile flooring is an excellent option for your commercial location because it can be directly installed onto any level surface without the need of a pad; it can easily withstand the heavy foot traffic that many commercial locations experience daily; it offers various patterns, colors, and designs that’s great for customization; and it’ll constantly look clean and new, especially when clean-up is immediate.
Carpet
Carpet: Offered in synthetic fibers, pure wool, or a blend of both, carpets are available in a diverse range of colors and price points to complement any room. However, it's advisable to steer clear of using carpets in kitchens or bathrooms. But, you probably already knew that!
- Advantages: Carpet, especially the wall-to-wall variety, proves to be an excellent choice for serene and shoe-free spaces such as bedrooms, closets, and offices. Despite common inquiries about the contemporary relevance of carpets, the answer is a resounding yes! Wall-to-wall installations can create an illusion of larger spaces. Carpets are known for their easy maintenance, typically requiring replacement every five to ten years. Nylon carpets, in particular, are affordable, soft underfoot, and provide warmth. Modern commercial carpet squares with lower pile heights and stain-resistant treatments are ideal for playrooms and home gyms. While almost all carpets are recyclable, not all manufacturers make recycling processes straightforward. Wool stands out with superior characteristics, featuring natural lanolin for stain resistance and inherent resilience against crushing underfoot. In general, plush cut pile carpets are more prone to crushing than looped carpets.
- Disadvantages: Some individuals may shy away from carpets due to concerns about accumulating dirt and grime. However, this can be effectively addressed with the use of top-quality vacuum cleaners or steam cleaners. For pet owners, loose-weave carpets may be at risk of damage from tiny claws, so careful consideration of density is crucial, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Top Tips: Opting for an 80% wool and 20% synthetic carpet ensures an optimal combination of durability, thermal insulation, and comfort. Investing in a new underlay can significantly extend the lifespan of a carpet by up to 40%, making it a worthwhile consideration when making your carpet purchase.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber Flooring: Rubber flooring, known for its remarkable resilience, is gaining popularity in homes due to its affordability and practicality, making it an attractive option for various spaces.
- Advantages: This flooring option is available in vibrant and eye-catching colors, making it a playful and stylish addition to play areas, wet rooms, and contemporary living spaces. It presents a significantly more economical choice compared to tile or stone flooring alternatives.
- Disadvantages: Caution is advised when considering rubber flooring for areas prone to staining from oils and fats, making it unsuitable for kitchen use..
Cork Flooring
Cork Flooring: Cork provides a distinctive finish for homes, particularly well-suited for lofts or children's spaces. It was widely used in mid-twentieth-century modern homes, making it an excellent choice for contemporary design.
- Advantages: Cork flooring offers resilience and a quiet underfoot experience, bringing exceptional visual warmth to a space. Suitable for most dry areas, it requires varying levels of maintenance depending on the finish – more for the natural finish and less for cork with a top coat of sealer. Being a natural and renewable material, cork allows the use of area rugs on top. It provides warmth underfoot and can be easily cleaned through vacuuming or Swiffering, akin to caring for carpet, wood, or vinyl floors.
- Disadvantages: Similar to carpet, heavy items may leave impressions on cork floors.
- Top Tips: Resilient flooring options like linoleum, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and cork are excellent choices for various home areas, excluding showers. Linoleum/LVT offers numerous options, easy maintenance, reduced footstep noise compared to wood or tile, and the ability to withstand temporary wetness, although they can be more slippery than small-scale tiles.
