Introduction.
When moving into a new home, the chances are the floors will be bare, and it will be up to you to decide to go for carpet, hardwood, vinyl or tiles. The majority of people will choose either carpet, or wood vinyl. However, this will depend on where you live - in Europe, the most common flooring is tiles. Here is an overview of the benefits and disadvantages of each.
Carpet - The most common type of floor covering. Traditional, and can also be made to look very modern, by using solid, pattern-less, colors in light shades. This is usually the cheapest choice, with the ability to pay more for extra thickness and quality. When purchasing carpet, a good investment is underlay.
Hardwood - Very traditional, very expensive, some people insist on original hardwood flooring, and sometimes even the original floorboards. Hardwood can be modern, or classic. Scratches to hardwood can mean the floor needs to be re-polished or sanded. Marks from shoes can also damage the look of the floor.
Vinyl - Cheaper then hardwood or tiles, but can give the appearance of either. Vinyl or cushion flooring is a popular choice, but is still more expensive than carpet. It is usually completely waterproof, so has always been a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms, but it is now commonly being used in living and bed rooms.
Tiles - tiles can be very expensive, and if a heavy item is dropped on them, they can crack, meaning the tile will need to be replaced. Title allow for under floor heating, and are the flooring of choice in warmer countries, due to the ability to keep the room cool. They are very easy to clean, but can only be used in more modern designs.
Conclusion
This was only a brief look at the 3 main types of flooring, and each has material could have its own article written, there are so many advantages and disadvantages to each, the only way to decide on which to use, it your budget, and the style of room.
When moving into a new home, the chances are the floors will be bare, and it will be up to you to decide to go for carpet, hardwood, vinyl or tiles. The majority of people will choose either carpet, or wood vinyl. However, this will depend on where you live - in Europe, the most common flooring is tiles. Here is an overview of the benefits and disadvantages of each.
Carpet - The most common type of floor covering. Traditional, and can also be made to look very modern, by using solid, pattern-less, colors in light shades. This is usually the cheapest choice, with the ability to pay more for extra thickness and quality. When purchasing carpet, a good investment is underlay.
Hardwood - Very traditional, very expensive, some people insist on original hardwood flooring, and sometimes even the original floorboards. Hardwood can be modern, or classic. Scratches to hardwood can mean the floor needs to be re-polished or sanded. Marks from shoes can also damage the look of the floor.
Vinyl - Cheaper then hardwood or tiles, but can give the appearance of either. Vinyl or cushion flooring is a popular choice, but is still more expensive than carpet. It is usually completely waterproof, so has always been a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms, but it is now commonly being used in living and bed rooms.
Tiles - tiles can be very expensive, and if a heavy item is dropped on them, they can crack, meaning the tile will need to be replaced. Title allow for under floor heating, and are the flooring of choice in warmer countries, due to the ability to keep the room cool. They are very easy to clean, but can only be used in more modern designs.
Conclusion
This was only a brief look at the 3 main types of flooring, and each has material could have its own article written, there are so many advantages and disadvantages to each, the only way to decide on which to use, it your budget, and the style of room.
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