Choosing the right type of flooring for your house is a lot more complicated than you would think and there are a lot more factors to consider than which one you think looks the nicest. In fact, the whole process of researching and finding the right flooring fit for you can become very overwhelming. To help you through this process, we have compiled a list of some of the most important factors you might want to consider when choosing your floor.
Durability
How durable your floor is relates to how long it lasts for and how well it is able to withstand damage from wear, moisture, pressure or accidents. Because you will be investing a lot of time and money into installing your floor, you want it to last a long time and don’t want to have to replace it every couple of years. Durability might be a particular concern of yours if you have children or pets as they can cause accidents that may damage your floor. Some of the most durable floors include concrete, natural stone, laminate and last, but not least, solid wood or engineered flooring.
Location
The location of the flooring will affect the type of flooring that you want to install. You should consider whether the flooring will be inside or outside, or, whether it will be in a room that has a high moisture content, such as a bathroom. You may also want to consider how easy it is to clean each type of floor and, if you have children you may also want to consider how slippery the floor may become when wet. Floors that respond well to moisture are tiles, bamboo, vinyl, laminate and natural stone flooring.
Cost
Buying flooring materials and the cost of floor installation is expensive. It is essential that when choosing the type of flooring that you want in your house that you clearly define what your budget is, as this will affect the types that you can choose from. On top of the cost of installation, you should also consider how other qualities of your floor, such as its durability and location, may effect how much money you need to invest into maintaining your floor. Some of the most cost-effective types of flooring include vinyl, laminate, hardwood, ceramic tile and cork flooring.
Installation
Installation of different types of flooring can vary considerably. Before choosing the flooring you want, you should look into the installation process. Important questions to ask include how long the installation process will take, whether it will make a lot of mess, whether you will have to move out during that time and whether you have somewhere to stay for the duration of that period.
Other factors that you might want to consider are sustainability (see blog post “top 5 environmentally friendly floors”), comfort and warmth, practicality, quality, technical performance, as well as whether they are pet friendly or not.
