Things You Need to Consider When Choosing a New Floor
If you are remodelling a room, it is always worth considering replacing the floor too. Doing so, will complete your new look. However, you do need to be careful when you are replacing the flooring in your home. There is quite a lot that can go wrong, which is why we have written this quick guide.
Getting your old flooring up
Before buying new flooring, you need to consider what you already have. Sometimes you can just lay the new floor over the top of the old one. Usually this the easiest option. However, this is only the case if the new flooring you are laying is thin enough. If you are laying carpet or lino you may be OK, but anything thicker will usually require you to take remove any doors that open inwards, and plane a few centimetres off the bottom. You have to weigh up whether it is easier to take up your old flooring or leave it down.
Choosing the right flooring material
Naturally, you have to decide what colour your new floors will be, but it is also important to choose the right material. To do this you have to bear in mind how the room will be used. In a high traffic area, you will need to choose a material that can stand up to people walking back and forth over it constantly.
Safety
You also need to think about safety. In a kitchen or bathroom, it is not enough to choose a flooring material that can withstand a damp environment. It also needs to be non-slip.
Keeping it clean
The current trend is to lay white laminate flooring. It looks fantastic, but this option is not practical for every home. For example, if you have kids, a dog, and several cats trouping in and out of the garden, a white floor is going to drive you to distraction.
Real wood flooring looks fantastic, but it is not a practical option for everyone. If you buy the type that has to be planed down and re-stained or waxed every few years you may end up being sorry that you did not buy laminate flooring. Provided you buy it from a good firm, it is possible to get the look of a real wood floor with none of the hassle.
Laying the floor
If you plan to lay the floor yourself, it is important to work out if you have the necessary skills to allow you to do so. The best way to do that is to go to YouTube and watch a few videos, like this one.
Can you afford the flooring?
When working out the cost of your new flooring it is important to factor in buying the tools you will need to lay it. You should always buy a little extra material to allow you to correct any mistakes you may make, so remember to include that cost in your calculations.
Provided you follow this simple guide, you will end up with a good floor that looks great, and lasts.
