Choosing new flooring can always be daunting. There are many things to consider. Do you stick with something you've had before? Do you want something different? Would hardwood flooring be right for you? Is vinyl flooring more practical? Is it worth investing in Amitico flooring?
With all these questions it can be difficult to know where to start. That is why at Peter Newman Flooring we have laid out the most important questions you need to ask yourself here.
Deciding Which Floor Works for your Home
You have made one decision; you want or need new flooring for your home. Decision two is: What will you replace it with? Read on for some top tips on what you need to consider when deciding on new floors for your home.
Top Questions to Ask Yourself when Deciding on New Flooring for Your Home
Firstly, ask yourself these questions to help you narrow down your selection:
- Where is the flooring going?
- Is it a heavy usage area?
- Do you have pets or young children?
- What look and feel are you aiming for, hard/ soft, warm/ cold?
- Do you need a floor that will stand the test of time and maintain its appearance?
- How much time do you have to maintain your floor?
- Do you have underfloor heating?
- What is your budget?
The answers to these questions will narrow down your choices to the most appropriate of the five main domestic flooring types for you; carpet, vinyl, laminate, wood or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).
With these answers and the information provided below you should be able to gain a clean answer on which following option is best for you and your home.
Carpets for your Home
Soft and warm underfoot, carpet is still the all-round most popular choice of domestic flooring; particularly for bedrooms, on staircases and landings. The numerous types, colours, qualities and designs of carpet are extensive, meaning there is something to suit every household and every budget. Whether you want a luxuriously soft carpet in your master bedroom or a hard-wearing vibrant carpet for your stairs or landing, Peter Newman Flooring has it all.
Carpets can provide softer padding underfoot which can be more comfortable for older individuals and pets. The softness lessons the pressure on joints and can reduce pain. It can also be good for wobbly toddlers who may benefit from a cushioned landing pad while learning to walk. Carpets can also be more insulating than hardwood, laminate or vinyl flooring. If you want something that is cosy and soft look no further than luxury carpets.
The only rooms we wouldn’t suggest having carpets in are wet rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens where other options offer a more hygienic and easy to clean solution.
Wood Flooring: Solid Wood and Engineered Wood for your Home
A hardwood floor is perhaps the best flooring choice both visually and practically for a home. By choosing a hardwood floor you are ensuring that you get the optimum material for both visual and practical impact. Offering incomparable quality, durability and elegance, it comes in a wide range of styles, sizes and finishes to meet every budget. It is a perfect addition to any home - maturing with age and becoming more beautiful over the years.
A hardwood floor will require regular maintenance to enhance its appearance and remains a living object constantly expanding and contracting slightly depending on the climatic conditions but with correct installation will last a lifetime.
One disadvantage is that a hardwood floor can be more painful on joints for elderly people and pets. The hardwood does not shock absorb as well as softer materials, which may need to be taken into consideration.
Additionally, being hydroscopic neither solid nor engineered wood flooring is suitable for areas of high humidity such as bathrooms where moisture will be absorbed into the floor causing extensive expansion and contraction. For a wood effect in these areas, LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) offer an ideal alternative.
Laminate Flooring for your Home
An extremely hard wearing and cheaper alternative to wood flooring, laminate has unfairly suffered over the years from a bad reputation, caused by cheaper products that entered the market and resulted in a laminate having a reputation with some people as an inferior and poor-quality product.
This is unwarranted as good quality laminate flooring is an entirely different product. It is so like wood flooring you may not be able to tell the difference between a real wood floor and a laminate alternative. Laminate Flooring is extremely reliable and hard-wearing it often comes with a long warranty. It is also incredibly low maintenance needing only a sweep to remove loose dirt and a mop to keep it clean; making it the ideal choice for busy high traffic family homes.
Vinyl Flooring and Luxury Vinyl Tiles for your Home
Also known as lino or cushion flooring, vinyl flooring is an easy to maintain and hard-wearing flooring option. As with any type of flooring, vinyl comes in a wide range of prices to suit all budgets; from the very economic vinyl flooring to high-end luxury vinyl tiles or LVT that offers a look that could easily be mistaken for wood flooring or ceramic or stone tiles.
Vinyl flooring is water-resistant making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens, which have traditionally been its most popular locations. As with laminate flooring, vinyl flooring requires just a simple sweep and mop to keep it sparkling clean. Many of the good quality vinyl flooring products on the market can now be expected to last 15 to 20 years with minimal maintenance.
Vinyl offers the most variety and opportunity of all flooring types with an endless number of designs and styles. Available in sheet vinyl, tiles or strips in every colour variation and pattern imaginable; it is possible to create the desired look for your home. It is even possible to have bespoke personalised vinyl flooring created just for you.
Although vinyl flooring doesn’t offer the comfort and softness of carpet it is still a good alternative for sitting rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and conservatories, and is warmer and more comfortable than stone or ceramic tiles. Vinyl flooring also offers great compatibility with underfloor heating which provides extra underfoot warmth.
One question we are often asked is whether vinyl flooring will be slippery, and the answer is as long as it is kept dry and clean there is no reason why it would be slippery. So, if it does get wet or greasy clean and dry the area immediately to avoid accidents. Additionally, there are now slip-resistant types of vinyl available which provide an even safer alternative and make vinyl the ideal solution for kitchens or bathrooms within the home.
Purchasing and Installing your New Flooring for your Home
Now that you have a clearer ideal of the best flooring for your home it’s time to get in touch with your local flooring experts. Here at Peter Newman Flooring we are on hand to offer you additional advice and support around the best flooring for your home, whether it be for a single room within your home or the whole property.
We can offer a full flooring service from design, supply, installation and after-sales care to insure your get the best new flooring for your home with no stress and hassle.
We have a flooring showroom in Poole in Dorset with knowledgeable, friendly and experienced flooring experts to assist you with your flooring needs. Alternatively, give our team a call on 01202 672222 to speak to a flooring expert now.