Picking flooring for a home is a crucial step for most homeowners. Not only does the flooring determine how finished your home will ultimately look, it can also have a significant bearing on your maintenance costs, energy costs and cleaning supplies costs in the long run. Here are a few tips on how you can choose the best laminate flooring for your home.
Moisture in the room
The most important factor in picking flooring for your home is going to be the moisture that would be present in a particular room. For instance, rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, kitchens etc. can expect high moisture and humidity on a daily basis. For such rooms, flooring designed to withstand moisture and humidity like tile and stone is recommended though laminate flooring with a moisture resistant finish can also be used. For bedrooms, warmer flooring like wood is best.
Do you have pets and children?
A home with pets and children needs flooring that is resistant to scratching, the occasional spill and stains. A home with toddlers needs to have flooring that isn’t slippery but is still resistant to water, urine and spilled baby food. A home with young puppies should have carpeting, unpolished stone or wood flooring that can be sanded if scratched. Smoother flooring results in pups developing crooked feet.
Cost of material per square foot
Once you have outlined your flooring needs, you need to calculate the cost of buying the flooring for the entire floor space in your house including places like the basement, closet floors and stairs. Having an exact estimate of the space you need to cover will help you pick flooring that is more suited to your budget needs.
Cost of installation
The cost of installation is one of the hidden costs of laying flooring in a house. It is usually best to get flooring professionally installed though it can be costly but a DIY project gone wrong costs much more to repair too. Getting professional installation for a price or doing it yourself to save money is entirely a matter of personal choice and judgment.
Maintenance
Pretty looking flooring options like wood may look timeless and pristine but they also cost a bundle to maintain. But if you are a DIYer or have the time and skills to maintain delicate flooring, you can easily choose wooden flooring within your budget. If you can’t spend too much time or money on flooring maintenance, pick one that can be easily cleaned and repaired.
Summary
Choosing flooring for your home yourself can help you create a custom look and feel for your house. However, you still need to remember to factor in some important considerations to avoid picking the wrong type of flooring or one that is too costly.
