How will you pick out just one when you are bombarded with so many choices for flooring? How will you be able to make out which kind of flooring is the best for your home? What kind of texture and finish would go with the type of climate you face every year? You will have to understand how each type of flooring behaves what its characteristics are.
- Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is among the best all natural flooring materials and is usually affected by extreme temperatures. So if you have made up your mind to install these in your home, do make sure that you keep them away from too much moisture or too much dryness. You will have to maintain a relative humidity level of 35 to 60%. It is obvious that installing them in an area such as a kitchen or your laundry or pantry or your bathroom is going to be the worst idea ever. Remember; do not leave your hardwood flooring in an unheated room or somewhere there is no air conditioning. Direct sunlight can cause major damage to your floor so make sure to close the curtains when there is too much sun coming in.
- Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a very practical choice of flooring in any climate for any grade of floors. This material is identical to hardwood flooring in terms of care and maintenance. If you choose to install vinyl flooring atop a crawl space or a concrete slab, make sure to use a vapor barrier and seal the floor seams adequately.
- Bamboo Flooring
Going for all natural flooring? Choose bamboo for your home as its resistance to dampness is much higher and it also keeps mold away. This makes it suitable for any level of your home. Yes, you can even install it in your basement.
- Concrete Flooring
Did you know that you can install concrete as a flooring material on practically any level of your home? If it is properly cured and sealed, concrete proves to be the most resistant flooring. No amount of moisture or even flooding can damage it. It is also antimicrobial by nature and keeps mold or mildew miles away. However, do note that in most of the cool states, concrete is not going to be your ideal choice. This is because it remains cooler than most other kinds of flooring which may be an asset for you only if you live in a hot climate.
- Carpet Flooring
Carpet is ideal for you if you want a cozy underfoot feel in frosty winter weather. Also, if you are thinking about installing a heating system, you should think of choosing a thin carpet that does not interfere with the heating. Moisture is not at all good for your carpeting, so it is important for you to make sure that the subflooring has a good moisture barrier. Gluing your carpet to the subfloor material in order to minimize moisture penetration is a great idea.
- Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring comes in many interesting varieties. You can invest in the more affordable ones that expand or contract with changes in temperature or humidity. You will have to leave a space or gap around the perimeter of the room so that the flooring can expand and contact. Stronger or more expensive laminate floorings will be able to stand up to changes in temperature and humidity up to a limit.
Remember though that in case of flood, the laminate flooring will not stand up against still water. You will have to apply a moisture barrier on the subfloor before you install the laminate. It is clear by the above discussion that not all types of flooring would suit your home. Weather conditions and the amount of traffic your house receives would determine the kind of flooring that is most ideal for you. So, what will be your pick?
