Jun
23
2009
If you’re lucky enough to have laminate timber floors in your home, it is usually the first thing that grabs a guest’s attention. Whenever someone sets foot inside your home, she will probably notice the flooring you have. It’s as important as your drapes and ceiling. Choosing the correct laminate wood flooring for your home may seem like a daunting choice to have to make. It requires studious thinking, as you’d like to show your personality and style while being practical.
With large numbers of engineered hardwood floors available to choose from, it might seem like a difficult decision to make. Initially you might like all the ones you see at Home Depot or wherever you shop, and all of them may seem perfect for your home. But now, the question of which type to choose arises. The answer to this question depends on a number of variables. You should consider the size of your family (including pets) and hence, what volume of traffic that the floor will receive. Also ask yourself ‘will the floor be safe for my children?’ (only if you have them of course). Another question you should ask yourself is ‘How much maintenance does natural wood flooring require and how long do you expect to have the same floor?’
Today, different designs and types of laminate wood flooring are available for different applications. Home owners may consider using the same type of engineered wooden floors in all areas of the house, but many have different preferences for each room.
Natural timber floors are extremely durable and don’t require much maintenance. They are elegant and are resistant to scuffing.
Solid wood floors are very long lasting, require simple cleaning and do not tend to retain dust particles. They’re commonly found in older houses and work naturally well with a whole host of interior designs. However, they do require frequent vacuuming and sweeping. Although engineered timber flooring doesn’t generally retain dust particles, the softer wood floors are prone to scratches and dents. The two most common types of wood flooring are the natural and synthetic wood.
Natural wood floors are available in several different styles and patterns. Parquet square is the most common type. It comes in square boards that form its pattern. The huge advantage to using parquet square is that it is replaceable. Yet another type of natural wood is the plank which gives a classic and classy look to the flooring. Although planks do not require sub flooring, these are more costly that other kinds of wood floors. Strip flooring is another kind of natural wood floor. They are comprised of long narrow boards that are prone to buckling. In this instance, sub flooring is highly recommended.
Laminate flooring is another common type of synthetic wood. This type of flooring works well in those areas exposed to dampness. These are laminated so they do not require finishing. The good thing about laminated floors is that they are fire retardant and do not fade nor stain.
Indeed, careful studying is needed in order to make a final decision as to which kind of flooring is best for your home or office. Anyhow, after the flooring of your choice is installed in your home, you will definitely be pleased to realize that it’s the surface you, your kids, family and friends will be standing and walking on.
