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The Best Flooring Options for Today's Home

Posted On : Sep-03-2011 | seen (977) times | Article Word Count : 657 |

Choosing flooring for the home is a difficult process, but one that should be taken seriously. When you’ve chosen the right floor, your home will look well-decorated and charming.
Choosing flooring for the home is a difficult process, but one that should be taken seriously. When you’ve chosen the right floor, your home will look well-decorated and charming. You can also enjoy the value that flooring delivers to each room, as it has a way of bringing the home together in harmony. Whether you’re building a new construction or updating your space, choosing the right floor can only be achieved when you know the available options.

There are many flooring options on the market and knowing which one is right for your dwelling should be based on your budget and lifestyle. Hardwood flooring is often regarded as one of the best floor choices for the home, as it’s beautiful and offers a lifetime of value. Unlike other flooring selections that need to be replaced over the years, hardwood can last forever with the proper maintenance. It is prone to scratches and dents, especially if you select a softer floor.

For these reasons, many people are choosing to go with engineered wood instead of solid wood floors. While solid hardwood is made entirely from hardwood, engineered hardwood has a plywood center and a hardwood veneer glued on top. This type of flooring is becoming quite popular, as it offers the look of hardwood but with added strength and durability. More importantly, engineered wood delivers stability, which allows the flooring to adapt to different temperatures. At last, the limitations that solid wood once presented can be overcome with engineered wood.

While hardwood flooring options are very popular with homeowners, some feel it is too expensive for their budget. Furthermore, wood is difficult and time-consuming to install. An alternative is laminate flooring, which is quickly moving up on the popularity scale. Laminate offers a world of advantages, as it’s attractive, easy to install and cost-effective. The top layer of laminate is a real picture of wood or stone, which gives the flooring its rich and natural appeal. And because the snap-and-lock installation method can be done on your own, the floor can be installed over the course of a weekend without having to call in a professional.

No matter which of these hardwood-type flooring options you choose, you can expect your home to be full of character, while having a floor that’s easy to maintain and will last for many years, some even a lifetime. Yet even with these advantages, some homeowners feel that flooring is best served with something soft and luxurious. The only type of flooring that offers this feature is carpet. Carpet continues to evolve with modern technology, as it’s made with better fibers, more Eco-friendly materials and improved padding.

Carpet is ideal for families, as it provides a soft and comfortable place to sit and play. There is a wide spectrum of color to choose from as well. If you’re not sure about wall-to-wall carpeting, some homeowners have shifted their focus to carpet tiles instead. These tiles can be installed without a professional. This cuts down on the cost of installation and the tiles serve as the perfect option for in-between flooring projects. Plus, you can create fun patterns with the tiles.

If cost is the biggest issue, the best flooring options are vinyl tiles. Vinyl tiles are self-stick and easy to install. They can be purchased by-the-box and like laminate, be installed over the course of a weekend. Vinyl is available in so many colors and styles; you’re bound to find something you like.

Another advantage to vinyl is that it has no limitations as to where it can be installed. Place it in the bathroom, basement or kitchen and you don’t have to worry about spills, water damage or temperature changes. To enhance the look, try sheet or luxury vinyl selections. These higher-end vinyl options look like real wood or stone and won’t have any separation between the tiles, which leads to a flawless look.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Best Flooring Options for Today's Home_79150.aspx

Author Resource :
Charlie Dima writes out of Earth City, MO about home improvement tips and DIY projects. Always looking for the best flooring options and well-known flooring brands, she tends to end up shopping at http://www.carpetone.com more often than not.

Keywords : flooring options, best flooring options, best flooring, engineered wood, hardwood flooring,

Category : Home and Family : Interior Design

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