Choosing the correct flooring
Choosing The Correct Type of Flooring For Your Life Style.
This information is meant as a guide only. Specific details can be discussed with a member of our sales team for a more detailed explanation.
Today many people are influenced by design led magazines and fashion trends when choosing the type of floor coverings for different areas in their home and overlook the demands a busy family can place on floor coverings in the home. It is important to consider your own particular usage when selecting a floor covering. Many fashionable products may not live up to the lifespan expected by the consumer in certain areas especially when compared to a previous more traditional style of floor covering.
When selecting a floor covering it is important you consider the following issues.
External Surroundings
Floorings can be affected by the external environment. For example gravel from driveways can get caught in shoe soles and bought into the house. This can be very harmful to hard or plain smooth surfaces.
Entrance matting or rugs can reduce this effect if used on smooth floorings at all external entrances.
Children & Pets
Young children can be tough on floor coverings as toys, pushchairs etc can add to the wear and tear floor coverings are subject to. Pushchairs or bicycles in a hall also bring in much more water from outside and this can be more harmful to certain floorings.
Certain styles or finishes in wood for example can be less susceptible to scratches and rugs in heavy play areas can save smooth floorings from excessive harm.
Temperature Changes
Some areas such as conservatories or rooms with large roof windows and living rooms with extensive areas of glass doors are affected more by changes in temperature during a 24 hr period. Significant changes of temperature can cause certain products, such as wood or vinyl tiles, to expand and contract resulting in gaps appearing between tiles or boards.
The use of special adhesives can reduce the risk of shrinkage on vinyl floorings. Also blinds for extreme hot days can reduce the amount of direct heat.
Moisture & Water
Bathroom, Kitchens & Utility areas are liable to condensation, water leaks and spillages. This can seriously affect wooden flooring and carpets.
Certain products such as woods & laminate are not advisable for these areas and can be damaged beyond repair if in contact with excessive water.
Extreme Sunlight
Sunlight especially through large areas of glass on south facing walls can be harmful to many types of floor coverings.
Blinds for extreme hot days can reduce the amount of direct sunlight as ultra violet light can cause carpets wood & vinyl flooring to fade.
Smoothness of Sub Floor
All smooth floor coverings require a very even surface before the cover layer is installed. Ie sheet vinyls cannot be fitted direct to sub floors without a hardboard, ply or latex smoothing compound being installed first.
Some very smooth low level loop pile carpets can also require hardboard to be installed for a satisfactory finish or uneven floorboards can be visible on the surface.
Mr Carpet is able to carry out most types of sub floor preparation before installing flooring. Ask a member of our sales team for further details.