How to Choose Your Flooring: A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types of Flooring and How to Choose the Best One for You

How to choose your floors?

There are many different types of flooring to choose from, and it can be hard to know which one is best for you.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles, carpet, hardwood floors, laminate – they all have their pros and cons. There are a lot of factors that go into choosing your flooring. It’s not only about the style or style of your home but also what you need from your flooring.

You’ll need to consider the type of room and its use, what feel you would like to have, if you have pets or children…

Your available budget also will help determine what to go for.

To help make this process easier for you, we’ve created this guide based on our most popular types of flooring, on how to choose between different styles, and some tips on what to consider when making your decision.

The Different Types of Flooring

There are many different types of flooring to choose from, and it can be hard to know which one is best for you.

Some of the most popular types of flooring include:

-Carpet: a traditional type of flooring that has been around for centuries and is made of woven wool, cotton, nylon, polyester or other textiles.

-Laminate: a less expensive alternative to hardwood flooring, laminate floors are made of a composite material with a man-made woodlike surface. The top layer of the floor is often made to resemble real hardwood, usually by printing or laminating printed images on it.

-Luxury Vinyl tiles such as Karndean and Amtico: are a type of flooring that is made to look like natural stone, wood, and other types of surfaces.

-Cushioned Vinyl: this type of flooring is made from vinyl or PVC and has a layer of foam or rubber underneath the top surface.

How to Choose Your Flooring

Carpets, Luxury Vinyl Tiles, laminate, vinyls… they all have their pros and cons!

Here we’ve listed them all (almost) to help you decide what might suit you best!

Carpet

-Pros: Soft feel underfoot, sound insulation qualities, warmth, and durability.

-Cons: May be a high-maintenance product with regular vacuuming and stain removal necessary. 100% wool carpets cannot be cleaned.

Laminate floors

-Pros: Typically more affordable than wood or tiles, and they’re also easier to clean. They can be installed in just about any room.

-Cons: Laminate flooring is not as durable as hardwood or Luxury Vinyl tiles, so it’s best for lower-traffic areas like hallways and bedrooms. Not recommended for wet areas.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles

-Pros: Easy to clean, resistant to water, stains, and scratches.

Can be used in high-traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, and offer an affordable alternative for homeowners looking for a luxury material such as wood or ceramic tiles.

These tiles come in a variety of styles and designs, and can be used to create almost any style and design you fancy!

-Cons: Not as durable as ceramic, stone, or porcelain.

Vinyl flooring

-Pros: Easy to clean and maintain. Creates an extra barrier between your feet and the cold floor, which is especially important for those with colder temperature-sensitive floors and also offers soundproof insulation.

Vinyl floors are available in a variety of colors, patterns, textures, and styles which makes them an attractive option for homeowners who want something unique that will complement your home’s decor.

-Cons: Can be difficult to install vinyl flooring in some areas, such as on stairs or over radiant heat. They’re not typically scratch-resistant and will show signs of wear easily when used in high-traffic areas.

What To Consider When Choosing a Floor

There are many things you’ll need to consider when choosing flooring – and we’re not just talking about the type of flooring material, or look and feel in your home.

You’ll need to think about how the area is used.

For example, if you have pets, you might want to opt for a more durable type of flooring that can handle spills, stains and scratches better than something like carpet.

If you have children too, you might want to avoid floors that may become scratched, or stained easily.

Would the area be prone to being wet, such as a bathroom?

Will it have heavy traffic such as a kitchen?

These are just some of the factors you’ll need to consider before deciding on what type of flooring is best for you.

Some other questions you might consider asking yourself:

-How long am I planning on living in this home?

-What do I currently own? What am I looking for in terms of style and material?

-Have I got underfloor heating?

-What is my budget? (more on this below)

Determine a Budget for a New Floor

The cost is one of the most important considerations when it comes to flooring.

The type and style of your home, how much you want to spend, and the room in question will all affect how much you will spend on flooring.

For example, if you have a small budget or are looking for a temporary solution, vinyl might be the option for you. On the other hand, if you have a larger budget and want something more long-lasting and durable, luxury vinyl tiles might be your best bet.

Another point to bear in mind, which we don’t often think about because we don’t see it, is your subfloor.

Do you know what is underneath your current floor? Would it need repairing, heavily prepped?

Conclusion

The different types of flooring offer a variety of benefits and drawbacks, and it’s important to consider your lifestyle and the types of traffic flow your home will see before making your decision.

It’s all about “fit, form, and function”.

Your budget and the future you see in your home also weigh in heavily.

It’s important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” when it comes to flooring. With so many different options, it’s hard to know what’s exactly right for you until you decide which factors are most important to you when making your decision.

Ready for some new floor covering?

Get in touch for an initial quote or book a measure here.

Alternatively, come and pay us a visit in our Dumbarton showroom!