Wood flooring in hardwood or softwood is a great way to add a naturally beautiful product while adding warmth and charm to a home. Hardwood floors are normally made of oak, maple or birch while softwood floors are made of pine, cedar, spruce or fir. After wood flooring is installed, it is often treated with a sealant and finished off with clear urethane. It is also possible to buy pre-finished wood flooring. If your clients are interested in wood floors, they should be made aware of the fact that wood floors need to be maintained by coating them with a polyurethane every year or so and the floors should be waxed and buffed on occasion.
Wood floors are growing in popularity and this has helped with manufacturers being able to produce better finishes and more options for where wood flooring can be installed. Wood flooring can now be bought in long-strip planks, engineered planks and 3/4″ solid wood and the end results of each look very similar. Besides looking wonderful, elegant and charming, wood floors are also quite easy to clean as long as they are properly maintained.
Vinyl flooring is made from synthetic materials. There are a number of advantages to using vinyl flooring. It is inexpensive, durable, easy to clean and maintain and it is good for high traffic areas and areas where moisture might build up, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, etc.
The look of vinyl is more casual than tile or wood yet there are many options for patterns and colors including looks of marble, wood, tile, brick, stone and many others. The disadvantages of vinyl flooring are that it can get scratched (and torn) and it can also stain.
Laminate flooring is a great option for flooring because not only does it look like real hardwood but it is much more durable, easier to maintain and easier to clean than real hardwood. Additionally, laminate flooring is highly stain and fade resistant and it is more affordable than real hardwood.
Although laminate flooring has numerous benefits and closely resembles the look of hardwood, keep in mind that it is not a true wood product and is therefore not the "real" thing. If this doesn't bother your client, laminate flooring may be a great choice for them.
There are many different types of tiles to choose from, including ceramic, marble, stone, mosaic, clay, slate, granite, etc. One of the biggest benefits of tile is being able to select from a number of various pattern options. Additionally, tile looks beautiful, is durable (in most cases), is easy to clean and requires minimal upkeep. There are disadvantages to tile and the most notable ones are the expense, the coldness of tiles under an individual's feet (unless they have under-floor heating) and the fact that things can break if they are dropped on tiles or the tiles might possibly chip if they are not the most durable type.
When selecting tiles for the floor, always make sure that you select flooring tiles (as opposed to decorative tiles for showers, walls, backsplashes, etc.). You will also want to help your client with selecting a grout color that will go well with the desired look.
Tiling experts recommend that you order approximately 10 percent more tiles than you require so that there are extras in case of breakage. After all of the tile is installed, your client should keep any leftover tiles because they can always be used as replacement tiles if any of the installed tiles chip over time. A good tile layer can cut out the chipped tile and replace it with one of the extras.
A quick and easy way to add color, texture, warmth and character to a room is to place an area rug within the room. Additionally, area rugs can cover problem areas (stained carpets, for example) or scratched hardwood or vinyl. Other reasons to use an area rug are to create intimacy or a feeling of coziness, to create a seating area, to define a space, to provide warmth for your client's feet, to reduce the noise in the room, to create a focal point, to establish a color direction and to protect flooring. Area rugs can be purchased in varying sizes and shapes and in varying materials and the costs can range from inexpensive to very costly. As with carpeting, area rugs are also available in many different fibers including both synthetic fibers (such as acrylic, nylon and olefin) and natural fibers (such as wool, cotton or sisal (plant fibers) or jute).
It is important to always use a similar sized nonskid pad underneath an area rug. This pad will prevent the rug (and people) from slipping, make it easier to vacuum, and most importantly protect the area rug from wear. Additionally, a pad will protect hardwood floors, laminate or vinyl flooring underneath from scratches from the coarse bottom of an area rug.
As mentioned, there are many different flooring options, and choices are made for both practical and aesthetic reasons depending on what is required and desired.
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