Flooring is the generic term used for the chore of laying down new flooring covering, or in plain language, for the task of laying down a floor. Flooring is a broad term to generally define any concrete finish product used above a floor surface to give a smooth walking surface. When you talk about laying a new floor, the usual concrete flooring product is slate, tile or wood flooring. Concrete is generally a complex product to produce with many options available for the concrete floor layters.
There are various options open to you for laying a new floor; the first being natural stone. Natural stone is probably one of the most versatile flooring options available to you today. It comes in a wide range of colors and finishes and looks great anywhere, whether it’s your kitchen bathrooms, corridors or even your drawing rooms. Natural stone flooring is especially suitable for use in smaller areas. This is because it can be installed easily, takes less time to install than ceramic tile or other synthetic alternatives and can also be made to appear more natural or blended in with the surroundings.
Laminate flooring has now come on to the scene and offers more choice than ever before. Laminate flooring can be installed in any room of the house and comes in different grades. It also comes in a huge range of colors and finishes and although more expensive than natural stone, it is also considerably more durable and hard wearing than many of the other synthetic alternatives. Another advantage of laminate flooring is that is available in an incredibly wide range of styles, textures, patterns and colours.
To get the best from your laminate flooring, there are some important factors that you will have to keep in mind. Firstly, you need to take into account the installation method. You have a choice between a do-it-yourself installation method or one where the installation company or professional in your area does the work. A do it yourself installation method will require less supervision and can be done quickly and easily but if you want to have something done to a really high quality finish then you would be better advised to employ a professional installer.
The second factor to consider is the kind of wood or hardwood that you will be using for your laminate flooring materials. For instance, solid hardwood floors will require more care and maintenance than planks. If you are going for such a flooring solution then you should ensure that you have good quality planks and solid flooring materials that can withstand wear and tear. There are many ways that you can determine whether your flooring materials are suited for use on laminate or hardwood floors, for example, you can test it out yourself. Simply lay down a sheet of the flooring material and walk on it.
The third thing to look out for when choosing a flooring solution for your home is its warranty period. Most warranties offered by different manufacturers for laminate floors will last up to 20 years, whereas most warranties offered for carpet are limited to five years. Carpeted flooring can also be installed over already existing floors without having to incur any extra costs as such floors only need to be laid before the existing floor is refinished. Therefore, you can use this option to install your new laminate flooring in place of your existing carpet.