Flooring can have an immense impact on the appearance of almost any room. If you decide to install flooring yourself, be sure that you know what you’re getting yourself into. Flooring installation can be very tough demanding work, and it certainly helps to have some experience before trying it on your own.
When choosing flooring, it’s a good idea to avoid designs and colors that may quickly go out of style and eventually date the room. Instead, try to select a flooring type that will always be in style. And keep in mind too that soft flooring like vinyl and carpet will deaden sound in a room, whereas harder flooring materials like stone and hardwood will magnify the sound instead.
There are four major flooring choices that can be made for most rooms and they are wood, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile, and carpeting. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them:
Wood flooring — hardwood floors create a very attractive and warm atmosphere. Their appearance is almost universally loved and appreciated. And another advantage is that they can usually be refinished. Wood tiles can be fairly easy to install for do-it-yourselfers, but wood planks may require a professional to be sure that you get a top-quality job. Some disadvantages are that some of the softer woods like pine can be easily scratched and dented. And if the subfloor is not very solid and smooth, moisture can eventually cause some problems.
Vinyl sheet flooring — this is one of the most popular and inexpensive forms of flooring available. Many do-it-yourselfers will be able to install vinyl sheet flooring all by themselves without too much difficulty. Vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs too. And some of them have a soft layer between the top and the backing that makes it softer to walk on. The only major disadvantage is that if vinyl flooring is not installed correctly moisture sometimes collects on the seams and can cause them to curl.
Ceramic tile flooring — ceramic tile is one of the most durable and long-lasting flooring choices available. It can also be very attractive. Some do-it-yourselfers may be able to install ceramic tile on their own without too much difficulty, but usually some experience is needed to make a high-quality installation. Because ceramic tile resists water and stains it makes an excellent selection for both the kitchen and bathroom. Disadvantages include the fact that ceramic tile can crack if heavy objects fall on it, and it can sometimes be slippery and cold.
Carpeting — the most obvious benefit of using carpet in a room is that it cushions your feet when you walk on it. It also can hide an even subfloor. Unless you are installing a very large amount of carpet, many do-it-yourselfers will be able to install carpet on their own. However, keep in mind that it is a very physical type of job. So if you aren’t in very good shape you may want to hire a professional instead. The main disadvantage of carpet is the possibility of staining. If you choose to put carpet in a kitchen or bathroom make sure that it is a very tight weave and low pile carpet that can be easily cleaned.
The flooring material that you choose for a room can be based on several factors including cost, appearance, sound factors, and other considerations. But knowing the pluses and minuses of each flooring type can help you choose the appropriate flooring for each room of your home.