Choosing The Proper Flooring For Your Room By Jeff Slokum, Fri Dec 9th
When it comes to deciding on a flooring purchase the choices arestaggering. There are carpets, hardwoods, vinyl, laminate andceramic. The choice of flooring should be decided by room anduse. A lot of homes are carpeted. Carpeting eludes a warmth andsoftness that other floors don't. Some like the feel ofcarpeting underfoot. One of the first things to consider whenpurchasing a carpet is how much traffic will it receive? If youhave a high traffic area, then nylon would be a good choice dueto it's durability. A carpet of Olefin would also be a goodchoice for heavy traffic areas as it is strong and easy toclean. Polyester is also excellent in high traffic areas as itis easy to clean and resists water based stains. Anotherconsideration would be the density of the carpet. You want ahigh number of fibers per square inch. The next considerationwould be color and/or pattern of carpeting. Light carpetingcolors create a spacious effect, making a room seem larger.Light color carpets of course show soil much more easily thandark. However, most stain and soil treatments put on carpetingtoday do help to prevent this problem. Dark or dull carpetcolors will absorb light giving the room what some call a "cozy"feeling. Rugs with patterns will make a space seem smaller. When choosing
hardwood for your home price may be a factor.Generally hardwood floors come pre finished, this is when themanufacturer applies a finish at the factory. This finish isgenerally at least four coats of ultraviolet cured urethaneresin. Hardwood floors are generally easy to clean with a simplesweep of a dust mop or vacuuming. A manufacturer finish on ahardwood floor will, with proper care, last up to fifteen years.You will want to choose a color of hardwood floor that willaccent your home and home furnishings. As a rule lighter colorsgo with country, contemporary and casual settings. Darkercolored wood floors are for formal or traditional interiors.Lighter wood would be a white ash, sugar maple or southernyellow pine. Darker colors are beech, birch, red oak, heart pineand mesquite.Vinyl flooring has come a long way and remains the most popularchoice for kitchens and foyers. Vinyl is very durable and waterresistant. It comes in a wide range of colors and patterns andis very easy to install for a do-it-yourselfer and vinyl floorsare very easy to maintain.
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