Jennifer Weldon © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
When undertaking any remodeling or renovation project, new flooring is usually a focal point. There is a vast variety of new flooring selections on the market. New trends in flooring materials and lower costs make choosing your new home flooring an exciting prospect. You may be surprised to learn about new products on the market, such as cork and bamboo flooring.
Home flooring has undergone a huge transformation since the 1950�s when many homes had linoleum flooring throughout. Nowadays people mix and match different flooring types to maximize use of each room. For example, in bathrooms, vinyl flooring or tile is quite common. Tile is the preferred choice as you can carry tile up the shower and tub walls. There are a wide range of shapes and sizes available in many tile designs, so unique looks can be created with ease. If your budget does not allow for tile, vinyl flooring is your best bet. Vinyl flooring in bathrooms is easy to clean, prevents water damage, and offers a huge selection of new styles and designs that can create the look of tile, stone, and more.
Tile flooring is a good choice in bathrooms or kitchens when in floor heating systems are going to be installed. Tile is a good heat conductor and will evenly distribute heat throughout the floor. Electric wiring or hot water tubing is laid below the tile to carry warmth. You can hook the in floor heating system up to a timer so that when you arise in the morning your bathroom floor is nice and toasty. Even after turning the heating mechanism off, the tile floor will retain heat for hours to come.
Laminate flooring is a good choice for the budget conscious who do not want to sacrifice beauty. Not only are the materials relatively inexpensive, but a do-it-yourselfer should be able to install laminate flooring with ease. Interlocking panels fit together and can be used in almost any room of your home. Laminate flooring styles can mimic wood, stone, tile and other designs, so you can create different looks throughout your home.
Engineered flooring is another flooring selection that has risen in popularity. The easy installation process is similar to laminate. Engineered flooring also has interlocking panels that fit together. You can install it as a floating floor or glue the wood directly to the floor. Engineered flooring provides a durable surface. It is constructed of a plywood base with a hardwood veneer applied on top. This gives it added strength as well as a wide variety of finish choices.
Carpet flooring will always be a viable flooring selection choice. Carpet provides warmth, softness and sound suppressing qualities. A high grade carpet that is well maintained and cleaned regularly can be enjoyed for years to come. Carpeting is typically found in bedrooms, bonus rooms and recreation rooms.
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kitchen flooring options.
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flooring maintenance.
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pet proofing your floors.
