Home Flooring

For the best in home flooring, solid wood flooring provides incomparable beauty and added value to your home. The purchase and installation cost for real hardwood flooring can be quite discouraging but if looked at as a long-term investment in the value of the home it becomes a much more attractive option for many homeowners. If you opt for home floors made of real wood, be aware that they will require love and care in order for them to keep or improve their beauty.

However, there are many less expensive options, such as home laminate flooring which simulates the look of more expensive real wood flooring by means of a photographic layer. Laminate flooring provides a cost-effective and easy to maintain floor solution that resists wear, moisture, and warping and is relatively easy to replace if damaged.

Another option that often gets overlooked is home rubber flooring. Although not particularly popular, there are certain rooms where rubber flooring is well suited. Children's bedrooms, home gyms, home offices, and other areas where heavy equipment, furniture or significant traffic can cause damage to regular flooring are good examples.

Before committing to any type of flooring, it is essential that you assess the needs and conditions of the room or rooms that you intend to have floored. Key factors to know about the rooms are:

• Moisture levels (year round, not just current levels)
• Exposure to strong sunlight
• Traffic
• Presence of children
• Type and weight of furniture
• Purpose of room (gymnasium, bedroom, dining room)
• Probability of accidents (dropping sharp objects, spilling liquids)

Understanding the limitations of the flooring purchased is just as important as being aware of the conditions prior to installation. It can comes as quite a rude shock to have a beautiful new oak floor installed, and then discover after you roll your piano back into place that the casters have carved a groove right through your lovely new floor. Even high heel shoes can wreck havoc with many types of wood flooring.

When pricing flooring, be sure to calculate the installation costs. If you plan on having engineered or solid hardwood floors installed, be sure to employ a professional installer that guarantees the quality of their work. Laminate and vinyl flooring, however, are generally simple enough for a do-it-yourselfer to finish over a weekend.

With any flooring, do your research. Know your wood. Go to the lumber/hardware store and look at the wood directly. If possible, compare samples and ask questions. Never trust photos or Internet images alone for making decisions about new floors or replacement planks or tiles. By planning and taking the time to prepare for flooring, you'll end up saving yourself many a headache and ease the pain on your wallet