Flooring

4 Tips to Choose the Right Flooring for Your House

The floors of your home are critical to bring the right look and feel into your home, and although they may not be the most prominent thing that you notice when you go into a home, they can have a big impact on the overall style. When you begin a DIY project, there are so many decisions that you can make about what kind of flooring to put in your home, from carpet and laminate to tile, hardwood, and even marble, granite, or slate. Here are four tips to consider when you are making the decision that will help you figure out the perfect material.

Ask a Few Questions First

Sometimes people rush into a flooring decision based purely on the way the floor material looks or the cost before they really stop to think about the room. Before any decision is made on flooring, you should ask a few basic questions:

• What is the size of the room?

• How much moisture will be in the room?

• How many people will regularly be using the room? Are they kids, adults, teenagers?

• What will people mainly be doing in the room? Do you need a specific type of flooring to prevent spills, be comfortable enough to spend time on the floor, or have a specific type of furniture?

• Do you have pets to consider?

The answer to all of these questions can help you make the right decision for your DIY project based on both personal tastes for decorative design and practicality for the type of room you are planning to create.

Consider Moisture Content

One of the most important considerations for flooring is the moisture exposure in the room where you plan to install the materials. Certain materials for flooring are designed to hold up better against high humidity than others. In places like the bathroom, where you have high moisture content on a regular basis, it’s best to plan for it and have flooring that can withstand the humidity without warping or becoming damaged. Many people go with ceramic tile, linoleum, limestone, marble, or granite in these areas. While marble and granite are great for these areas, they do tend to come with a higher price tag, and may require the help of a professional instead of being a DIY project.

Examine Durability

For rooms like the kitchen, durability is one of the key factors. After all, the kitchen is one of the highest traffic areas of the home, and must be able to stand up to people walking, spilling, and furniture (like chairs and stools) moving across it frequently. The most durable flooring materials you can find are linoleum, ceramic tile, and hardwood. For a DIY project, linoleum is easy to install, it is often less expensive, and it provides a surface that is easy to clean. Tiles are also easy to clean and resist most spills, stains, scratches, and dents, although they can crack if heavy objects are dropped on them, they are exposed to extreme temperatures or if they are in an area where there is movement in the foundation of your home.

Plan for Comfort

In areas where you, your children, or your pets might be spending a lot of time on the floor, it’s best to choose a flooring material that is designed for comfort. If you want to go with tile or hardwood floor, you have a lot of options to create a beautiful space with your DIY project, but it may also require that you get some area rugs around the seating so you can be on the floor without being uncomfortable. You may also choose to go with carpet, and when you do, pay attention to both the comfort level of the carpet and of the pad underneath.

Before making any decision about flooring, it is important to do a little homework. Considering not only your personal preferences for décor, but also your budget, the practicality of the flooring, and the room in which you will be installing it is important to ensure that you get exactly the right look, at the right price.