Home Innovations Display Centre

Choosing the Right Flooring

Choosing the right flooring for your home is an important decision. You need to select a type of flooring that fits in with your lifestyle, tastes and one that is comfortable for you. Following are descriptions of the most common floor coverings to help with you decision making:

CARPET

This is an all time favourite. With so much variety today it's hard to go past. Warm, soft, comfortable and looks great!

Carpet is available in several finishes:

• Loop pile (the yarns are left looped)
• Cut pile (the yarns are cut to the same or varying lengths)
• Cut & Loop pile (a mixture of both)
• Twist pile (very hard wearing)

Carpet is made from 3 products:

• Wool (natural, good crush recovery, soft feel)
• Nylon (hard wearing, adaptable, stain resistant)
• Polypropylene (very hard wearing & tough, usually used in industrial and commercial areas)

When choosing carpet consider these factors: stains, fluffing, it needs to be vacuumed very regularly and that tracks can be worn in high traffic areas, so rotation or furniture or a floor rug is recommended for these instances.

TIMBER FLOORING

Timber floorboards are another very popular flooring option. They are very low in maintenance, depending upon the timber they can be tough and durable and very long wearing. Timber flooring in your home is not just an attractive alternative, but is a sensible option for sufferers of hay fever, asthma and other dust related allergies. This type of flooring holds character that is unmatched by any other flooring option. Many patterns and styles can be achieved using timber parquetry, including herringbone, mosaic, gothic or basket waeve just to name a few and with all the different timber and their varied colours, the possibilities are endless!

There are some factors to be aware of however, these being, some soft timbers such as pinecan scratch and mark very easily, particularly from high heeled shoes, sharp toys or heavy pieces of furniture. Floor rugs can alleviate this problem in the main traffic areas. Some timbers can be quite slippery depending on the finish used, making them unsuitable for elderly people, people with a disablility and young children. Another option now available is Bamboo Flooring which looks great and is extremely durable.

TILING

Tiling your floor is a very popular option with many people. It looks stylish and timeless, but like any other floor covering it does have its disadvantages. Tiles are available in a massive range of colours, from traditional creams to modern reds. The styles are also very broad with: natural stone such as terracotta, limestone, slate, travertine, etc and of course there are mock stone tiles. Textures are available in a huge range too, with smooth, rough, patterned, high gloss and splattered. With hundreds of design options, you can have boarders, patterns inlayed and numerous different styles made into custom patterns. Tiling can easily have heating installed underneath it, otherwise it can be quite cold to the touch. It's a hard surface, therefore not very forgiving when you drop breakable items. It is simple to clean, looks great and can be a very elegant flooring choice. 

VINYL FLOORING    

Vinyl or cushioned flooring is becoming a popular alternative. Forget the limited designs that have been available in the past, the new vinyl flooring is rapidly expanding its horizons! It has alot to offer in colour, pattern, texture and style. It doesn't matter whether you are after that cosy country look or sleek modern feel; cushioned flooring has a design to suit you! This flooring option is very affordable, so simple to install, is very durable, is good under foot and is easy to replace later on. It has a low noise level, is low maintenanceand is not as harsh as harder floorings. Vinyl flooring comes in timber and tile looks, slate designs, plain or pattern designs, pebble and stone looks and is available in a huge range of colours.

Remember that you need to choose something that is practical for your type of lifestyle - consider pets, infants, the elderly, etc. and something the suits your tastes. For long term appeal and re-sale value keep large areas in neutral tones and practical finishes, creating accents with your interchangable decor.

HIDC Exhibitor(s) who specialise in this area;

Bamboo and Timber Select

Bayside Timber Flooring

Floors 2 Live

Mountain Timber Products

Perfect Timber Floors

Royal Oak Floors

Stone & Tile Centre

Sure Stone

Wild River Timber Co.