Laminate Flooring VS Carpets

There is a range of ways to laminate your floor, and with prices ranging to suit most budgets it could be worthwhile considering the merits of laminate over more traditional carpets or other types of flooring.

Adding value?

One of the first questions to ask about laminate flooring is whether it will add value and convenience to your home. As a modern style and with lower maintenance levels than carpet, many householders find there is a distinct appeal with laminate floors. They look smart and functional, and there is an immediate choice if you miss the soft warm feel of carpet as rugs and mats work exceptionally well laid out over laminate floor.?

The downside is that it is not real wood. It's actually a photograph or image of wood glued to high-density backing board. Choose the wrong type of laminate flooring and you could find that it looks a bit 'tacky', almost as if you're trying to make something look like wood when it blatantly isn't. Vinyl floors with a 'wood effect' finish can also suffer from the same problem. Choosing cost over quality could be counter productive when you're trying to add value and appeal to your property, so always go for the best quality laminate or vinyl flooring you can afford.?

But if you're trying to add value and appeal to your home, laminate floors can be a more affordable home improvement than a real wood floor. Like vinyl, they are easy to maintain and relatively cheap to install. But if you've already got a quality carpet then it might be worth ditching the idea, as on balance a good quality carpet could have just as much appeal as a fake wood floor.?

What's under the carpet??

The whole point about improving your floor is adding style, functionality and visual appeal. An old scruffy carpet is going to look far worse than a brand new laminate floor, but try taking a look under the carpet. Before you spend money on a new vinyl or laminate floor it could be worth checking that you don't already have a great looking wood floor underneath your existing carpet. It might be in need of a bit of sanding and varnish, but you could already be standing on what would otherwise be a very expensive and valuable wooden floor.?

A mix of carpet and laminate or wood flooring can often be a good option, with wood or laminate flooring on the ground floor, and carpet in the bedrooms. This way, you can save money and put the wood or laminate flooring in the areas where they're most likely to be appreciated, and valued. Rugs can be laid over the wood flooring where necessary.?

Essentially, the choice between carpet and laminate is down to individual style. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but while a wood floor always looks better than laminate, it's a question over what is affordable and whether you're really going to get value for money.

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Real Wooden Flooring for Lasting Benefits

One cannot negate the fact that one of the most attractive flooring materials available today is real wooden flooring. The primary challenge with this is is placing it in a part of the house which has moderate to high levels of humidity and moisture because that will eventually make the wood crack, peel, or warp on the surface. Even so, it still adds a a certain kind of warmth, that, if complemented with the right design, would make the entire room a sight to behold.

What kind of material do you use for your floors? If you are looking for a floor tile that is durable and fashionable at the same time, then you should try using real wood for your home flooring needs. This material has a distinctive appearance that will make it very difficult to completely be copied. Some may resort to vinyl to have a semblance of wooden floors but the effect is really different and one will readily know with a quick glance and a quick feel of the feet that that is not real wood.

One crowning trait of real wood is that it is easily repairable. Depending on the degree of damage, a basic way to restore wood is by sanding and refinishing it. Yes, vinyl is a lot more cheaper but you can do nothing except to dispose it once it is damaged.

Another reason why this is one of the most popular floorings is that it adds monetary worth to your property, especially if they are maintained in a good condition for a long period of time. Some antique houses comprise of floorings as old as 100 years back, so the value of the overall property will be much higher.

On the other hand, if you are one of those people who are prone to allergic reactions, it may be favourable for you to know that wooden floors do not heap pollens, dusts, or pet hairs as what carpets may do. Cleaning is basically also just a sweep or mop away. Do for avid pet owners and allergic people, this floor covering is for you.

If you already have wooden floor tiles in your home, it may be a good idea to set up cheap blinds or temporary blinds instead of thick drapes and curtains, so that it would be more convenient for you every time you need to sand down your wooden floors.

One important thing that this material can offer is the environment it creates. Different floorings elicit different feels. Timber is a thick material and is also a good insulator than plain vinyl or ceramic tiles. That is why using this floor covering will definitely be a good investment over time.

It is also good to note that timber is a renewable resource. High quality timber is just around the corner and you do not have to go through lengths to find it. If you are an environmentally conscious individual, you can also ask timber companies if they are initiating tree planting activities every time they cut down trees, and stick with the companies that do that.

To get the best of your wooden flooring, try to regularly clean it and maintain it to last for a lifetime.

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Redecorate With Laminate Flooring

Thinking about redecorating, but?undecided with what to use for the flooring? Then think about cork tile flooring. Cork is being pushed more and more nowadays to be used as a floor option. It is a renewable source which can help leading us away?from using wood. There are many advantages to using cork from versatility, health, and durability reasons.

There are many different colors and patterns to choose from when using cork tiles. This is because that cork goes through a baking process that results in the many different looks and degrees of colors. The longer the process the darker the natural hue will be. With the many different colors that are available, many different patterns can be designed for the specific space, making cork very versatile.

Cork comes from the bark of a tree, which grows back making this a 100% renewable resource. Suberin, a natural substance found in cork, can reduce and be resistant to mold and mildew. It is also naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-fungal, insect resistant, and anti-microbial. These are many advantages to have cork tile flooring in your home, especially in the kitchen area.

As for durability, cork tile flooring naturally resilient. If an object falls onto cork it absorbs the fall and instead of breaking can return to its natural state. Suberin is also fire resistant to ensure that no toxic fumes are emitted in the case of an emergency. Most scratches develop from being un-swept with the buildup of dirt particles. Floating cork flooring is has the same benefits, giving the option to place cork directly above the old floor. Padding is recommended to place under any heavy objects or furniture that are sitting above the flooring to reduce any type of damage.

Cork tile flooring can be purchased either prefinished or unfinished. An unfinished tile is left in a natural state, has been painted or stained but has not been sealed. The seal is necessary because it makes it stronger and adds the advantage of moisture resistant. The prefinished tile is already sealed and will not need to be seal after it has been installed. Purchasing a prefinished tile creates less work for the installation.

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