There are many different floor coverings available today all competing for our attention. Until a few years ago carpet was the floor covering of choice. However this has in many cases been replaced with alternative coverings such as wood.
The type of floor covering you choose will also be influenced by the room you are putting it in. For example, Gingher shears vinyl is often the preferred choice in the kitchen because it is hard wearing and easy to keep clean.
Here are some examples of the types of flooring one can buy today along with their relative merits.
Carpet
Sales of carpet have declined in recent years as wood floors have become more popular. With a rise in the number of asthmatics in the population generally, wood floors have often been preferred to carpet because they cannot trap dust in the same way that carpets do.
Whilst this may be true to a certain extent, regular vacuuming of a carpet goes some way to reducing this problem and one of the drawbacks of a wooden floor is that dust is left on the surface where it is free to swirl around the room.
Medical conditions aside, for living areas bedrooms and stairs often feel warmer and more comfortable when carpet is used. However, with so many different types of carpet to choose from, from cheap synthetic carpet to expensive woven wool carpets, it can be difficult to decide what sort of carpet to put where. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for, but any good carpet shop should be able to advise you on the best type of carpet for your needs. If you can afford it, try and buy a carpet which is 20% nylon and 80% wool. The wool content gives a plush feel underfoot whilst the nylon content gives the strength needed for a carpet to last for years to come.
Vinyl
Vinyl, and in this we include cushion floor, is a popular covering for bathrooms and kitchens. It is ideally suited for these rooms as any spills can be easily mopped up and staining, whilst not impossible, is rare.
One thing to note however, is that given the nature of both kitchens and bathrooms and the inherent risk of flooding either by leaving a tap on or by a water pipe bursting the method of fixing vinyl to the floor is important. Although vinyl is often one continuous sheet, it is still possible and common for water to get underneath in the event of a disaster. Should this happen, it is very important that the flooring is removed and floor dried properly underneath. This should be borne in mind when the floor is fitted by using adhesive tape around the edge to fit the vinyl as opposed to gluing the final to the floor, which can make removal extremely difficult and thereby increase restoration costs.
Wood
What has become extremely popular in recent years, and can give a certain elegance and freshness to a room. Like carpet, there are many different types of wood flooring to choose from, but unlike carpet, wear is not so much of an issue relative to price.
However, cheaper wooden floors tend to be thinner, which can make them harder to lay properly. The most common problem resulting from fitting cheap wooden floor, (although this can be the case with any type of wooden floor, irrespective of quality), is fitting.
If the floor is not fitted properly, it will not feel solid to walk on and will often squeak. If you can, it is a good idea to get any wooden floor fitted professionally by a reputable fitter.
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