<h3>Which Type of Flooring Should I Choose Part 3</h3>

Continued from "Which Type of Flooring Should I Choose Part 2?"

Before you Buy:

Before buying flooring, take detailed measurements of the room and create a scale drawing, if possible. Take these with you when you go shopping. Your flooring specialist will use this information to provide you with the most attractive and economical installation solution.

• Will the new floor have continuity with the other flooring in your home? Where does the floor fit in your overall decorating theme?
  
  
• Will you have to redecorate the whole room to match the new floor? What colors match the existing room décor? Color is a major consideration in floor selection.
  
  
• Light surfaces reflect a great deal of light while darker surfaces reflect little light, requiring more light sources.
  
  
• A room furnished in a light color scheme feels larger than darker rooms. Dark-colored flooring can make a large room feel more intimate.
  
  
• Stick with neutral shades to allow more colorful home decorating or choose bold colors for impact. Keep in mind that a light floor shows more soil than a darker floor.
  
  
• Where is the room? Does it have an outside entrance that generates traffic? Will pets or children be running or playing on it?
  
  
• Does anyone in your home have allergies? Because they harbor fewer dust mites, hard-surfaced floors, complemented with easy-to-clean rugs, are a better choice for people with allergies than wall-to-wall carpeting.
  
  
• Do you have a heated floor? Not all floor coverings are adaptable to subfloor heating.
  
  
• What’s the cost of the new floor, and how long will the floor last? Compare how long different types of flooring usually last. For example, if you are trying to decide between hardwood and laminate, remember that hardwood can be refinished but laminate cannot. Plus, when you've made the decision on what type of flooring you want, remember it will cost just the same to have a middle-grade carpet installed as it would to have the best quality carpet installed.
  
  
• What care will be involved in maintaining the floor? Will it be easy to keep clean?
  
  
• Can the old floor be refinished? Some existing hardwood floors can be refinished. If you like the look of wood, explore this option.
  
  
• Can you install it yourself? Are you able to recognize and repair inadequate subflooring and underlayment? What is the amount of preparation required? Are you able to remove and dispose of old flooring materials? Remember that some old resilient floors contain asbestos and require removal by a professional.
  

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