Which Type of Flooring Should I Choose Part 2

Continued from article "Which Type of Flooring Should I Choose Part 1"

Where is the room located?

Before you make your purchase, do a little research. Each type of flooring requires the proper substrate to work, therefore some floors are not recommended for all areas of the home.

Is the existing floor above grade (suspended), on grade or below grade? (see diagram)

• Basements are especially susceptible to ground moisture. Both grade level and below grade level floors have potential moisture concerns that need to be addressed.
  
  
• Make sure that you buy a flooring material suited to the grade level where the floor is to be installed. A flooring sales specialist can tell you if the floor you like will work.

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Which Type of Flooring Should I Choose Part 1

This article contains a lot of information about what type of flooring option may be best for your home!

Which Room Will it Be In


Each room in the house serves specific functions that require you to think about function as well as fashion.

Kitchens

* High traffic and dirt from the outside entry door.

* Spills are common from cooking, so floors must be easy to clean.

* Non-slip flooring is necessary for safety purposes.

Possible Solutions:

* Vinyl is a good choice for kitchen floors. In the event of a dropped glass or dish, a resilient floor like vinyl has more bounce and may prevent breakage. Remember, a deeply textured pattern may be harder to clean.

* Tile, laminate and wood are great kitchen floor alternatives. Rugs and mats can soften a harder material such as tile.

Bathroom

* Waterproof flooring is a must for those sink, toilet and bathtub overflows.

* Washable flooring is important for ease of cleaning.

* Non-slip flooring is necessary for safety purposes.

Possible Solutions:

* Vinyl has traditionally been the floor of choice for baths.

* Ceramic tile is gaining rapidly in popularity.

* Newer versions of laminate and wood products can be adapted to bathrooms even with excessive moisture. Make sure any rugs or mats are non-slip.


Living Room

* Focal point and centerpiece of home furnishings in most homes.

* Function varies from family room to formal receiving room.

* Choose flooring to match the room’s function and décor.

Possible Solutions:

* Carpet offers fibers and styles that accommodate informal or formal use.

* Hardwood also provides an attractive, durable option, especially with the addition of area rugs.

Dining Room

* Wear-resistant flooring is a must if the floor is used regularly at mealtime.

* Stain-resistant floors are necessary for any area prone to food spills.

Possible Solutions:

* Carpet is an option, but light colors tend to show stains more and may not be the best choice.

* Wood, laminate or tile work well in dining rooms.

Bedroom

* Floors are usually overshadowed by the bed and coordinating fabrics.

* Traffic is less of a problem here than in other rooms, so stains and wear should be minimal.

* Consider a neutral flooring that adapts to frequent décor changes. Too many bright colors can be overpowering.

Possible Solutions:

* Carpet is traditionally used in bedrooms.

* Wood or laminate floors are good alternatives, especially if you add decorative rugs.

Hallways and Stairs

* Steady traffic brings dirt and moisture, especially to entry halls and mudrooms.

* Stains and wear are more visible.

* Look for a sturdy material that coordinates with the rest of the flooring in the house.

* Entry halls are the first part of your home a guest sees, so use this area to make a bold statement.

Possible Solutions:

* Inlaid patterns of wood parquet or ceramic tile can be dramatic and still handle traffic.

* Laminate flooring is a good alternative, especially if you add non-slip decorative rugs.

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How to Clean Floors

Even though we already have many floor cleaning articles, we were intrigued with the tips below and wanted to share with our readers!


Floor Cleaning Tips – How to Clean Floors Clean and Beautiful

Hardwood, tile, stone or other hard-surfaced floors can add much value to your home, and their low-maintenance is appealing to many people. Take these few simple tips to heart, and your floor will stay clean and beautiful for years to come.
Floor Cleaning Tip #1 – Vinegar Brings Floors Back to Life

If your floor is seemingly dull or listless, use a solution of 3 cups of vinegar to half-gallon of warm water for a quick and easy mop towards renewing your floor. The only exception to this is a marble floor, you should never use vinegar on marble floors. Apply the vinegar solution to the floor with your wet mop, and allow to dry. It will make your floor sparkle once again and bring it back to life.

Floor Cleaning Tip #2 – Use a Squeegee to Clean your Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile floors are beautiful and functional. They have a tendency, however, to dull over time. This can be particularly unattractive for more polished tiles in bathrooms. The trick to keeping your ceramic tile shining is a squeegee as used for cleaning windows. Use your wet mop to spread a warm, soapy solution on the floor. Put the squeegee on an extended pole to save your back. Then draw the squeegee across the floor, removing the soapy water and leaving a clean floor. After each stroke, wipe the squeegee with a dry towel, and continue.

Floor Cleaning Tip #3 – Iron off Wax

When candle wax drips on your hard floor, it can seem impossible to get every last bit. However, it really isn’t that difficult. If the wax is still wet, use an ice cube to cool and harden it. Then use a credit card, plastic spatula, or dull knife to remove the wax. Finally, spread at least a dozen layers of paper towel over the affected area and run a warm iron over the towels. The wax will soften and seep into the towels. If the paper towels saturate through, be sure to change them to prevent damage to your iron.

Floor Cleaning Tip #4 – Do Away with Hairspray

Hairspray will quickly build up on your hard floor and dull the finish. And because of its inherent sticky qualities, normal soapy floor cleaning solutions don’t tend to cut through the build-up. Instead, use a clean cloth or sponge and ammonia to remove the hairspray. Be sure the area is well-ventilated. Never use ammonia on a marble floor; hairspray is just as damaging for marble floors, so avoid the hairspray in the vicinity of marble altogether. To clean marble floors, use plain water or a specially prepared solution specifically designed for cleaning marble.

This article can be found at Mrs. Clean USA