Are you looking at making a change in your home and don't know where to even start? It's simple, you start from the bottom up. Your floor is the literally and figuratively the foundation that will pull everything else together.
There are a great many options when looking at replacing your floors. Different rooms have different functionalities and certain types of flooring may be more ideal depending on the room you are changing. Carpet may be a better choice for your bedrooms, hardwood may be perfect for your living room and tile is usually the first choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
Let's start with the three different types of carpets:
Cut pile & textured carpets
These include Saxony, which is a level-cut pile about 1/2 inch high. This carpet yields a smooth surface that is ideal for more formal rooms. However, these carpets can show seams, footprints and vacuum marks. Textured carpet features a two-toned yarn and an uneven surface. This is great for the kid's bedrooms or any other high traffic room. It is made to resist soil and is one of the more popular options. Frieze carpets have a short and twisted pile fiber. You may often find this carpet in offices and other commercial spaces. This would be perfect for basements and or playrooms. Styling today is so progressive from the mills, that there are high style, designer versions of all these products. In addition, multi color whether a fleck or a barber pole (lighter and darker fibers wound together like an old fashion red /while/blue barber pole) are extremely hot trends right now.
Loop pile carpets
These have loop pile yarns are looped and fastened to the backing. There are two different types of loop pile carpeting. Berber has large, uncut loops of natural-tone fibers that vary in size. It is very dense and is great for fighting stains, but maybe not the best option for homes with pets. Level loop has tufted loops of equal height which is great for high-traffic areas. It is easy to maintain but stiffer than other carpet options and if often used in basements, home offices and commercial space. With loop carpet tuft bind is very important if you want to avoid zippering, the effect of unraveling a sweater by pulling on a string.
Pattern LCL or true pattern carpets
These are also referred to as Loop, Cut and Loop has a combination of both cut and loop styles. This shows a verigated patterns like boxes, sculptures, diamonds and more featuring varied levels of cut and loop yarns and are very durable, beautiful and easy to maintain. Also, true patterned carpets like a floral pattern, or a zebra stripe.
When it comes to hard surfaces the options are much more plentiful. From the luxury of marble to the value of vinyl, there is a hard flooring option that fits everyone's need:
Stone
These floors encompass choices such as travertine, limestone, marble, slate and granite. Stone floors are great for living rooms and other great rooms. New manufacturing processes have brought down the prices on these materials making them a viable option for many homeowners. Both the beauty and durability of these floor is timeless.
Porcelain Tile
These floors are a great option if you are looking for the durability of stone but at a more economical price. Porcelain tile flooring comes in a myriad of styles and are a great option for kitchens and baths.
Wood
People love wood flooring because it provides a warm and inviting look that will last for years. There are different widths, styles and stains to choose from and wood has a huge impact on improving a home's resale value.
Engineered wood
This is a way to get the look of wood at a price that you will love. Engineered wood is easier to install and is not prone to shrinking and expansion like natural wood, it can also be used below grade in basements and in kitchens.
Cork and Bamboo
These floors are recently coming into vogue again. These environmentally friendly options are great for patios, basements and playrooms. Cork is a softer option that is also water resistant. Bamboo is harder but can be susceptible to water damage. Be wary of builder grade versions of these products and stick to better quality versions such as strand. These are great mid-priced options.
Fiberglass Vinyl
For the most value, this is the way to go. These can be ideal for mudrooms and laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, they provide great value, the are soft and warmer than most other hard surface products and the better quality versions are very difficult to damage or tear.
So when you are ready to make a change, remember start from the bottom up!
