No building is complete without a floor.
The floor lays a foundation and provides structural support. A good flooring solution will also increase your home’s value and serve you for a long time.
While there are very many flooring materials available, choosing the right one can be a challenge. Most of us focus more on the price of the materials, which is a critical factor, but forget about other important things like durability, quality, purpose, and ease of maintenance.
Here are some guidelines to help you choose the right flooring materials.
1. Durability
Changing the floor is something that requires a huge investment, effort, and time. Choose a flooring solution that will stand the test of time.
What will determine the durability of your floor? The main factor is the quality of the materials.
However, durability may also be determined by the amount of foot traffic your floor receives and the effort you put in to taking care and maintaining the floor.
2. Maintenance requirements
While it is good to choose a durable flooring material, a little effort and care go a long way in ensuring that the floor stays in good condition.
The question you should be asking yourself is; Are you capable of meeting the maintenance demands of the flooring material?
If not, which other option do you have?
For instance, epoxy flooring materials require minimal care. Actually, you only need to clean them regularly with water and foam soap. This flooring solution is resistant to water, oil, and other liquids, making it a great option.
Tiles require regular cleaning and grout scrubbing and for hardwood floors, you will need to refinish perhaps once or twice per decade.
Stone tiles on the other hand must be polished after a few years of service.
Tiles and laminates do not get dirty easily, thus will cut you some slack when it comes to cleaning.
Whichever flooring you choose, make sure you are capable of maintaining it so that your floor serves you well.
3. Your style and aesthetics
Beauty and style should also be a top priority when looking for flooring material and should reflect your personal style.
The good news is that most flooring materials come in various sizes, designs, colors, and texture – giving you multiple options to customize your floor to your desired needs.
Laminates and tiles come in a wide range of colors to make your flooring attractive. Epoxy flooring creates a shiny surface, and also comes in various designs from epoxy flakes to metallic epoxy which is perfect for home decor.
On the other hand, wood floors are also available in different shades, to suit different architectural styles and preferences.
4. Traffic flow
Before you settle on any flooring solution, factor in the usage of the floor.
Is this a commercial space that will have high foot traffic? Does your residence have young children and pets? Perhaps you have elderly relatives living with you? Is this for your porch or balcony?
Some flooring materials may not be ideal for some spaces.
Areas with high traffic like commercial and industrial spaces require flooring materials that are sturdy, non-slip, and resistant to wear and tear. The material should be able to withstand the test of time without chafing, chipping, discolouration or generally wearing out too fast.
Industries that manufacture or use toxic and corrosive chemicals can damage a floor and reduce its lifespan. As such, industrial floors should be chemical resistant. Floorings solutions such as epoxy coatings can work magic in such areas.
Residential and commercial garages need sturdy flooring solutions to withstand the pressure by vehicles. Hot tires can also leave some marks on some types of floors, so pick one that is either marks resistant or easy to clean.
Commercial areas such as supermarkets, warehouses, and showrooms have a high risk of possible abrasion due to constant foot traffic.
5. Ease of installation
How long will the installation take? This is a question you should ask yourself before you settle for any flooring material.
This is a factor that will be especially important to commercial and industrial workspaces.
Some materials will take longer to be installed – which will cause downtime in the production processes. Some materials may require thorough surface preparation, custom cutting, and fitting, which could force you to shut down your business for weeks or even months.
However, the good news is that some flooring materials can be installed in less than a day – but of course, the installation will depend on the size of the room.
Some installations require a high level of professionalism, which increases the time required to get it done well.
6. Price
After your flooring material has passed the test of all the above considerations, you now need to look at the cost. The good thing is that most flooring materials come in various designs, shapes, and textures, which are all priced differently.
The flooring material with the lowest price is not always the best choice. This is why you need to be careful when using the price as a consideration.
The cost will depend on various things like the quality of the flooring material, size, design, among other things.
Whichever decision you make regarding the choice of the right flooring material, you need to make sure that it is worth the investment. If it means investing heavily in a flooring solution that will stand the test of time while maintaining the beauty and style of your home, so be it. I
If the price is way high beyond your budget, explore the many alternatives available.
If your budget is tight, you can try wood, laminate floorings, or tiles which are fairly inexpensive and affordable.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to struggle to find the right flooring material for your building. While it can be challenging, using the above guidelines and tips goes a long way in ensuring you make the right choice.
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