If you are planning on investing in new flooring, it helps to know a little bit about the different types of flooring and their pros and cons before you get fixated on colours and styles. Last week we looked at the main types of wood and wood effect flooring. This week we are going to focus on stone, tiles, concrete and resin.
Stone flooring
Stone flooring is a great option for areas that will experience heavy use, especially those that may also be subjected to spillages and changing humidity, such as the kitchen and bathroom. There many types of stone flooring to choose from, depending on your taste and budget. Well laid stone flooring can last as long as the house stands and, if done properly, can help to add value to your home. It is essential that a flooring specialist installs stone flooring as if the ground on which it is laid is not in good condition, the floor can become irreparably damaged. Although stone flooring is porous, if it is correctly sealed it will withstand most conditions. It is also a great option for people who suffer from allergies as it won’t hold dust mites.
Tiled flooring
Stylish, versatile and easy to clean, there is not much NOT to love about well-laid tile flooring. Tile offers you myriad choices in terms of style, price point and functionality. Scratch resistant, water resistant and easy to clean, there are few areas that won’t benefit from a stylish, well-laid tiled floor. It is a good idea to be aware of pipework running underneath a floor; for example, in a bathroom it may be advisable to lay a floating tile floor in case you need to access the pipes underneath. The only downside of tile flooring tends to be crumbling or discolouring grout; speak to your flooring specialist to help you make the best choice not just in terms of the tiles themselves, but the grout, too.
Resin flooring
There was a time when concrete flooring was saved for industrial units and garages, but it has had a huge surge in popularity and is now a favoured option for kitchens, patios and living areas. Concrete or resin is literally poured onto the floor to provide a fully waterproof, dust-free, sound-deadening surface. There is huge versatility in terms of colour and texture, with the option to add different solid forms, colours and even glitter to the resin. When laid well, resin offers an incredibly hard wearing flooring solution that will last forever. It does, of course, come at a price; currently resin or concrete flooring costs around £120 per square metre.
If you are baffled by the various flooring options available, your best option is to contact a local flooring specialist and talk through the pros and cons of each type of flooring before embarking on decisions about design. For more tips and guidance, why not follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter?