Flooring

Photo: COR London

Every sort of flooring material has advantages of its own. Consider the requirements of each space before selecting the best flooring options for your home. From there, you can choose from a variety of flooring selections by balancing your budgetary constraints and preferred styles. In order to help you choose the finest type of flooring for each area in your house, this article examines a few different flooring options along with their benefits and drawbacks.

In this blog we will introduce different type of floorings, their advantages and disadvantages, durability and other features they might have.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered hardwood is made of layers with 100% natural wood on top, wood on the bottom, and a highly stable core in the middle. The core consists of 5 to 7 layers of plywood, pressed together in a crisscrossed pattern.

Pros: Cons:

+Long-lasting -Can fade in the Sun

+Eco-friendly -Sensitive for water spills

+Adds value to property -Noisy

How to Choose:

The popularity of engineered hardwood floors is rising. They are constructed using a thin hardwood veneer layer on top of numerous layers of plywood and composite material. These numerous layers are intended to lessen the likelihood that the flooring would sag over time. Sadly, some engineered floors have a top layer that is especially thin, which might make future sanding and refinishing more challenging. These floors might only be refinished once or twice. Because of this reason, if you wish to refinish your engineered wood, you must select a thicker veneer.

Most veneers are between 1 and 3mm thick. A veneer layer of at least 3mm is advised for refinishing purposes because it can be sanded and refinished twice or more. The veneer layer cannot be refinished or sanded if it is 1mm or thinner.

Installation:

It is possible to install factory-finished floors right out of the box. These kinds of developments have made installing a hardwood floor oneself simpler than ever. It goes without saying that hiring a professional to install your flooring will save you a lot on the cost.

Durability:

Engineered hardwood flooring can last anywhere between 30 to 100 years. Solid hardwood floors are easily scratched and dented, just like engineered flooring because it has a top layer of solid wood. It probably won't be a major concern if you don't mind a few scratches and dents on your floor, but if you prefer your floors to be spotless, you might not think these floorings are particularly durable. But it's crucial to remember that if you live on your floors at all, you'll undoubtedly see a mark there eventually.

Maintenance:

Maintenance for hardwood flooring is easy in the sense that they don’t require special treatments. Sweeping regularly and using a damp mop or you can also use a lightweight vacuum. However, avoid using one with a rotating bristle bar, which can damage your floors. If your vacuum has a beater bar, be sure to set it to a bare floor setting or use a floor-brush attachment instead.is all they need.

Health and Safety:

Experts claim that low-quality engineered wood is sometimes made with glue that contains formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound (VOC) that goes through an  off gassing  process once it’s installed in your home. This is the reason to make sure you are purchasing from a trusted supplier rather than from a big box store.

Photo: COR London

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors are a hybrid floor covering consisting of a particleboard wood base topped by an image layer and a transparent wear layer.

Pros: Cons:

+Durable -Cannot be refinished

+Easy installation -Sensitive for moist and water

+Wide variety of style -Warping can occur

How to Choose:

Despite its importance, many people frequently disregard this one issue. It is preferable to use a thicker laminate because it will endure wear and strain. Moreover, it can reduce noise and resist bending. To determine which laminate flooring is appropriate for your needs, look at its AC rating. Bedrooms and other areas with low foot activity are great candidates for AC1. Contrarily, AC2 is for areas with moderate foot traffic. But AC3 is for areas with heavy foot traffic, like the kitchen.

Installation:

In fact, laminate flooring is easy to install but require certain work before laying the planks. Foam underlayment is required for any laminate flooring. Underlayment gives the floor a somewhat softer feel and stops it from clicking as you walk across it. Due to the subfloor's minor irregularities being evened out, installing the planks is also made simpler.

Durability:

The actual lifespan will vary based on the floor's product quality, how well you take care of it, and how much use it sees in general. Laminate flooring occasionally can last for 25 years.

Maintenance: