That new living room presents a world of possibilities. Décor, furnishings, art and collections all add a tasteful, personalized touch to the center of your household or office. You have many choices about how to outfit the most important rooms of your home or business, but all of them begin with a very basic decision: what type of flooring to use?
In years past, wall-to-wall carpeting has been the most popular option, but there are many reasons to shun the shag: studies show that rug fibers retain environmental contaminants and germs in many homes, and are often responsible for allergies among pets and children. Furthermore, the burden of maintenance, not only constant vacuuming but regular and expensive deep cleaning, has caused many homeowners to turn away from fiber-based flooring.
Hardwood can be an attractive option, but installing a hardwood floor can be a daunting task that stops many home improvement projects short. Matching planks to the area of the floor is a mathematical challenge, and the variety of saws, sanders and balance levels needed to equip the project can overwhelm the budget. Worst of all, installing a hardwood floor is an easy job to botch; a single miscalculation can derail you entirely, sending you back to the drawing board.
Many people associate tile with the laminate fixtures used in bathrooms and kitchens, but the truth is that a whole new wave of wood-style tiling is now available, giving you the best of both worlds: the homey, traditional look of stained wood flooring, without having to turn your home into a busy and noisy construction site.
If you don’t want to feel like you’re walking all over the Earth, you can choose light, durable-and renewable-bamboo or cork tiles, available from online providers. Inexpensive as well as friendly to the environment, these materials are harvested without harming trees, making this the choice for today’s conscious consumer.
In the end, only you can decide which type of flooring is best for you, For ease of installation, durability, and light upkeep, more and more builders are turning toward attractive, low-weight tile products which have the look of an authentic hardwood floor without the hassle.