How to choose the right flooring for your property

June 20, 2023
Flooring is an integral part of every building, and most times, it determines the overall outlook of that property. This is why you must pay special attention while deciding on the flooring for your home. Choosing the right flooring for your property might sound like a simple endeavour until you scour through the different options. It can be challenging to settle for one, especially when you have several factors to consider before choosing. Not to worry; we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll explain the different kinds of flooring and how to choose the right one for your property. We’ll also mention how much you might spend installing some of them to let you know the right one that fits your budget.

What Is Residential Flooring?

Residential flooring is typically found in homes and residential areas. They give off a warm and cosy feeling and increase the value of your property. Some popular options for residential flooring are carpet, solid and engineered hardwood, vinyl, carpet, and laminate. Note that you may need commercial-grade flooring in areas of the house with high traffic to avoid changing your flooring regularly.

What Is Commercial Flooring?

Commercial flooring is the kind of flooring found in business settings. Materials used for these locations are designed to handle extreme conditions and high traffic while retaining an elegant appearance. Examples of materials used for commercial purposes are concrete, hardwood, commercial vinyl, and epoxy flooring.

What Are the Different Types of Flooring?

Before choosing the right flooring for your property, it’s essential to know the various flooring options out there. Here’s a comprehensive list for you and how much it costs to install them.

Carpet

Carpet is one of the oldest and most popular flooring types worldwide. It’s also one of the most versatile, available in various textures, colours, grades, and patterns. Carpets are very comfortable and less expensive than most flooring options. Plus, they’re easy to install and great at muffling sound. However, they tend to retain a lot of dirt and debris, especially in high-traffic areas, so you’d have to do a lot of vacuuming and steam cleaning to keep them clean. You can opt for stain-resistant carpets to reduce dirt accumulation. This affordable material costs £90-£900 for installation. The material itself costs £5-£30 per square metre.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood is aesthetically pleasing, and its ability to spruce up any living area has made it a top flooring option among homeowners. It’s also natural and goes well with various interior design schemes. And if well maintained, hardwood floors can last for several years, up to decades and even centuries. Hardwood flooring is available in two main types: solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring. The former is made of solid wood, and it’s gotten from walnut, oak, or other hardwood trees. Solid wood flooring can be refinished and sanded many times, so it can maintain its beauty for a long time. On the other hand, engineered wood flooring looks like solid wood on the surface, but it’s gotten from high-quality compressed plywood with a relatively thin layer of hardwood bonded over it. This wood flooring is easier to install and less expensive than solid wood. However, its thin layer means it may not be refinished and sanded more than two times. A significant downside of this flooring type is its tendency to contract and expand based on temperature and humidity levels. Engineered wood handles this feature well, so it’s a better option for basements and kitchens. Overall, you should avoid installing them in areas prone to moisture and heavy traffic. This will protect the material for as long as possible and save you more money for repairs. Hardwood is one of the most expensive flooring materials, and you should expect to pay £550-£1750 for its installation. The material itself costs £35-£45 per square metre.

Vinyl Flooring

Another name for vinyl flooring is resilient flooring, and it’s a combination of plasticisers and polyvinyl chloride. It’s also one of the most affordable flooring types to consider. Besides, this material is highly versatile and can be used to imitate glass, tiles, timber, and stones. Vinyl is available in composite tile, sheet vinyl, and luxury vinyl flooring. This material is dent-, stain-, and scratch-resistant. It’s also waterproof and will be a right fit for bathrooms and basements. And since it’s easy to maintain, you only need to sweep and mop it regularly to keep it clean. However, note that damages aren’t easy to repair, so you may have to change the entire flooring if something happens to it. The average cost of installing vinyl flooring is £90-£450.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring resembles hardwood flooring, but the former is from dense fiberboard. Its outlook is a laminated photographic image of timber, wood, tile, or any other material on the surface, with a protective plastic coating. Since this flooring is essentially a photographic image that can take on any form or appearance, manufacturers can always design it to look like a replica of a wide range of materials. The plastic coating makes this flooring type highly resistant to dents and scratches and, in effect, increases its lifespan. It’s also one of the cheapest types, costing £170-£800 for installation. Even better, its easy installation makes it DIY-friendly. However, as much as laminate flooring can be used to imitate stone/tile or natural wood, its plastic feel and pattern repetitions are dead giveaways that it’s not real. Also, this item is manufactured with some chemicals that may harm your health.

Stone Flooring

Homeowners choose stone flooring because it makes living space look timeless and unique. It also increases the value of your property. You can choose to use any stone type based on your preferences, but some popular choices are marble, slate, limestone, and terracotta tiles. Each of these stones has unique characteristics that’ll add warmth to your house. The best part about stone flooring is that it can last forever if well-installed, especially on a solid subfloor that protects it from cracks. Note that you’re dealing with natural stone with high porosity. So, you should ensure the flooring is sealed correctly and resealed at intervals to improve its aesthetics and durability. The bottom line is that you’ll need a professional to help with the installation, which can be expensive. Finally, while this flooring type can withstand intense sunlight and heavy traffic, it isn’t soft underfoot and will shatter dishware or anything made of breakable materials.

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum is environmentally friendly and is made from natural items like wood flour, linseed oil, and rosins. In addition, it has anti-microbial features which prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. This means you shouldn’t be worried about adverse health problems while using this flooring type. Linoleum’s all-natural components make it a popular choice in hospitals and schools. It’s sold in sheets or tiles, although linoleum sheets are more water-resistant than linoleum tiles. Therefore, you should avoid placing the latter in the bathroom. This isn’t a flooring material you want to place in high-traffic areas, as it’s prone to scratches and dents.

Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is another popular material out there, and although there are several kinds available, the two main types are porcelain and ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are harder and less porous because they’re made from finer and denser clay fired at a high temperature. Conversely,  ceramic tiles are made from a simple mixture of sand and water. This type is softer and less expensive. You can never go wrong with either tile type, as they both offer a classic look and are available in different styles and colours. Plus, they’re low maintenance and highly resistant to water, scratches and dents. The only issue is that it’s difficult to install, so you’ll need a professional to help you with it. Tile flooring is another expensive material; you’d have to spend about £400-£1380 for its installation.

What Is the Best Flooring?

Since there are several flooring options, finding the right fit for various areas in your home might take a bit of effort. To help you make the best decision, we’ve highlighted different rooms and spaces in the house and the flooring materials you should consider for each.

Hallways, Dining and Living Rooms

These are the most popular places in the home—you receive visitors and enjoy family time in these areas. The appearance of the hallway and the living room usually determines the value of a home. This is why you must use high-quality materials to make these rooms cosy and easy on the eyes. The first material you should consider is hardwood, especially solid wood flooring, because of its classy look. Besides, this material can be refinished several times, so it’ll maintain its timeless appearance for a long time without needing a replacement. Ceramic tile is another top pick, although it tends to get cold. However, if you’re looking for something elegant and durable, you can never go wrong with this flooring option.

Bedrooms and Offices

Bedrooms and offices are more private than living rooms, so choose more affordable flooring materials like carpet or laminate. The carpet is highly comfortable and more casual than most flooring types. Its softness is another reason you should consider using it in the bedrooms, especially if there’s a playroom in one of the rooms. However, carpets require high maintenance, so a stain-resistant material is better. Then, prioritise hypoallergenic carpets to reduce allergens and mildew. Conversely, if you still want the appearance of a hardwood floor without spending so much money, then laminate flooring is your best bet.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms see a lot of moisture, which means you have to get moisture-resistant flooring. In this case, porcelain tile works best, especially for bathroom floors and shower stalls. This flooring material is scratch- and water-resistant and lasts several years. You can also try ceramic tile, although it’s not as waterproof as porcelain. But it’s a better option if you want something more budget-friendly. Vinyl flooring is another excellent option for kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Vinyl sheet is more water-resistant than vinyl tile because it has few seams.

Factories & Warehouses

We all know what happens in factories and warehouses—operation of heavy machinery, movement and storage of large items, spilling different chemicals, etc. In a place where so much happens daily, you can’t afford to choose weak, porous, or slippery flooring. Doing this can lead to the absorption of harmful chemicals, threaten workers’ safety, and even affect how people value your business. The best flooring materials for factories and warehouses are epoxy and concrete. Epoxy is a common flooring material used commercially because of its non-porous and long-lasting features. On top of that, it can withstand heavy traffic and chemical spills and is the perfect solution for uneven floor surfaces. Although this material cleans easily, it still requires high maintenance. Untreated concrete would have been a good option, but it’s porous and will become ugly and difficult to clean after absorbing stains and harmful chemicals over time. This is why polished concrete is a better material. Polished concrete is untreated concrete that has been polished and refined with bonded abrasives. This flooring option is slip-resistant and non-porous, perfect for factories and warehouses.

What Kind of Flooring Is Most Suitable for Different Environments?

There are other factors to consider before choosing the right flooring for your property. Let’s take a look at some of them below.

Pets

If you own a pet at home, you must look for a flooring material that’s easy to clean, good at sound absorption, durable, and scratch-resistant. The first material that fits the bill is Vinyl flooring. For one, it’s one of the easiest materials to clean. Then, if your pet damages it, it’s affordable and easy to replace. Vinyl stays warm during the winter and cool during the summer, which is one feature that your dog will particularly love. Other flooring materials for pets include laminate, bamboo, ceramic/porcelain tile, carpet, and hardwood (solid and engineered).

Kids

For people with children running around, your top options should be laminate and luxury vinyl flooring. Both flooring types are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and durable, three qualities that can withstand children’s antics. Carpet is another kid-friendly material. Its softness makes it the ideal landing surface for kids who tend to fall or drop things that can break. It’s even better if you have this material installed in their playrooms. You can always find fade- and stain-resistant carpet styles today, so you don’t have to worry about stains and spills.

High-Traffic Areas

For high-traffic areas, you must look for durable, easy-to-maintain, elegant, and high-resistance materials. Some flooring options that tick all or most of the boxes include tile, laminate, concrete, luxury vinyl, and solid and engineered hardwood.

For Wet Areas

Wet areas need flooring materials that aren’t susceptible to rot, mould, or mildew when they come in contact with moisture. Therefore, your top options should be porcelain and ceramic tiles, vinyl (sheet, tile, and luxury vinyl flooring), and concrete. These materials are waterproof and can hold their own in high humidity. There are other materials that aren’t 100% waterproof but can resist moisture to an extent. They are laminate, engineered wood, linoleum tile or sheets, and bamboo flooring.

Other Factors that Affect the Cost of Flooring

Although we’ve mentioned the installation cost of some popular flooring materials, other factors determine these prices. Some of them are explained below.

Screeding

Before installing, professionals will check that the floor is level or the sub-floor is in good condition. If anything is wrong with the subfloor, they’ll have to apply screed, a mixture of water, cement, and aggregate. This mixture is applied to the floor base in a process called screeding. It usually costs £10-£16 per square metre.

New Skirting Board

If you’ll be replacing old flooring with a new one, it’s better to change the skirting boards to improve the look of your new floor. There are different types of skirting boards, such as real oak, primed MDF, pine, etc., and the kind you go for will determine the price. However, you should be ready to pay about £6-£15 per square metre for material and installation.

Underfloor Heating

You may also need to install underfloor heating before fitting your new flooring over it. This heating system is necessary to keep your living space warm. There’s the dry and wet underheating system. The dry one involves connecting electric wires or mats to a main power supply, and it costs £40-£80 per square metre for installation. On the other hand, the wet underheating system is more expensive, costing about £90-£190 per square metre for installation. This system involves distributing warm water through connected pipes installed under the floor.

New Underlay

One element that determines how good your flooring is is the underlay. This lies between the main and subfloors; you should spend about £5-£15 to install that.

Labour

You won’t be installing your new floor for free, although how much you pay depends on the installer and the flooring material you choose. Here’s how much you’ll have to pay floor installers based on the different flooring types:
  • Hardwood: £200-£625
  • Carpet: £40-£150
  • Laminate: £70-£250
  • Tile: £200-£700
  • Vinyl: £30-£100
  • Linoleum: £30-£100

How Do You Maintain and Look After Your Flooring?

Maintenance goes a long way in determining how long your floor will last. Although each flooring type has unique care routines, these are some general maintenance tips you can follow to care for your flooring.

Protect Heavy Traffic Locations

We have several flooring types for high-traffic areas in the home, but that doesn’t mean you have to ignore those locations altogether. For instance, if you have hardwood or laminate flooring installed, you can place a rug on it to protect it from dents and scratches. You can do the same for carpet flooring to collect excess dirt and dust. You should also place an entrance mat at your front door to reduce the amount of dirt coming into your house. These little efforts will extend the lifespan of your flooring, even if they’re built to handle heavy traffic.

Clean Your Flooring Regularly

This is undisputable—keeping your flooring clean will protect it from stains and damage for as long as possible. For laminate and hardwood flooring, you should immediately wipe liquid spills and wet stains to avoid permanent stains. In the case of carpet, regular vacuuming is non-negotiable. Do this at least once weekly for normal locations and twice weekly for high-traffic areas. This will eliminate dirt from carpet fibres and keep the material looking fresh.

Use the Right Products to Clean

Homeowners usually make the mistake of using any cleaning agent for their flooring, which can be counterproductive. It’s great to have a basic floor care kit such as a vacuum, a broom, a dustpan, a mop, terry cloth towels, cleaning pads, and cleaning agents. Still, whatever cleaning agent you choose has to be explicitly designed for the flooring type in your house. For example, using any other cleaning product besides the one intended for wood and laminate floors can ruin the wood pattern. In the same vein, it’s better to use fewer products. Don’t add too many chemicals while cleaning, which can damage the floor’s finish.

Handle Heavy Furniture With Care

Heavy furniture can ruin your flooring, especially if you have a habit of dragging them around. To stop this from happening, lift heavy chairs and tables instead. You can also use furniture pads to prevent furniture from leaving scratches on hardwood and flat patches in your carpet.

Conclusion

Choosing the right flooring for your property doesn’t need to be as complicated as it looks once you have all the correct information. With this article, you shouldn’t have any issues making a choice. You can also contact a flooring company for guidance and other installation needs.