There are many features of homes and offices that give a property its personality. Whether formal and stately, casual and comfortable; or spartan and efficient, the ambience of any given space depends on a number of factors. Some like wallpaper; others, paint. Some adorn their rooms with modern art while still others prefer a colonial decor. Natural and electric lighting is variable. So is the arrangement of furniture to affect spaciousness or intimacy. Even with all these considerations, homeowners and property managers cannot ignore flooring. As the foundation of each and every space, the material, style and condition of the flooring is of prime importance.
One option for flooring selection is to allow a contractor to present a few options from which the customer selects. This is an easier way to go and somewhat struggle-free but in an age of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and seeing a house as a reflection of its owners, those making the decisions want to know the wide range of flooring alternatives available. Moreover, they prefer to avoid the hard sell. This is why suppliers are turning to cyberspace to market quality flooring at affordable prices. The Online Floorig Store combines the comfort and convenience of shopping from home with the expertise of manufacturers and professional installers.
Elements of Flooring
Materials
Floors, of course, should be tough and durable while still maintaining an attractive appearance. Popular materials to this end include:
Hard woods — such as maple, oak, hickory, walnut, bamboo and cork.
Laminate — consisting of a very dense fiberboard core; a photo image layer projecting wood, stone, tile etc.; and a kneaded wear layer that protects the floor and promotes a fresh appearance.
Vinyl — a tough, synthetic material that can mimic the look of any other material, like tile, planks, linoleum, you name it.
Appearance
As noted, vinyl floors can take on any number of manifestations. Hard woods are common visual preferences for vinyl floor users. Known as vinyl plank or vinyl timber flooring, this material can convey an array of colors, stains, textures and other characteristics typical of woods. At the same time, vinyl plank flooring does not suffer the disadvantages of hardwood floors: warping, rotting, scuffing and discoloration due to the effects of temperature, humidity and varieties of foot traffic. Although wood can preserve a healthy look with proper care, vinyl flooring is lower in overall maintenance.
Similar to laminate flooring, vinyl floors are comprised of three working layers: first, the core, in this case coming in a range of hardness — rigid to flexible. Next comes the design layer that projects the image of the desired material, e.g. stone, metal, wood. Finally, there is that transparent membrane layer that serves to preserve and protect the surface.
Any Drawbacks to Vinyl Timber Flooring?
For all of its benefits, vinyl plank flooring is not without negatives. For one thing, as a plastic substance, this type of floor is composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have a reputation for harming the environment. However, there are brands that possess lower concentrations of VOCs than others, though these products might carry a heftier price tag. A second concern that sometimes crops up is echo that walking on this floor can produce. That issue, nevertheless, is a non-starter if a solid sub-floor sits beneath so check that out before installing new flooring. Of course, the appearance and feel of the new floor also hinges on the quality of product that you purchase. Where you buy from has much to do with excellence of the surface beneath your feet.
Versatility and Affordability
Vinyl floors are good for any room in a house or building — from laundry room to living room; conference room to copy room. Because of the seemingly infinite number of presentations and looks that vinyl accommodates, there is really not a single square foot where this kind of flooring is inappropriate. Just as significant, new floors represent a big investment. Apart from installation costs, nevertheless, vinyl ranges from one dollar to five dollars per square foot. Furthermore, the ease with which vinyl floors are laid down makes installation cheaper, too.
Improvements in Vinyl Timber Flooring
This is definitely not the flooring from 1970s sit-coms. Modular plank technology takes some of the ecological taint away from vinyl as a flooring material. Manufactured away from the installation site, floors are transported to and assembled at their new location. Costs are therefore lower and fewer instances of waste. This serves the environment better and the consumer fares pretty well, too. Additionally, floors come with coatings based with silver particles that protect them from rot and decay by biological agents. Vinyl timber flooring brings the beauty of real timber minus the price and vulnerability.
With all of the expanded selections and improvements as the result of research and development, floor shoppers are better positioned to discover attractive flooring at manageable prices. Whether looking online or on location, knowing the pros, cons and details of the current generation of floors can only help when making a final decision.
