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Flooring is one of the most noticeable features of a home. For the homeowner’s enjoyment, the look and style should reflect their taste. However, it is important that the flooring matches the occupant’s lifestyle and budget too. Flooring options each have good and bad points. By carefully evaluating your family’s way of living, you can determine a flooring type that works best for you.Things to consider when choosing flooring for your home include who lives there, how the rooms are used, ease of maintenance, and health issues of the home’s occupants.

Who Lives in the Home Should be Considered When Selecting Flooring

When selecting flooring for a home, consider the people and pets that live there. Here are several flooring options, depending on your home’s occupants.

• Laminate products and engineered wood floors are great choices for active families because laminate is designed to be very durable and scratch-resistant.
• For elderly or disabled persons, slip resistant carpeting is a good choice in areas where falls are more likely to occur, like stairs. Also, avoid tile floors with grout seams which can be problematic when using walkers and wheelchairs .
• For homes with pets, hard floors are best for cleaning and maintenance. Because claws can scratch wood floors, the better hard flooring choices are tile, engineered wood and laminate.

How the Room is Used Should be Considered When Selecting Flooring

Selecting flooring that best fits the use and location of the room will assure the longevity of the product in your home.

• Entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, and basements are prone to more moisture and dirt. Therefore, these floors must be durable, easy to clean and resistant to moisture and stains. Good choices include tile, vinyl, and stain-guarded carpeting.
• Heavily traffic areas, such as hallways, are better suited for tile, hardwood or vinyl since these products are less likely to wear out and are easier to clean than carpet.
• Carpet is a good choice for low traffic bedrooms and maybe living and family rooms. Carpet can also add comfort and style to these less active spaces.

Floor Maintenance Should be Considered When Selecting Flooring

Maintaining and cleaning your flooring will preserve its aesthetic appeal. For instance, regular sweeping of wood, stone, and tile can prevent dirt from dulling and scratching the floor’s surface. If you have a busy household, a low-maintenance flooring may be your best choice. For example, tile floors are stain resistant and easy to clean, and laminate is scratch resistant. If you choose carpeting, which is high maintenance, consider a neutral color since it hides stains. Also, closed loop carpet resists dirt more than loose pile carpeting. By selecting a flooring you can easily care for in the time you have, you will not only save yourself aggravation but perverse the lifespan of your investment.

Health Issues Should be Considered When Selecting Flooring

For homeowners with asthma, respiratory allergies or sensitivities to chemicals the choice of flooring is essential in assuring a healthy home. Easy to clean floorings such as hardwood, tile, and hardwood laminate are the best choices. Carpet is the worst because dust and pollen collect in carpet. Most importantly, avoid floor products that contain high VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs contribute to illness, particularly with those who are sensitive to airborne allergens and contaminants. When choosing a floor product, look for products with the Green Label and Green Label Plus. These labels ensure the very lowest emissions of VOCs in carpet, adhesive and cushion products.

Once you select a few floor products that fit your lifestyle, you can choose the one that suits your tastes and budget. A final consideration is how long you plan to live in you home. If you plan to move in a few years, a less expensive choice might be best. For more information on flooring for your lifestyle: Things to consider when choosing flooring for your home, visit Falconcrest Homes.