Selecting
the correct flooring for your
home is as important as any
aspect of interior design.
Along with the ceiling, the
floor is generally the largest
flat surface in a room and
the flooring you choose acts
as a backdrop to your furniture,
as well as having a large
affect on the rooms atmosphere,
tempurature and acoustics.
Flooring can be expensive to buy and just
as expensive to have fitted by an expert
so it is always best to shop around before
making your choice. Don't be afraid to
ask for advice about the best type of
flooring.
Choosing the right floor is as much down
to your lifestyle as personal tastes,
white carpets take a lot more work to
keep clean when you have children or pets,
or are likely to come home dripping pond
weed after fishing. Bear in mind the maintenance
that comes with your flooring.
Don't be put off by the thought of the
potential cost without at least getting
a few free quotes. You never know, a beautiful
thick carpet or luxuriant hardwood floor
may not be as much as you think.
A brief glossary of flooring terms
for the novice.
•
Laminate
An image is printed onto a hardwearing
artifical surface and is generally
laid onto the floor as hard tiles.
•
Cut
Pile
Carpet fibres are attached to the
backing in loops, Cut Pile carpeting
has these loops cut afterwards to
create a different surface to the
carpet.
•
Cut
& Loop Pile
As with a cut pile, but some of the
loops are left intact to give a variated
finish.
•
Blend
The mixture of fibres used in creating
a carpet. Natural fibres are used
for their soft texture and artifical
fibres are mixed with these to add
strength.
•
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is made from a mixture
of various natural and man-made ingredients
and can be printed with any colour
or design. Vinyl is tough and when
when laid over a cushioned backing
material can last for a lifetime.
