New Year - Thinking of New Flooring
January 12, 2009
We are slightly over a week into the new year and we've set our goals. One of them could be to freshen up our present homes. Touring the new tract model homes and also visiting real estate agents' open houses is one way to shop for redecorating ideas. In my 30+ years in real estate, it has not been unusual to have open house visitors coming to look for ideas that they can use in their homes. One basic redecorating project is new flooring - either carpeting or hard surfaces.
Wall to wall carpeting has been popular for at least 60 years. Since the advent of synthetic fibers, it has become even more popular. Wool carpeting was the standard, but now-a-days some of the synthetics such as the acrylics and nylons have the appeal of easier maintenance.
As for the hard surface flooring, natural stone tiles such as travertine have become extremely popular. Regular ceramic tile offers a very wide variety of color and of texture, often simulating marble and travertine. The down side of these is that they are very hard and can be very cold underfoot. Also the grout lines can become discolored by dirt over time and become a bit difficult to keep clean. However, stone, and ceramic are probably the most durable flooring you can install.
Another popular choice, is laminate flooring. These are the floors that can be real wood veneer that is laminated to plywood and that will give the look of hardwood flooring. They do require special cleaning and unlike real hardwood flooring, they usually cannot be refinished.
Hard wood floors such as maple, oak and walnut have been around since homes were built. They offer a warmth to a home that the stone and ceramic floors do not. You can note by visiting homes built in the late 1800s that these floors have a long lifetime.
Another flooring material that has come into vogue in the 21st century is bamboo. It is installed in planks and resembles a hardwood floor. It is definitely to be considered if you are eco-friendly as bamboo is a renewable resource.
Lastly, there are thousands of different vinyl flooring available - either in sheets or in tiles. These floors can look like wood, or tile or stones and the colors and patterns are endless.
So many choices. Consider how you live and what will best create the environment for your daily activities.
We are slightly over a week into the new year and we've set our goals. One of them could be to freshen up our present homes. Touring the new tract model homes and also visiting real estate agents' open houses is one way to shop for redecorating ideas. In my 30+ years in real estate, it has not been unusual to have open house visitors coming to look for ideas that they can use in their homes. One basic redecorating project is new flooring - either carpeting or hard surfaces.
Wall to wall carpeting has been popular for at least 60 years. Since the advent of synthetic fibers, it has become even more popular. Wool carpeting was the standard, but now-a-days some of the synthetics such as the acrylics and nylons have the appeal of easier maintenance.
As for the hard surface flooring, natural stone tiles such as travertine have become extremely popular. Regular ceramic tile offers a very wide variety of color and of texture, often simulating marble and travertine. The down side of these is that they are very hard and can be very cold underfoot. Also the grout lines can become discolored by dirt over time and become a bit difficult to keep clean. However, stone, and ceramic are probably the most durable flooring you can install.
Another popular choice, is laminate flooring. These are the floors that can be real wood veneer that is laminated to plywood and that will give the look of hardwood flooring. They do require special cleaning and unlike real hardwood flooring, they usually cannot be refinished.
Hard wood floors such as maple, oak and walnut have been around since homes were built. They offer a warmth to a home that the stone and ceramic floors do not. You can note by visiting homes built in the late 1800s that these floors have a long lifetime.
Another flooring material that has come into vogue in the 21st century is bamboo. It is installed in planks and resembles a hardwood floor. It is definitely to be considered if you are eco-friendly as bamboo is a renewable resource.
Lastly, there are thousands of different vinyl flooring available - either in sheets or in tiles. These floors can look like wood, or tile or stones and the colors and patterns are endless.
So many choices. Consider how you live and what will best create the environment for your daily activities.
posted by shirley harry at 7:54 AM
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