Choosing the right flooring for your home can be tricky, it is, after all a HUGE decision, once laid, it can be very hard – or expensive to remove, so you really need to *get it right*. There are so many different types of flooring available – tiles, carpet, timber etc and all have their very own pros and cons. There are a few factors you need to consider when choosing the best flooring for your home. If you want floors that are easy to clean, durable and look classy on your floor – you can’t go past timber flooring. Timber flooring has an anti-allergenic feature as well, which means they won’t be a health hazard to your family. Timber floors are great from anyone who suffers from asthma or other respiratory problems.
When looking to buy timber flooring for your home, there are a few things you should consider or look out for before you make your final decision.
- You definitely need to choose the correct grade of timber – if you want your floors to have a very natural appearance it’s best to go for standard grade timber. If you want to make your floor look more creative or stylish a character grade timber is a good choice, but if you want a smooth looking floor then chose a select grade of timber flooring.
- You also need to decide on a floor color – you want a color that will go well with the over-all appearance of the room. When you are looking at timber flooring you can take your pick from 3 main color themes – cream, red and brown. Choose the color that you both like the best and the one that will suit your room perfectly.
- Consider the technical aspects of the floor. You want to be aware of the different technical properties of the type of timber you want to use, paying special attention to the hardness and durability of the floor boards. This will help you decide if your floors can stave off any bacterial and humidity related *attacks* or damage. You want and need your floor to last a long time. No one wants to be changing their whole flooring every few years.
- Work out roughly how much timber floorboard you’ll need. Ultimately the floor boards you choose will need to be cut properly and modified so each board can be fitted to your floor correctly. Cutting means there will be some wastage. Buy the amount of flooring you need and buy an extra box (or two) to allow for any wastage and damage.
- Choose the right size of board. Timber floor boards do come in a range of sizes and they are classified according to thickness, width and other structural features. You need to choose the board that suits you and your home the best. If you are not quite sure ask your timber flooring specialist.
- Select a floor board that has an attractive finish. Gloss and semi-gloss finishes are quite eye-catching while a satin finished floor board is also a very popular option.
- Use rugs and mats to prevent your new timber floor from being scratched. Do NOT drag heavy furniture or other items over the floor and invest in some good curtains or drapes to stop your new timber floor boards from being directly exposed to sunlight.
- Always keep your timber floors clean, never use harsh cleaning products and set yourself a floor board budget to avoid the cost of your new floor spiralling out of control.