The apartment is often the last thing on homeowners’ minds when moving or renovating. His eyes go to furniture, bedding, appliances, and accessories. However, the floor is the first thing to consider when moving or improving your home. The floor is the foundation – a strong, durable floor with a long life will make you feel safe and save you money. Many homeowners are overwhelmed with the number of flooring pricing options available. Today, we’ll see what to consider when getting a flooring quote and how to find the right flooring for you.
Choose the right soil
For most of us, a flat is a flat, until we start to think seriously about it. The flooring you need depends on your lifestyle. A single woman with a full-time job can probably do just fine with a plush white rug. However, if you have pets, you may want to reconsider and choose a Berber rug or hardwood floors. A family with young children could do well with hardwood floors and rugs. However, such children would like to run in socks or bare feet and could easily slip or fall. Children also do not like to sit on hard floors, which is a disadvantage during times when they need to stay still. If you’re not sure which flooring will suit your lifestyle, or if you have several different options, ask an expert at your local flooring store.
First, set your own budget
Flooring experts want to sell their product, but they also like to serve clients who think ahead and set their own budgets. Before entering, measure all the rooms that need new flooring and write down the measurements. If you are only laying flooring in one part of a space and you don’t know how much you will need, make an informed estimate. Compare prices on different types of flooring, like cherry vs. cypress wood or fluff vs. Berber carpet. Reserve 10-15% of your budget for unforeseen developments, such as discontinued options, a conflict with the contractor, or personal injury. Approach your flooring expert with your budget and ask to see all the options that fit your budget, starting at the low end.
Consider your work ethic
A flooring option always looks pretty in a sample, safely stored on a store shelf. However, you shouldn’t buy a floor style based on appearance any more than a pet would adopt without considering their behavior and needs. The best-looking floors can have the biggest problems, so consider how much work you can and how much you will work. If you’re not willing to give your kitchen a good mop or scrub every once in a while, choose ceramic tile over wood. If you want to pave your bathroom yourself, do not choose marble or limestone as they require professionals.
Rate your floor
You can’t give flooring a grade like the one your teacher gave your end-of-year assignments, but you can and should ask your flooring expert about the different grades of wood, tile, and other materials. Depending on your taste, you will need different grades. For a homey, rustic atmosphere in wood-floored rooms, look for slightly lower grade wood with unevenness and “character.” If you want your home to look like a showroom, be prepared to shell out big bucks for uniform lumber, limestone, and plush carpet.