Are you thinking about installing or changing the floor in your home? Find out what you should consider before moving forward, to ensure that you make the right choice.
Flooring is a key element in any home. A beautiful, high-quality floor makes the space almost immediately more pleasant and welcoming, and it also has an impact on the decoration and our feeling of comfort.
So if you're going to install or renovate flooring in your home, you've probably already spent some time deciding whether you should go for ceramic tile, wood, or laminate flooring in order to get the results you're looking for.
Did you know, however, that besides the design there are other important points to consider before installing a new floor?
In this article we explain the three main aspects you should consider so that the new floor in your home stays beautiful and in good condition for a long time.
1. Choose the floor according to your living spaces and your lifestyle
From ceramic tiles to wood, laminate and vinyl floors, the flooring options available on the market are so diversified that choosing is not always easy. To make the process easier, besides personal taste and the budget available, keep these aspects in mind:
1.1. Where in the home will it be applied? The function of the space is a determining factor when choosing the most suitable floor. Kitchens and bathrooms require materials that are water-resistant, easy to clean and not slippery when wet. Living rooms and bedrooms, on the other hand, become more comfortable with laminate or wood flooring. Also, remember that the busier areas of the home, such as the living room and hallways, need sturdy and easy-to-maintain floors.
1.2. What is your lifestyle? Lifestyle is another factor to consider. If you have children or pets running around the home, choose a floor that doesn't scratch easily and is easy to clean. Consider how much time you have to keep the floor in good condition: wood flooring, for example, requires more care than a ceramic tile or laminate floor.
If, after choosing the material, you are unsure about the color or finish, ask for samples of the various options you are considering and test them out at home. By looking at the samples in the spaces where they will be applied you will be able to see if the floor goes well with other elements, such as the wood used for the doors or the color of the walls. It also allows you to see how the floor will look at different times of the day.
2. Apply an underlay for more comfort and durability
Although we focus a lot on the visual appearance of the new floor, choosing the right underlay is just as important as choosing the right flooring.
An underlay is a layer of material applied between the concrete (or the previous floor if it's a renovation job) and the final floor during the floor installation process. It's only a few millimeters thick and cannot be seen, but it makes the home more comfortable and keeps the floor in good condition for longer.
In a home where an underlay is applied, walking is smoother and everyday noises are reduced on other floors and in other rooms. In addition, the underlay helps with thermal insulation, making the room warmer during winter, which saves energy. It also acts against moisture and significantly increases the durability of the floor. In other words, the right underlay is the key to a comfortable home and a more durable floor.
As with flooring, there is also a wide range of underlays on offer, which may lead you to wonder why choose a cork underlay over a 100% foam-based solution?
The answer is the durability that a cork underlay gives the floor. Recent tests carried out in independent laboratories have shown that when compared to 100% foam-based underlays, cork-based solutions are the best option to ensure the protection and durability of the floor.
Amorim Cork Composites has been developing cork underlays for several decades and currently offers its customers a vast range of products to suit all floor types
3. Think long-term (and protect the planet)
Finally, when evaluating the various flooring and underlay options, remember that the goal is for the floor of your home to remain in good condition for several years. That is why it is important to choose products that guarantee the floor’s durability over time, as is the case with cork underlays.
In addition, at a time when there are growing concerns about sustainability, choosing a durable solution also represents a commitment to environmental protection.
In the case of cork, in addition to being a 100% sustainable material, it has a number of characteristics - such as resilience, cushioning effect and high impact absorption capacity - which guarantee that the floor will last for many years. This will avoid replacement costs and discarding the previous flooring.
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