»Flooring Options

For good reason flooring is often called the 'fifth wall.' However - unlike the other 'walls' - almost no other interior component will get as much wear and tear. What you choose might depend as much on a simple childhood memory of stepping barefoot on your grandmother's ceramic tiled kitchen as it could on how you cringed every time you wore dirty running shoes on your mother's off-white carpeting. Flooring trends have shifted in the past few years, trends have come and gone and returned while reflecting an overwhelming move towards home improvement and bringing the outdoors inside.

Flooring options are broken into five distinct categories: wood, carpeting, laminate, resilient and ceramic/stone. Matching your homes' needs with your personal desires will help you make the right decision. In the meantime consult this New Dreamhomes breakdown for some guidance on your flooring options.

Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are synonymous with the classic Toronto home. Walk into any century old dwelling and you'll see just how durable it can be. Hardwood floors are discouraged in the kitchen, bathroom and basement since moisture issues will warp or change the colour of the wood. Conversely, an extremely dry area can cause the wood to crack apart. Provided you vacuum regularly, hardwood floors can be a godsend for the allergy prone homeowner while precautions such as buffers on the bottoms of furniture and the occasional recoat with polyurethane will yield long-lasting results. Hardwood floors are hardly cheap and do require installation, but, according to realtors, this is widely considered worth the investment for its resale appeal.

Carpeting
If you are looking to obtain softness and warmth in the Canadian climate, while minimizing the ambient noise and potential injuries of a young and growing family, little can match carpeting as a flooring option. A multitude of colours, texture and distributors also make carpeting a relatively affordable option although be forewarned, quality does improve exponentially with the amount you spend. The pitfalls of carpeting are well known: threadbare where there is too much traffic and, despite the introduction of stain-resistant fibres, stains are a fact of life. One should expect to replace their carpeting every eight to ten years. Currently, frieze, a mix of thick and thin yarns is the most popular form of carpeting. Frieze appears to last longer as the fibres change position, thereby wearing away on the top but also on the sides.

Laminate Flooring
It's almost hard to believe that laminate flooring was only introduced into the North American market in the last decade. This thin plastic has had prolonged usage in Europe and is comprised of three layers; a surface with printed design, a core and a backing. Laminate flooring is most often made to look like wood and, unlike the real thing, laminate flooring can be used in moist areas. Installation is simple, the method generally do-it-yourself and the material resists dents, stains and gouges. Due to its strength and affordability, laminate flooring is particularly popular with the first-time homebuyer. Laminate flooring drawbacks are few, except that it cannot be 'refinished' like hardwood floors.

Resilient
This category is a wide and encompassing, and includes vinyl, rubber, linoleum and cork. As the name implies this flooring is best loved for its comfort under foot and natural 'give.' Vinyl is historically the most popular type, thanks to a plethora of looks, the do-it-yourself ease and affordability. Linoleum peaked in popularity in the 1950s and 60s and has surged in usage as new homeowners embrace retro-styles. Though resilient flooring is very durable, styles change and it does tend to show wear over the long run. More often than not, it needs to be replaced every 10 years or so, depending on the amount of wear and tear it receives. In keeping with the trend towards bringing the outdoors in, resilient flooring is available in a dizzying array of 'natural looks' that include earthen textures, natural stone, ceramic or wooden textures.

Ceramic or Stone
This tiling is a much-loved flooring option in both the kitchen and bathroom, primarily for its cool feel and easy-to-wipe surfaces. With its Mediterranean or Southwestern roots, ceramic and stone lend a more exotic tone to the Canadian design landscape. In more recent times, with the proliferation of loft and condominium development tiles bearing concrete effects, a variety of finishes have become more common. The look is decidedly urban and sophisticated.While it is important to note that tiling can be slippery when wet, it is resistant to moisture damage and easy to install.