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.