Home Flooring: Where to Start?

Bare wooden floor with a cup of coffee and a blank notebook

Perhaps you have recently moved into a new property or perhaps you have decided that now is the time to launch into a renovation or redecoration project – either way, deciding to re-floor your home can seem like a daunting process. So where should you start?

Make Lists

Begin by walking round each room with a pen and paper. Think about how you wish to decorate each space and make a few notes about the sorts of flooring that might work well with the new design.

With a tape measure get some accurate measurements of each space. Then sketch a brief plan along with a few notes of what you hope to achieve.

If you haven’t put the existing flooring down yourself, then take up a corner in each room to find out what is underneath it. This could have a bearing on what you decide to lay in its place – and how you have to lay it.

Do your Research

Head out on to the high street with your notepad. Visit as many showrooms as possible, see the products in situ and ask the Advice of the Experts. Give them your measurements, tell them about your home and let them know about the existing flooring and what is underneath.

Armed with this knowledge, head home and get surfing. Bargains can also sometimes be found on the internet – you may find, for example, Reclaimed Wooden Boards on an auction site or tiles or carpet on offer at a discount from an online store, which has fewer overheads.

How Much Should Your Spend on Flooring?

Whether it is due to budget constraints or a determination to get value for money, many of us would like to know if it is worth choosing the more expensive option when considering flooring. Is more expensive really better?

Will a bigger investment pay off the long run? Or are you simply succumbing to powerful marketing and extravagant whims and paying unnecessary money for a luxury product that you will never really appreciate?

Think about Function

Without doubt, location and use are two of the most important factors to consider when choosing any kind of flooring.

Flooring for areas of high traffic have to cope with daily wear and tear, high impact and heavy soiling, whilst flooring for specialised areas of the house such as kitchens and bathrooms need properties such as stain- and water-resistance as well as satisfying other requirements such as providing cushioning and traction.

Thus, in general, it is advised that flooring for areas of high traffic should be the best possible. This means that you should buy the best that you can afford, even if it means that you skimp on other areas such as bedrooms and guestrooms, which do not have to cope with so much wear and tear.

When you consider the hassles and costs of repair and replacement, it is well worth spending more to ensure durability.

This also applies to flooring for kitchens and bathrooms where the flooring has to meet the many demands of daily life and replacement or re-installation may be particularly disruptive.

However, be aware that expensive does not always mean more durable and in some cases, it may actually be better to opt for the cheaper but more hard-wearing option as the more expensive flooring may not be able to cope with the demands and its luxury properties would be wasted.

An example would be Installing Laminate Flooring in the living room of a family with many children and pets, as opposed to natural hardwood, as the former would be easier to maintain and would likely cope better with the high impact, traffic and soiling.

Similarly, cheaper synthetic carpets may actually suit better than expensive wool in many family situations.

Think about Investment

It is important also to consider the house (or retail premise) as a whole when selecting flooring and keeping in mind the overall effect you are trying to achieve.

There is nothing worse than an interior finished with expensive upholstery, fine furniture, sophisticated wall coverings and then to be let down by a cheap floor. In particular, if you are trying to project a certain image in business or enhance the value of your home (especially in preparation for sale) then it is worth investing in good quality flooring.

Natural hardwood is one of the few flooring types which will actually add to the value of your home and if maintained correctly, last the lifetime of the building so it is well worth investing in.

Similarly, expensive natural stones like marble and granite can give a feeling of class and prestige which may be hard to achieve with a cheaper alternative. While many natural materials may be an expensive initial choice, their longevity and timeless beauty mean that they remain good investments in the long run.

Think about the Environment

For many environmentally-conscious people nowadays, it is worth spending more to buy from renewable sources and remain eco-friendly.

Ultimately, you are investing in the long-term health of the Earth and in preserving the planet for future generations. Many eco-friendly options also tend to be more energy-friendly, helping to save costs in the long run.

Think About the Laying Process

Make a final decision on the flooring you want. Also decide whether you are going to lay the new flooring yourself or whether you are going to call in professional layers.

When you buy new flooring the store will often give you the option of using their staff to lay it for an extra cost. Alternatively you could search in the phone directory, online or in the small ads for someone else with experience of laying the flooring.

Your final option, of course, is to Do It Yourself. If you decide to follow this plan then do your research properly.

Make sure you know exactly what you are doing and that you are laying the floor in the right way and using the correct products. Even a small mistake at this stage can be very costly.

The best flooring materials in the world will be useless if the installation is poor and the costs of repairing or re-installing the flooring can be substantial.

Prepare the Spaces

Whether you are laying your new floor yourself or employing someone else to do it, then preparation is essential. If possible, completely clear the spaces of all furniture.

If you are laying a new carpet, take up the old one, along with any underlay and old gripper rods.

Brush up and vacuum any dust or small pieces. If you are laying wood, tiles, stone, laminate or vinyl ensure you have a smooth, clean and dry surface on which to work.

Check with the manufacturer about any surface preparations and the best conditions in which to carry out the process.

If you are installing a solid wood floor, remember the boards may need to acclimatize in the room for several days before being laid.

See Also
Woman choosing floor colours
How to Choose a Floor Colour for Your Home
Woman sat in a spacious hallway with a stone tiled floor
Types of Flooring for the Home