Residential flooring is meant to make your house a home, invite you in and reflect your taste and style. When homeowners are in search of new flooring, it is often to modernise their homes. With endless options such as hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring, laminate, tile, carpet, slate and painted flooring, it can become quite a headache to choose.

What to look out for when specifying residential flooring

Factors such as moisture, durability and costs can contribute to your decision and ultimately your ideal choice of flooring.

Six floor finishes for specific spaces

Ehrardt Nieuwoudt, owner, managing director, and lead interior designer at Kim h nieu Interior Design unpacks six flooring options that will better inform you on how to go about choosing the appropriate floor finish for a particular space.

1. Tiles
   Tiles tend to be the easier and cheaper option but this purely depends on personal preference for the space. They are a practical approach to flooring but can be perceived as cold and stark. Keep in mind the chosen tile’s pattern repeats as well as inevitable grout lines.
2. Solid timber
   This is seen as a very luxurious option and tends to be less sustainable unless reclaimed. It is also very pricey. Solid timber floors scratch easily so regular maintenance and sanding are required. There tends to be a set lifespan for this option.
3. Engineered timber floors
   This flooring gives the same look and feel as solid timber floors but is cheaper and more sustainable as most substrates are recycled. It is also easier to install. Similar maintenance to solid timber is required and the flooring has a specific lifespan.
4. Vinyl
   Vinyl flooring has been around for a long time but has become popular again because of advancements in materials and manufacturing methods. There are many finishes to choose from and vinyl can vary from colour to a natural appearance finish. This product has various levels of wear and scratch resistance, from residential to heavy commercial. It is not a cheap product but is relatively low-cost when compared to natural products. Application is easy and practicality is high.
5. Carpet
   Carpets are great at adding warmth and luxury to an area but are becoming increasingly less popular. There are huge selections available varying in plushness, thickness, wearability, application and colour. Regular cleaning is necessary and it has a limited life expectancy because of wear. Carpet is not always a great option for individuals with allergies and pets.
6. Screed
   This is a reasonably inexpensive and quite a popular finish for flooring. Options range from natural to various colours and finishes. Maintenance is easy and lifespan is extensive. One thing to keep in mind though is that screed tends not to have a perfect product finish and that movement and cracks are normal and quite apparent.

Factors to focus on

Choosing the correct flooring type has less to do with one’s personal choice and more with the functionality and practicality of the space and budget. Considering the factors discussed will help you choose the floor finish best suited for the required space.

Full acknowledgment and thanks go to www.kimh.com for the information in this editorial.

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