Basement flooring options

Choosing the right flooring for your home is vital, but selecting right ‘basement flooring’ is all the more important. When it comes to selecting the appropriate flooring for your basement, it is important to take into consideration all the challenges, especially that of moisture and flooding. Basements generally have high moisture content, which can actually damage the installed flooring. Hence, before you choose any basement flooring option, you need to figure out an alternative for the problem of moisture.
Other than this many basements face the problem of flooding, and there are very few flooring options that can withstand the damages caused by it. Hence, it is advisable to eliminate this problem before you spend money on installing your basement floor.

Basements are generally used for the purpose of storage, hence are not accessed too frequently; though some homeowners also use it for other purposes. The use of basement is an important factor in deciding the right flooring option. If your basement is relegated to a storage area only, then you can select concrete flooring. It is the most common flooring option chosen by many homeowners because of its high durability. Concrete can easily withstand a lot of pressure and last for a lifetime. Though it is inexpensive compared to other flooring options, it lacks the aesthetic value. To overcome this, you can add thick carpeting over it, only if the basement is dry and has no moisture or flooding problem. Carpets are available in different sizes, colors, designs and patterns, which soften the look of the concrete floor basement.
If your basement is not merely a store room, then you can use ceramic tiles for flooring. A good alternative to concrete flooring; ceramic tiles are available in an assortment of colors and can make your basement aesthetically appealing. Moreover, tiles are resistant to moisture, thereby solving the problem of moisture as well.
Tiles are highly durable and easy to install, and can be done so without professional guidance. Another great option is laminate flooring, which beautifully imitates the hardwood flooring. The biggest advantage of using laminate flooring is its sound-resisting capability. This helps in reducing the noise coming from the basement, especially if you are using it as a game room or a ‘mini-theater’. Only precaution that you need to take is to use a high grade laminate that can withstand the traffic as well as moisture in the basement.

You can even opt for engineered flooring which is made up of three to five layers of hardwood. Despite the layered construction, it is thin and you can add extra insulation if you want. It also offers higher resistance to moisture and traffic. Apart from this, you can even use rubber or foam mats. These mats are resistant to moisture and also have noise insulating capability which makes these a good choice for busy basements with high traffic and activity.
Hence, depending upon the use of the basement and budget, you can choose amongst any of these flooring options.
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Cypress and Hickory Unique hardwood flooring trends

Amongst all the different flooring options available in the market, hardwood floors are undeniably the most elegant flooring option which adds an aesthetic look to the whole place. Moreover, the hardwood flooring can be installed anywhere, including kitchen, hallway, dining room and living room. These are increasingly being used in residential and commercial buildings. Amongst the different types of hardwood floors such oak, maple, pine, fir or birch; cypress and hickory are the most unique flooring trends of today.
Cypress has become quite popular among homeowners; it resembles knotty pine with better natural tone. These are available in delicate cream and soft brown shades, sometimes with hints of green. Over time, the natural darkening and aging of the wood occurs giving it an amber or honey-colored appearance. In addition, the knots and swirls gives it a more natural and unique appearance. The cypress hardwood flooring beautifully compliments the decor of the house, including any type of furniture or color of the interior. Harder than red oak flooring, cypress hardwood flooring is durable and can easily withstand heavy wear without any damage.

This hardwood flooring option has become the foremost choice of homeowners who want to give a warm and rustic country look to their dwelling. The rustic country look has gained popularity in remodeling old homes as well as in new construction in the past decade. The availability of Cypress hardwood flooring in a wide range of cream and brown tones with so many knots makes it the ideal flooring choice for this effect.
Moreover, the natural darker knots and striations in the cypress wood, makes it a good option for high traffic areas as the scratches and dents, if any, get camouflaged with the wood’s natural patterns. As a result, it easily hides abrasions and stains, unlike other glossier floors. Furthermore, cypress has also become a favorite choice of many hardwood flooring contractors, they find it easy to work with, since it is easy to sand and cut cypress wood.

Another popular choice is the hickory hardwood flooring which is available in a wide spectrum of colors. These are available in almost whites, to tan, and from soft brown to rich dark brown tones of the heart wood. Installing different shades together can produce quite vibrant, unique and dramatic looking hardwood flooring, which easily compliments any kind of decor. As a result, it prevents homeowners from worrying about fixtures and furniture clashing with the flooring. Next only to mesquite wood flooring, it is the second hardest domestic wood species used for hardwood flooring, and proves quite durable and cost-effective over other hardwood flooring such as oaks and maples. Similar to cypress hardwood flooring, hickory can also be used in any part of the house, such as the den, bedroom, living room or family room, giving the place a whole new look.
Hence in case you are building your new home or remodeling the old one and are looking for a good flooring option, choose the cypress or hickory hardwood flooring to give your place a royal and elegant appearance.
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The impact of moisture on different flooring types

The decision to install a particular flooring type depends on various factors such as its aesthetics, durability, price and effect of moisture. It is the impact of moisture on different flooring types that restricts the use of certain flooring options in high moisture areas such as the kitchen and the shower.
Hardwood flooring is highly sensitive to the surrounding moisture content since it is fibrous and absorbs and releases moisture. All wooden floors expand and contract according to temperature and humidity changes. Hardwood contracts when the relative humidity is less than the moisture content of the wood. On the other hand, hardwood expands when its moisture content is less than the relative humidity. Fluctuating moisture levels can significantly affect the shape of your hardwood flooring.
Another flooring material that is affected by the moisture levels is bamboo. Since bamboo is actually a type of grass, and is fibrous as well, it also absorbs and releases moisture. Excess moisture in the air will cause your bamboo flooring to swell and bend. In contrast, less moisture in the air will dry the bamboo flooring and cause cracks in it.

Although laminate flooring is considered to be the most durable out of all the flooring options it is still susceptible to moisture. During the manufacturing process, a durable coating is applied on laminate flooring to make it resistant to moisture. Even after this coating excess exposure to moisture can cause laminate flooring to expand significantly.
Cork is another flooring material that is impervious to water seepage. Cork contains a natural material that makes it highly durable and ideal for use in areas such as the kitchen as well. However, since cork is a natural material it is affected by humidity changes. Although cork is not affected by moisture in the same way as hardwood is, yet it should be properly cared for to prevent damage.
Even though different flooring materials respond differently to fluctuations in moisture levels, it is important to limit the exposure of moisture to your flooring. One of the most effective ways of ensuring the relative air humidity does not affect your flooring is known as acclimation.
Acclimation is a pre installation process to ensure that the flooring adjusts to the humidity level in a particular room. Generally, this process consists of placing the flooring material in the room where it is to be installed, for a period of 2-3 days. During this time, the temperature as well as the humidity levels in the room should be controlled for maximum effectiveness.

Controlling the moisture levels around your flooring is important for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is that excess moisture, or lack of moisture can cause the flooring to shrink or expand. This in turn would affect the integrity of the flooring. Another reason is that unless proper maintenance of the flooring is done the warranty on it would not be valid. It is for these reasons that you should ensure that your flooring is not exposed to moisture, or excess fluctuations in humidity levels.
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Finding the right flooring option for different rooms

August 13th, 2010 by flooringsupply | Edit this entry Leave a reply »

Flooring is probably the most important part of a home since it can significantly affect the aesthetics of the house. Furthermore, flooring serves a number of practical uses as well; therefore it is important to carefully select the flooring for a room for maximum effectiveness. Different flooring types have their own pros and cons, and you should weigh these pros and cons according to your requirements before making the final decision.
Some of the different types of flooring options include laminate, hardwood, ceramic, stone and carpet. These flooring types generally differ on points such as their aesthetics, durability, ease of installation and cost. There is no fixed rule on which type of flooring should be installed in a particular room. Generally, a few specific features of a flooring type make it ideal for a particular room in the house.
A bathroom is a high moisture area that requires durable and water resistant flooring. It is for this reason that ceramic and stone are considered as ideal flooring options for the bathroom. Ceramic and stone are not only durable and water resistant, but are available in a wide range of colors and designs as well. Linoleum is another option that can offer similar durability and aesthetics as stone or ceramic, at a lower cost.
The kitchen area in the house is also affected by moisture, therefore ceramic or stone flooring can be installed in the kitchen as well. In case you are contemplating on installing hardwood flooring in the kitchen you should select a highly durable wood. Laminate flooring would be the ideal choice for you, if you want the look of a hardwood floor, with added durability. However, irrespective of the flooring option selected by you it is essential to ensure proper insulation for maximum durability.
Since your bedroom is your personal space, you should select a flooring option that would feel good under your feet. Plush carpet flooring would be ideal to make your bedroom more comfortable and cozy. In case you do not want to install ‘wall-to-wall’ carpeting, a carpet tile would be an ideal option. Carpet tiles will offer the same comfort as a wall-to-wall carpet, and offer ease of installation as well.

Basement is one area of the house that causes the most worry amongst homeowners regarding the flooring to install. One of the reasons for this stress is that since this area is not used on a daily basis, people refrain from spending a lot on its flooring. However, one of the cheapest and the most effective options for the basement is concrete. Not only is concrete staining easy to install, but is highly durable and moisture resistant as well.
Although there is a plethora of flooring options available in the market, specific features of some make them ideal for a particular room in the house. You should carefully consider these features, as well as your budget and requirements to ensure that you select the right flooring option for different rooms.
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