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Every day we walk on different floors, from our own homes to shops in various retail centres, in our workplaces and even where we park our vehicles. Flooring is something we do not immediately notice, yet it forms a major part of our everyday lives. It provides a safe area on which to walk, beautifies specific areas and provides a hygienic barrier between us and the earth.
There is a large range of flooring options available, all of which are laid on top of a concrete base which forms the actual floor of any building. The choice of flooring is dependent upon the use of the area, as well as the overall appearance and design desired. Carpets are commonly used in residential properties in areas such as bedrooms, living rooms and on indoor staircases. Because carpets are soft and warm underfoot, it makes sense that they are used in areas where one would normally walk barefoot. That being said, there is a steadily growing trend towards using wood laminate flooring and tiles in living areas as these are easier to keep clean and hygienic. Carpets need to be vacuumed regularly to avoid the build-up of dust and dirt, and spills can spoil the appearance of pale carpeting very quickly, sometimes leading to the need for professional cleaning services. Kitchens, entryways and bathrooms are usually tiled or covered with laminate, engineered or solid wood, bamboo or vinyl flooring which is easier to keep hygienically clean through various cleaning methods such as daily sweeping, wet cleaning with a mop or steam cleaning. There is a very wide range of styles and colours available in these materials which will ensure that your home still has the individualist look which sets it apart from any other house. Solid wood or bamboo flooring has the added beauty of genuine wood grain, in which no two pieces of wood are identical.
Commercial properties such as office blocks are often tiled, but may also be covered with industrial carpeting which is very hard-wearing and ideal for high foot traffic. Shopping centres, shops, public restrooms are nearly always tiled, very often with a distinctive design which is both visually attractive and functional. Tiles may have a high gloss finish which reflects the light, but are also available in stone or matt finishes which are non-slip and therefore offer safety when walking on wet or sloping floors.
Factories, warehouses, stadiums and parking garages make use of hardened cement flooring which is specifically geared for high-performance durability and heavy traffic use. This flooring, whilst being extremely hard-wearing, is slip-resistant and easy to keep clean. Coloured cement, concrete or colour screed flooring are additional options for areas such as restaurants, kitchens, bathrooms and other home applications. This type of flooring is generally extremely individualistic in that each floor will differ slightly in appearance due to the processes, materials and staining involved. This type of flooring will add a more rustic feel to a home, and is therefore suitable for use in older, more traditional homes as well as very modern open-plan houses. Yet another application available for all types of floors in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors is stone chip flooring. This consists of a cement formula which incorporates stone, marble or glass chips and even pebbles which is poured onto the floor, ground to a smooth finish and then polished to produce a hard-wearing and unusual floor covering. It must be noted that no flooring is finite, and over time will degrade or cracks will appear, so it is always wise to choose your flooring according to the traffic needs of the area to ensure durability for as long as possible.
When choosing the have the floors in your home or office upgraded, ensure that you are aware of all the options available to you before you decide which route to follow. You will have no difficulty in finding adverts for reputable flooring specialist companies in magazines, catalogues, newspapers and on the internet. If you have seen a particular type of floor which appeals to you, ask for the name of the specialist company which laid it. Alternatively, ask friends, colleagues or acquaintances if they know of a reputable flooring company in your area.
Always check personal testimonials from previous clients, or check online reviews if you are searching the internet. Uptasker will provide you with both the names and reviews of specialists in your area, and is a valuable resource in this regard. Discuss your needs and expectations fully with the specialist company you choose, and confirm upfront that timeframes and budget constraints can be met. Installing new flooring can be extremely inconvenient and disruptive and should therefore be completed within a reasonable period of time. A reputable specialist will have no problems in agreeing a definite timeframe in which the job will be completed.
As the floors beneath our feet are so integral to our daily lives, we need to make certain that they are serviceable and fit for the purpose for which they are intended. For this reason, we should ensure that the floors are laid by reputable specialists who are skilled and experienced in their profession, and will provide many years of use and beauty. Choose wisely, listen to advice and then relax and let the professionals do the hard work. For more tips see our flooring articles.
