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Wood Flooring

Wood is the flooring of choice for most people. Why is it so?  It gives the room a rich, elegant and exotic feel. When combined with the right furnishing and plenty of light, there is nothing that can beat the classiness of a wood floor. You want sophisticated elegance and the classiness but not the price tag that comes with it? Not to worry. Engineered and reclaimed wood are viable cheap wood flooring options.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is a blend of hardwood and plywood. It feels like hardwood. It is really a very fine layer or veneer of wood over a substrate of plywood. Engineered wood flooring is less than an inch thick. Installing it over an existing floor does not increase floor height drastically. It saves you the trouble of having to remove the existing floor. This is a good option if you are looking for cheap wood flooring. Most of this kind of cheap wood flooring is installed using the floating method. This means that it is not secured to the substrate below, but merely fitted like puzzles or joined to each other with adhesive. This permits the wood floor to shift with humidity. Installing the cheap wood flooring, a few millimetres away from the wall will ensure this.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

A reclaimed wood floor is similar to an antique so, it is going to cost you. If you are looking for cheap wood flooring, this is not for you. If, however, it is character you want, a reclaimed wood floor is just the thing for you. As the name implies, reclaimed wood comes from all kinds of sources – an old barn, salvaged logs that sank before reaching the mill a long time ago, wine casks etc. If you are interested in your floors’ past, chances are you can get the information. Won’t it be amusing to talk to your guests about the history of your wood floor? Whether it is reclaimed or engineered wood you want for your floor, make sure they are hypoallergenic – i.e. they have the least allergy causing components.

Hassle Free Laminate Flooring 

Cheap laminate flooring is a very good alternative to hardwood flooring. Floors are that part of your home that takes the most abuse. Laminate floors are durable, easy to clean and require very little maintenance. Installing cheap laminate flooring is not rocket science. So, what if you have never done it before? You can easily get your laminate flooring in place without messing up and having to redo it. Alternatively Cheap Flooring Direct can advise on a fitting company.   

Maintaining Laminate flooring 

One of the best things about cheap laminate flooring is that it is not affected by sunlight. Laminate flooring is slippery when wet but does not scratch as badly as hardwood floors. Water does not affect laminate floors unless you let it pool. As for cleaning the laminate flooring, first sweep or vacuum to remove any dust or debris on the laminate and then use warm water, a very mild cleaning solution and a sponge mop and clean with smooth even strokes. Wring out any excess water. Remember your laminate floor hates pooling. Make it a rule to always clean spills immediately. Once this becomes a habit, cleaning won’t be a tedious chore. Your cheap laminate flooring will last longer if you don’t drag around metal or heavy wooden furniture.

Installing Laminate Floors

Cheap laminate flooring is installed by a method called floating floors. Previously, all wood floors had to be nailed down and ceramic floors had to be attached to the subfloor using mortar. Laminate flooring does not require any such specific skills to install. You can install a laminate floor on virtually any surface. If you can fix a kid’s jigsaw puzzle, fixing cheap laminate flooring will be almost as easy. Laminate floors expand in response to humidity. A few millimetres space between the laminate flooring and wall allows for this expansion.

The Timeless Elegance of Hardwood Flooring

Trees such as teak, rosewood, beech, oak and walnut are called hardwood. Hardwood flooring is advantageous because hardwood is tight-grained, dense and resilient. Hardwood is a bit pricey when compared to laminate flooring. But you get value for money. Well laid hardwood flooring can last for centuries. Nothing short of fire and floods can destroy a well-cared for hardwood flooring.

Bamboo Hardwood Flooring

If it is cheap hardwood flooring you want, go in for a softer hardwood like bamboo.  Bamboo floorings are fire-resistant. They may not last centuries but, you did want cheap hardwood flooring. They are eco – friendly in the sense they mature faster. So, cutting down bamboo trees for flooring and furniture will not upset the eco – balance drastically. We are speaking of cheap hardwood flooring here and bamboo flooring costs nearly 50% less when compared to other hardwood types.  The more heat bamboos get, the darker and softer they become. Opt for lighter vertical bamboo flooring. They look more elegant and are hardier. But if you have pets and still want cheap hardwood flooring, consider stranded bamboo flooring as an alternative. Bamboo hardwood floors can either be glued or nailed.

Caring for your Hardwood Floors

Your hardwood flooring hates it when you let spills sit. Get rid of spills immediately. Mop with a damp cloth. Soft rubber pads beneath any heavy furniture are your insurance to any lasting damages to your hardwood floors. Dragging heavy furniture around is a big no-no. If you must move the furniture, place the furniture on a thick padding of old rug and pull the rug. This ensures minimal or zero damage to your hardwood flooring. Tracking mud and grime into the house should also be avoided. Teach your family to dust their feet on the mats placed outside the door. It may be annoying initially, but think of the damage to your beautiful hardwood floor and you won’t really mind it.

Hardwood Floors Are Beneficial To Health

Hardwood floors can completely transform the interiors of a room, giving it a welcoming and a rich tone. You can choose hardwood floors with variety of patterns and colour of wood since wood is naturally diverse in design. Hardwood floors have been used since time immemorial for obvious reasons. Besides creating elegant interiors, hardwood floors offer great health benefits. Despite the slightly higher cost of hardwood floors, the benefits outweigh the investment. If you are considering installing hardwood floors, you have made a smart choice.

Hardwood Floors Vs. Carpets

Hardwood floors have indirect health benefits. People generally fail to realise that carpets are a haven for dust mites and harmful bacteria. During the winter season, a carpet may keep your feet warm, but they also provide the perfect environment for the microbes to thrive. With hardwood floors, you can keep your feet warm without breeding pathogens. Hardwood floors are poor conductors of temperature, which is why they are ideal for cold climates. If you have children, pets or both living with you, hardwood floors keep the fur and dirt at bay. Moreover, hardwood floors don’t retain pollen and other allergy-causing irritants that pose a threat to asthmatics and allergic patients. Your living space will smell clean as the treated hardwood floors don’t absorb or give out unpleasant odour like carpets do. It is also hard to stain hardwood floors. 

Easy Maintenance Of Hardwood Floors

Cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors is very simple. Unlike cleaning a carpet by using various chemicals and scrubbing hard, hardwood floors only require sweeping, vacuuming or a light mop. Avoid using too much water to mop as this can warp the hardwood floors. To leave a long-lasting fragrance, use a pleasantly scented cleaning liquid to clean your hardwood floors. The durability of hardwood floors don’t cause them to wear out quickly. If you miss the carpet while using hardwood floors, throw in a rug. Graceful appearance combined with health benefits makes hardwood floors a must-have flooring option.

What Type Of Discount Flooring Should You Choose?

Discount flooring is an excellent choice if you are considering renovating or remodelling your home or office. There are numerous types of discount flooring; you can choose the type that best fits your taste as well as your living condition and space. Choosing proper discount flooring type will prevent further repairs. A quick overview on the types of discount flooring can help you towards the right direction.

Hardwood or Bamboo Discount Flooring

Hardwood or bamboo discount flooring is a popular choice because of the overall ambiance it creates. While hardwood gives rich warm feel to the space, bamboo creates a fresh and exotic feel. Hardwood or bamboo discount flooring compliments most interior decoration and colours. The discount flooring option is ideal for bedrooms, living rooms and hallways.

Laminate Or Tile Discount Flooring

Laminate or tile discount flooring comes in various patterns and designs, and can be visually appealing. It creates an instant feel of cleanliness as soon as it is cleaned. These discount flooring options do not contain fibres to soak up moisture or stains, and are resilient against rough treatment. Laminate or tile discount flooring is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

Green Benefits Of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is the eco-friendly substitute to hardwood flooring. As a building material, bamboo is durable as well as flexible. Although bamboo flooring as been widely used in homes in Asia, the west has adopted the idea due to environmental reasons. There are several green advantages to installing bamboo flooring.

Benefits Of Bamboo Flooring

• Bamboo is a sustainable resource that takes only 3 - 5 years to mature, as opposed to timber, which takes 15 to 20 years to mature.
• Bamboo flooring appears elegant with an ageless charm without raising any ecological concerns.
• Bamboo flooring is long-lasting with low-maintenance.
• Because bamboo takes only a few years to reach maturity, replacing bamboo flooring is economical as well as eco-friendly.
• In addition to being highly eco-friendly, bamboo flooring is inexpensive compared to hardwood.

Soothing Interiors With Bamboo Flooring

Apart from ecological benefits, bamboo flooring also enhances the interiors of a home. It creates a tranquil ambiance because of its light-weight appearance. Bamboo flooring gives personality to a room, instantly giving a peaceful and airy feel. Environmental benefits, flexibility as a building material and enhancing interiors make bamboo flooring the ideal flooring option.