Home owners are often confused when they have to replace their concrete floor. They’re looking for simple flooring for their house but they don’t always know exactly what to anticipate. It’s very normal to hire somebody or a company to come into your house and install brand new flooring for you. In some cases, though, people end up hiring contractors who have no prior experience with this kind of flooring. If you aren’t careful, you could end up spending thousands of dollars on your concrete floors alone. To make sure you won’t be one of those people, here are a few tips:
The first thing you should look for in your next house flooring purchase is the finishes or coatings it has. There are two main types of finishes to choose from – unfinished flooring or pre-finished flooring. Finishes are typically offered in two-tone versions and they can be sealed as well. If you’re looking for something more unique or eclectic, you can try antique finishes or tried-and-true finishes like Walnut Hardwood Flooring. There are also multiple color finishes available such as cherry, mahogany, walnut, espresso, and gold.
When you walk into a home improvement store, be sure to scrutinize the displays closely and ask plenty of questions to the sales personnel. If the floor has a certain finish on it that you like but is sold as unfinished hardwood floors, ask the sales person about it. You may even find out that it was a mistake and the advertising has been reversed.
The next thing you want to be sure of is whether or not the floor has a method of cutting planks together called a tapping block. Unfortunately, some flooring companies will sell you tapestries that aren’t real wood. Tapestry floors have a sturdier design and are therefore a better choice if you’re trying to conserve resources. Make sure you ask the retailer if the floor is real wood or not when you go to buy it. Also, be aware that sometimes when you order real hardwood floors, the manufacturer will include a tapping block in the package.
Many flooring retailers will offer at least a few different finishes to choose from. In addition to the standard wood finish, you can also opt for the more unique finishes such as the nickel finish. If you’d prefer something a little bit less traditional, consider pre-finished hardwood floors which offer a variety of different color options along with different effects. This way you can choose something that will really enhance the room’s design. When buying pre-finished floors, be sure to ask the retailer if they have the different finishing options and if so, how easy they are to install.
One last thing that can make a difference in your home improvement quest is the type of underlay you select. While the cheapest option available to you is the cheapest underlay, it is often best to invest in a good quality underlay so that your floors stay comfortable year-round. The most recommended types of underlay are either the vinyl plank or the real wood. While vinyl plank floors seem to be the popular choice for many homebuyers, the real wood ones are much preferred because they are sturdy, long lasting, and beautiful.
