Choosing the right floor covering for your project:-

• Carpet
• Polished timber / Wooden flooring
• Tiled Flooring
• Vinyl
• Polished Concrete

Introduction

There are many different types of floor coverings on the market today, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. The most important decision is choosing the correct floor solution for your needs, which is not always an easy decision to make. To assist you in reaching an educated and informed decision we have listed the different types of floor coverings available on the market, each with a list of some advantages and disadvantages. My Floor can deliver the most durable, low-maintenance and attractive flooring solution to suit any requirements.

Carpet

Advantages:
Carpet is naturally a form of insulation which will assist in reducing the heating costs, providing energy conservation which is beneficial to the environment and perfect for homes or businesses that are located in cooler climates. It absorbs noise in a room effectively, which provides you with soundproofing and preventing noise pollution. One of the most obvious advantages is that carpet provides a soft, comfortable surface that is shock-absorbing and helps to cushion falls also preventing slippage; this is important for the elderly and young children. Carpet assists in trapping and containing allergy-causing particles, preventing them from re-surfacing into the air system as long as the carpets are regularly cleaned and maintained. Carpet can be budget friendly, depending on the quality of carpet desired.

Disadvantages:
Carpets need to be replaced generally every 5-7 years (this depends on the quality of your carpet). Replacing carpet can be costly and re-selling your old carpet may not be a possibility. Carpets tend to collect dust, slurry, dust mites and skin flakes which can be a threat to your health and is dangerous for asthmatics. The important cleaning and maintenance of carpet flooring can be expensive and time consuming. Carpets will not repel liquids unless they are regularly treated with a Teflon coating and this will only assist in reducing stains if applied correctly with the appropriate quantity of Teflon being administered regularly. Being prone to damage is another expensive disadvantage as often the carpet will need to be repaired by a qualified tradesperson or completely replaced. In warmer climates the natural insulation of carpet can become a disadvantage as it leads to rooms becoming over heated which will increase the costs of air-conditioning leading to increased energy consumption, also a clear disadvantage for the environment. If carpets are not correctly cleaned and maintained they can inhibit smells and stains not to mention a build up of bacteria and germs.

Polished Timber / Wooden flooring

Advantages:
Timber flooring is visually appealing, giving a natural feeling look to any room. As it’s a natural product it creates low energy consumption when being manufactured as most timbers are sourced sustainably from managed forests or plantations. It wont easily collect dust or slurry which is beneficial to anyone who suffers from breathing problems or asthma. Timber flooring makes rooms appear larger than they really are. They are solid, durable, easily installed and maintained and can be easily repaired depending on the depth of damage which has been done. If timber floors are to be replaced the materials are recyclable which is beneficial to the environment. Timber is very versatile as it can be laid over some existing floor coverings such as timber, concrete and other plastic floor coverings.

Disadvantages:
Timber flooring can swell, shrink, warp or twist caused by humidity and moisture in the air. Wooden floors can feel cold during the cooler months as it tends to make the room temperature reduce by a few degrees. Unlike other floor coverings timber is not water repellent, which makes it prone to incurring deformation which is caused by water content. The durability of timber flooring is not as high as some other floor coverings as it cannot endure impact of heavy traffic or objects falling onto it. Depending on the quality and type of wood used discolouration can also occur which may lead to the entire flooring required to be replaced. The maintenance of timber can be quite expensive as it requires sanding back of the floor and the application of toxic sealers to be administered in order to keep the wood protected, which will need to be done time and time again. Floor boards can also cause grit, dust and slurry to gather between the boards which lead to a build up of bacteria and germs. Sharp objects such as knives or high heels can easily damage the floor requiring regular maintenance the remove scratches, scuff marks and dents.

Tiled Flooring

Advantages:
Tiles come in a variety of colours, sizes and textures. They can be a more affordable flooring of choice and installation is fairly easy, which most home owners can manage themselves. Although tiles are not extremely resistant to impact, their wearability is the reason why they are quite durable (depending on the quality of the tile) and they can be easy to maintain as long as they are sealed correctly to prevent any stains or unnecessary wear and tear. Tiles can often be a much quieter flooring than other coverings such as vinyl which carries sound. Unlike carpet, tiles can be adapted to any area of the home to be used in areas such as the bathroom, kitchen or even outdoors. Repairing broken tiles is much more simple than repairing timber flooring as all that is required is the replacement of the damaged tile, re-grouting and sealing.

Disadvantages:
One of the biggest disadvantages about tile flooring is that tiles can easily become cracked or broken, which causes an undesirable look and will require the tiles to be replaced. All tile flooring will eventually need to be completely replaced at one stage which can be very expensive. If tiles are not regularly cleaned and sealed by a trained professional they can inhibit stains, dust, dirt, oils and bacteria. The most unsightly look about tiles is when oils and dirt becomes trapped in the grout between the tiles and turns the once white grout, black. This is normally removed when cleaned, however within 6-12 months your dirty grout becomes visible again leaving you left with a floor which is dirty and unappealing. Tile flooring can be quite a hard surface underfoot and also very cold which is not desirable for cooler climates.

Vinyl Flooring

Advantages:
An obvious advantage to choosing a vinyl floor covering is its resistance to water and moisture. It is also very affordable with a diverse variety of colours and patterns, which is easily installed. Some vinyl coverings can repel dirt and resist scuff marks. Maintenance and upkeep of a vinyl floor is simple, yet it will need to be done on a daily basis.

Disadvantages:
As vinyl is one of the cheapest floor coverings available on the market it is also the least durable, usually vinyl will need to be replaced less than 10 years of it being installed and this depends on the level of traffic in the supermarket, home or office. If anything abrasive comes in contact with a vinyl floor it can destroy the top layer and leave unsightly marks which can never be mended. Over time vinyl can fade, become curled at the edges, bumps can appear and is not suited to all areas of the supermarket, home or office. The worst disadvantage of vinyl flooring is that its manufactured from petroleum products which is considered the worst type of plastic from the perspective of environmental health and eco-friendly building this is because when vinyl is being produced it creates poisonous by-products such as dioxin which is a carcinogenic toxin that cannot be recycled. There are many more eco-friendly alternatives to flooring than vinyl. Vinyl will also need to be professionally cleaned, buffed and sealed on a regular basis, especially in a commercial environment; thus creating a very expensive floor to maintain.

Polished Concrete

Advantages:
Polished concrete if carried out correctly is extremely low maintenance, cleaning can be done by the owner and doesn’t require the use of any harsh or toxic chemicals. It is an extremely durable and hard-wearing flooring which not easily chip or dent, and unlike wooden flooring or vinyl it will not fade, warp or deteriorate from the sun. Due to its seamless abilities it will repel dust, dirt and bacteria which improves hygiene, creating a higher level of indoor air-quality in your supermarket, home or workplace. Polished concrete is naturally resistant to stains, without any harsh coatings needing to be applied. It’s completely fire retardant and non-toxic. No coatings or toppings need to be applied to achieve this brilliant floor solution, so polished concrete doesn’t contribute to fire spreading through your supermarket, home or office. Polished concrete increases the reflectability of the floor, reducing the need for ambient lighting making it an energy efficient flooring choice. It is a common myth that polished concrete is slippery when in fact it’s as safe to walk on as tiles, only much smoother and glossier. For outdoor or wet area’s an anti-slip coating can be applied for additional stability. When installing a new concrete slab, there are a variety of different colours and types of aggregate that can be chosen for the concrete mix. Dyes or oxides can also be used to alter the existing or new concrete floor. Decorative concrete cutting is also available with either stainless steel or brass infill may be applied that can add a variety of different shapes borders and patterns to suit any look that is required, this also helps prevent the concrete from cracking. A polished concrete floor is far more cost-effective, especially in the long term when compared to other traditional floor coverings as its life expentancy is higher and it will not need to be repaired as often as other floor coverings that deteriorate (if correctly polished and maintained) but best it will never have to be replaced.

Disadvantages:
Like other hard surface floors, polished concrete can be fatiguing to those standing on it for a long period of time. This can be prevented by placing appropriate floor rugs over the floor. The shine of a diamond polished concrete floor can dull after a long period of time only if it hasn’t been installed or maintained properly. This is easy to re-polish or buff by a qualified contractor, there are no need for re-application of coatings. My Floor’s polished concrete finish also has an exclusive 10 year warranty given the quality of the finish. Cracks may appear in the concrete, creating character to the floor; these can be repaired and patched very easily by a qualified contractor. Cracks in any concrete floor with an existing floor covering will cause tiles and timber to lift, crack and warp, creating expensive repair costs.

Summary

My Floor services Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, we can deliver a high-quality polished concrete finish tailored to suit any requirement. If you require any more information or a view on our product samples, contact us on (07) 55 493 573 today.