How to Choose Your Flooring

Choosing a new floor is very exciting, but also a little bewildering.

There are so many flooring options and designs available – there’s a lot to think about! You probably already have some ideas about the style you would like, but the following easy tips will help you make sure that you get the floor you want and need.

Budget

Measure the room or area to be covered and decide how much you can afford to spend. Make sure that you leave a little extra in your budget for additional items and accessories such as a vapor barrier, acoustic underlay, or mouldings and transport if you want home delivery. Look at the existing surface and decide whether you can lay a floor over it or whether it will have to be resurfaced – if so include that in your budget too.

Which Subfloor?

Floors can be installed over a variety of different surfaces:

• Concrete, tiles, stone and marble – vinyl, laminate and wood
• Wooden floor – vinyl, laminate and wood
• Very short pile carpet – vinyl, laminate and wood
• Embossed vinyl – laminate and wood, but must be removed or covered for vinyl
• Long pile carpet – must be removed for all new floors

Which Floor for Which Room

All our floors benefit from innovative technology to ensure comfort, looks and the best performance. But different rooms have their own special requirements that you should consider when you make your choice.

Entrance and Hallway – People coming and going will bring dirt and moisture into your home. Choose a hard surface that can stand up to moderate moisture and is easy to clean.

Office – If keeping your office quiet for concentration and comfort is a top priority you should consider floors with good acoustic properties. If you expect a lot of visitors, you’ll probably want a tough surface that won’t be easily damaged by heavy traffic or office furnishings. Floors with anti-static properties can be a wise investment if you use a lot of electrical equipment.

Kitchens – Spills and dropped food are a fact of life however careful you are as a cook. Choose a floor that not only has good stain and traffic resistance, but that will also stand up to light moisture and repeated cleaning.

Bathrooms – Water makes the bathroom a challenging environment and you must be careful to select a floor that is water-resistant. In addition, for safety you’ll need to be sure that the floor won’t be slippery when it’s damp and that it will be easy to clean.

Bedroom – Your bedroom is a very personal space so you’ll be looking at a wide range of decorative finishes. Don’t forget that looks are just part of the equation and that you’ll also want to be sure that it’s comfortable and warm for bare feet.

Kid’s Bedroom/Playroom – Kid’s bedrooms often have to accommodate a wide variety of play as well as sleep. To cope with active youngsters, you’ll need a tough, practical floor that will help to keep noise levels down. Plus, you'll want it to be comfortable and easy to look after and clean.

Living Room – Often the centre of the home, you need a multipurpose floor that reflects your style but can stand up to the challenge of a variety of activities. A tough surface that’s easy to clean and look after will reduce the time you need to spend keeping your living room looking good.

Skill Levels

Installing a floor has never been easier with a wide range of new products that do away with complicated techniques. All our LVT and laminate floors use modern glue-free locking systems that simply clip together. They are very easy to use and, if assembled without gluing to the subfloor, can be disassembled without damage and you can start again. All our products come with full installation instructions.

Wear and Tear

No one wants to spend every minute worrying about stains and cleaning. By choosing a floor that suits the area, you’ll cut down on the cleaning and general care you have to provide. You should also select a floor with the best possible surface protection. Tarkett has some of the best surface treatments on the market, protecting your floor from scratches, dirt, fading and moisture.

The Environment

Tarkett is the natural choice if you want to be sure that your floor has been produced to the highest standards of sustainability and using natural and renewable materials wherever possible. For more information about our policies on sustainability visit our page on sustainability.