 | Aaron McPeak has over 11 years of experience in the floor covering industry, holding various positions including sales, operations, marketing and advertising, installation, and leadership. Other significant experience was with the U-haul Company where he spent 10 years ending as the district manager for Kansas. He is degreed from Friends University in business management and is currently attending Wichita State’s EMBA program. He can be reached at amcpeak@starlumber.com or at 316-941-1753. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2007-05-01 16:21:00
Floor coverings that are unique
Answer: Although carpeting is an easy alternative to floor decorations, many home decorators are now setting a new trend with other stylish types of floor coverings. Besides the traditional floor coverings used in the past, there are now many new styles and materials of flooring to choose from that can definitely define a room’s style and do so affordably. Because of today’s modern technology, many manufacturers are coming up with great new synthetic flooring that not only looks good, but is also durable and low-maintenance-a definite plus for those who are always on the go but want stylish floor coverings. Besides that, many of the new synthetic coverings are easy on your bank account as well. However, even though synthetic flooring is a great alternative, many people still crave the look and feel of all-natural floor coverings such as stone or wood. There are just come characteristics inherent in natural products that cannot be duplicated in synthetics.
When you are deciding on what type of flooring is right for you and your home, you must first consider the functionality of the floor based off of your needs and lifestyle. The suitability of the floor is as important if not more important than the product, style, or pattern. You should utilize someone in the industry for help here as their training and education has likely been heavily focused on helping customers select products that will perform under their unique circumstances.
Wood has been a long-time winner with many homeowners due to its lasting nature and organic appearance, but it costs quite a bit more than traditional carpeting. The good thing is that it should last as long as the home lasts if properly maintained. Not only does it add a natural kind of warmth and atmosphere to a room, it’s also somewhat elastic and can cope well with structural movements that are common in older homes as well as heavily trafficked family areas. Wood floors, however, need a lot more attention and caring compared to other flooring alternatives and can be scratched or dented. I would not recommend a wood floor of any kind in damp areas (utility) or areas exposed to excessive water (bathrooms).
The synthetic alternatives to wood floors are becoming very popular and for the most part are comprised of the laminate floors. Today’s laminate floors are glueless and go together easily. They have the appearance and texture of real wood, cost significantly less than their wood counterparts, and are very durable and scratch-resistant. Despite these positives, they still lack the uniqueness and irregularity that makes real wood so appealing to the masses.
Stones, and marbles are other flooring alternatives that you can consider but only if willing to spend 3-5 times the average cost of carpeting. These products are very labor intensive and as a result are quite expensive, especially when factoring in that most of the products come from overseas so transportation costs add up. Ceramic and slate flooring is a little better, but still 2-4 times on average what carpet costs. Any of these “tile” products are very durable and long lasting.
There are currently very few synthetic options for the tile category. Some manufacturers have constructed vinyl tiles that look and feel like real stone or ceramic, but are only 1/8” thick and go down very easily. There is even one product out just this year that is laid like tile and even gets grouted! The other option is sheet vinyl, which for a long time was referred to as linoleum. Today’s sheet vinyl is very stylish and often times from a standing position you are unable to determine if the product is vinyl or the product it is made to look like (wood, tile, marble, stone, ceramic). Vinyl is very durable and lasting, and is going to be closer to the cost of carpeting than any of the other mentioned alternatives. Regardless of your product, a quality installation is key. It doesn’t matter if the installer is someone’s employee or subcontracted, what matters is are they experienced and are they competent? Flooring purchased often represent one of the largest investments people make in their homes so make sure you do your homework regarding installation quality and warranty.
