Flooring Fairfield NJ impacts the look, performance & value of your home. Choose a durable material that can handle foot traffic, harsh climates & spills.
For those with respiratory sensitivities, consider an option with lower levels of off-gassing VOCs. Wood floors are a good choice, but only sustainable forest ones are recommended.
Hardwood flooring offers a timeless natural beauty that never goes out of style. It can be refinished to restore its original shine, and can be stained or painted in a variety of colors. It adds value to a home, and may increase the resale value. Solid wood floors are usually more expensive than carpet, but they can withstand heavy foot traffic and are easy to clean.
Prefinished hardwood is more durable than wood that is finished on-site, and it can be installed quickly. It is made in a factory, so it’s more resistant to scratches and dents than a site-finished floor, and the finish is packed with aluminum oxide for extra durability. It also has a more consistent look than floors that are finished on-site.
One disadvantage of hardwood is that it can be damaged by moisture. It is hygroscopic, which means it expands and contracts as the humidity changes. This can cause problems like cupping and crowning. Adding a humidifier to the room can help prevent these problems.
Another disadvantage is that wood can scratch and mark easily. It is important to protect it by using doormats at the entrances of rooms, and to use furniture pads under the legs of chairs and sofas. It is also a good idea to ask people to remove their shoes before entering the room, and to keep pet nails short.
The most popular type of wood used for flooring is oak. It has a classic look that works with most design styles, and is fairly affordable. Other types of wood that are used for flooring include hickory, maple and mahogany. All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to maintenance and cost.
Laminate
This type of flooring is made of a dense core layer of plywood or high-density fiberboard, often overlaid with a transparent wear layer that resists staining and scratching. Most laminates are designed to look like wood, but it is also possible to get stone-look and metal-look options. Some laminate products include an underlayment layer that promotes moisture resistance or adds soundproofing qualities.
The main advantage of this type of flooring is that it’s easy to install, requiring only basic tools and no professional installation services. It is also fairly inexpensive and more convenient to clean than many other types of floors. However, like all materials, laminate floors do have disadvantages, including the fact that they don’t offer the same feeling as natural wood. For this reason, many consumers do not enjoy the feel of laminated floors.
Laminate floors require regular cleaning to prevent surface scratches and abrasions. They should be dust mopped daily and vacuumed weekly to remove grit that can wear down the floor’s finish. You should also consider placing area rugs in high-traffic areas or use a nonslip mat or pad under furniture when moving it across the floor. Wet spills should be wiped up immediately; water left to stand on the laminate can cause stains and more serious damage.
Stains can be removed by rubbing with a cloth moistened with vinegar. Vinegar is less abrasive than commercial floor cleaners and can help to remove caked-on mud and wax. It can also be used to remove rubber, plastic and paint marks. Heel marks can be removed with a blunt plastic scraper and candle wax can be melted with acetone or nail polish remover.
Tile
Tile flooring is an ideal option for high-traffic areas in homes, especially those with children or pets. It resists staining and damage much better than carpeting or hardwood floors. However, it does require regular maintenance and cleaning.
Tile is available in a wide range of colors, patterns and designs. Some even mimic the look of more expensive wood and stone options. The size of tiles varies as well. Large tiles make rooms feel larger and more open, while smaller ones can create a more intimate space. Tiles can also be arranged in a variety of patterns, including herringbone, offset, stacked and mosaic. This allows for more customization and a unique aesthetic.
When it comes to maintenance, tile floors are relatively easy to clean. They need a basic sweep and mop once or twice a week. However, if you are using a grout sealer, it’s important to re-apply every five years. Grout lines can sustain stains and mildew build-up if not properly sealed.
Unlike carpet fibers, tile doesn’t trap allergens like dust, dirt and pet dander, making it an excellent choice for people with allergies. Additionally, it doesn’t release VOCs, which can contaminate indoor air quality. Tile is a great choice for a sustainable home, as it is made of natural materials and recycled content. It is also a good investment, as it can increase your home’s resale value. This is because most buyers see it as a premium flooring material. Adding a tile floor to your kitchen or bathroom can also help you qualify for a home energy rebate, which will save you money on your heating bills in the winter.
Concrete
Concrete floors are long associated with utilitarian areas such as basements and garages, but homeowners have discovered that concrete can also be etched, polished or stained to serve as a beautiful decorative flooring surface. Often, this can be cheaper than laying a new floor material, particularly in smaller spaces where the concrete slab is already in place. Additionally, environmentally conscious consumers can feel good about finishing an existing concrete slab since this eliminates the need to manufacture and install a new material that would require a lot of energy and carbon dioxide.
Traditionally, only a few basic decorating techniques were available for concrete floors. Today, the possibilities are nearly endless. Concrete can be etched to produce a wide variety of designs, polished to create a smooth, glossy finish that amplifies the amount of natural light entering the room and reduces the need for artificial lighting at night, and stained with acid or water-based stain that penetrates into the concrete.
In addition to etching and polishing, concrete can be texturized (created by brushing or stamping the concrete while it is still wet) or stenciled with a pattern. The result is a beautiful and versatile flooring surface that can mimic the appearance of many different pricier materials.
Unsealed concrete is porous and tends to collect dirt, dust, oils, and other contaminates in tiny crevices, which can cause the concrete to become discolored over time. Proper cleaning and sealing methods can make a concrete floor resistant to moisture, making it much easier to clean and keeping it looking great for years.
Unsealed concrete also needs to be heated in cold climates, and proper rugs and carpeting can help to soften the impact of footsteps on the surface. While a concrete floor is durable and easy to maintain, it can be very slippery when wet, and people are often injured falling on these floors.
Granolithic
Granolithic flooring is a type of concrete that mixes granite and other hard-wearing aggregates with cement. It is commonly laid as a screed for concrete floor protection, although it can be used for paving or as a concrete finish. Its advantages include better wear and tear resistance than other types of floors. It can also be polished to create a decorative effect.
There are two methods for laying granolithic flooring: monolithic and prefabricated. In the monolithic method, workers mix the marble and cement together directly in a slab. This is done to achieve a mosaic appearance in the finished flooring. The splinters of marble give the floor a distinct and attractive look.
Prefabricated granolithic is similar to traditional concrete but has a higher aggregate content. It is also more durable and resistant to chemical spills. It is often used in industrial environments. In addition to its durability, granolithic concrete has a high thermal coefficient of conductivity, which means it can keep a room warm more efficiently than other materials.
Another advantage of granolithic concrete is that it can withstand extreme loads, making it an excellent choice for warehouses and factories. It is also easy to clean and stains are unlikely to penetrate the surface. However, it can be cold to walk on and can reflect sound, which can cause noise problems in rooms.
While granolithic concrete can be difficult to maintain, there are several ways to improve its performance. Regular washing with water can help to keep it clean and free from grease stains. For more serious stains, the use of sodium metasilicate, caustic soda or some phosphates may be necessary.