Flooring Fairfield NJ covers the surface of a room or space and helps it withstand foot traffic and weather. It also provides comfort, beauty and functionality.
Babies take their first steps on floors and kids often race toy cars or paint masterpieces. Your flooring should be comfortable for their growing feet and safe when they fall. It should also reduce noise.
Tiles are a popular flooring choice because of their durability and versatility. They come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes to complement any design scheme. They can also add texture and interest to any room. Tiles are a great option for high traffic areas because they are easy to clean and can withstand heavy loads.
Generally, tiles are made up of raw materials like clay and other inorganic elements which are fired at a specific temperature to give them a shape. The elements are then glazed and fired again to produce the finished product. This makes the tiles non-porous and water resistant. They also don’t absorb odors and don’t become moldy. This is why tiles are a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
There are many advantages to choosing tile for your home, especially if you have children or pets. Unlike carpeting, which can collect dust and dirt, tile can be easily swept or vacuumed to remove debris. Additionally, it is highly durable and will last for years without needing to be replaced. However, you should be careful about the type of tile you choose as some can be prone to scratches or discoloration over time.
One of the best things about tiles is that they are easy to maintain, according to Australia’s Rapid Reno expert Naomi Findlay. Basic cleaning only requires a sweep or vacuum daily and a mop weekly. This means you can spend more time doing the things you love.
Another benefit of tiles is that they are eco-friendly and often made from recycled materials, which reduces their environmental impact. They can also help you earn LEED credits for your building. To learn more about how tile can help you achieve your green goals, contact a LEED Accredited Professional.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring adds warmth and beauty to your home, enhancing its value. It can also boost your home’s air quality by trapping a layer of moisture in the pores of the wood.
The most common hardwoods are oak, maple and hickory. These species are all known for their strength and durability. They are relatively harder than softwoods and have a range of appealing coloring, grading and grain patterns. Oak is a popular choice for a traditional interior design while exotic woods like acacia and tigerwood offer more unique styling.
Solid hardwood has the advantage of being sanded and refinished several times, but it is more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes than other types of floors. This means that you cannot install it below grade or in damp spaces.
Engineered hardwood is a more stable alternative to solid hardwood. It has a layer of solid wood on top, but its core is made from multiple layers of plywood glued together in a crisscross pattern. This structure makes the engineered hardwood less likely to shift or expand when exposed to moisture changes.
Both hardwoods and engineered hardwood can be refinished many times, but the number of refinishings depends on the species. Hardwoods that are sourced from slower-growing trees tend to be denser, which can add to their durability.
You can find both solid and engineered hardwood in a variety of widths up to 5’. You can choose from prefinished and unfinished options, as well as a wide range of surface treatments, color effects and stains. Many manufacturers also offer softer, exotic species of hardwood as well as specialty textures like hand-scraped or herringbone. Using an approved hardwood cleaner is a must to maintain the beauty and health of your floors.
Laminate
Laminate is a synthetic flooring option that mimics the look of wood (and sometimes stone). It’s a multi-layer product consisting of a high-density core board and melamine wear layer. It can be made to resemble the texture and appearance of real hardwoods and is available in a wide range of colours and styles.
Its durability and resistance to moisture make it an excellent choice for high traffic areas of the home. The outer layer is made from melamine resins and aluminum oxide that are bound under extreme heat and pressure, making it harder than natural wood. This layer is also abrasion-resistant, meaning it will withstand scratches from furniture and other heavy appliances.
A textured laminate has a pattern printed on its decorative paper that makes the surface feel like the material it’s supposed to imitate. It’s often used in the furniture industry, as well as to give residential spaces a more rustic feel. There are many different options for textured laminates, so it’s important to select one that fits your desired aesthetic.
Wood grain laminates have a pattern that looks like the texture of real wood. They are the most popular type of laminate and can be found in both hardwood and softwood designs. The majority of wood grain laminates are made to look rustic and are commonly seen in country homes and traditional settings.
Laminate is easy to clean and requires only regular vacuuming and damp mopping with a non-abrasive cleaner. Its coated finish prevents dust and dirt from clinging to the floor, and any stubborn marks or stains can be easily removed with a spot cleaner.
Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the most popular choices for flooring in homes. It’s affordable, durable and can be found in a wide variety of textures, colours and styles to suit any décor. It also stands up well to humidity and resists stains.
The first step in making vinyl is to combine salt, a substance that comes from common salt, and ethylene, which is extracted from petroleum oil. This creates a powdery mixture that’s then heated to high temperatures and mixed with other ingredients to produce vinyl resin.
From there, the material can be moulded into whatever shape is needed and treated with other materials like antibacterial and stain-resistant coatings to enhance its performance. Some vinyl products can even be treated to protect against UV degradation and fading, which is great news for outdoor furniture such as patio awnings or boating seats.
When it comes to home use, vinyl is usually produced in sheets that are cut into either tiles or planks. The thickness of the vinyl and the type of backing used will determine how it’s installed. Some vinyl is glued to the subfloor while others are loosely laid. The advantage to loose-lay vinyl is that it’s easy to install yourself, using a simple tool like a utility knife.
The most well-known type of vinyl is PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. This is the type you’ll see in kitchen floors, roofing shingles and plumbing pipes. It’s also in shower curtains, clothing and accessories such as handbags, and furniture upholstery. But according to the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, no other plastic releases as many toxic phthalates into the environment as PVC does. Phthalates are chemicals that can interfere with hormones in the body, and have been linked to diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Carpet
Carpets offer a variety of benefits, including comfort, noise reduction and insulation. They also add warmth, visual interest and texture to a room and are available in many different colors and patterns. Additionally, carpet provides a soft landing surface that protects children and adults from falls and helps minimize injuries when they occur.
A carpet is a thick, woven floor covering that covers the entire floor of a room. Unlike rugs, which can be placed anywhere on the floor and easily moved, carpets are fixed to the floor with adhesives or nails or tack strips (known in the UK as gripper rods).
The production of carpet begins with creating the fibers that will make up the material. These fibers can be either synthetic or natural, depending on the desired characteristics of the final product. The fibers are then made into yarn. This process involves twisting the fibers together to create continuous strands. The yarn can then be cut or sheared to create a variety of textures and styles.
Once the material strands are created, they must be inserted into a backing layer. This process is known as tufting. A tufting gun is used to insert the yarn into the fabric, which is then bonded to a secondary backing or hessian weave for stability. The carpet can then be sheared to achieve the desired texture, and may also undergo other fabric preparations like shearing or binding.
When selecting a carpet, it is important to evaluate the level of foot traffic in the room. High-traffic areas, such as living rooms and hallways, require a more durable carpet that can resist crushing and abrasion. On the other hand, low-traffic areas like bedrooms can use a more luxurious carpet with a softer feel.