If you need to replace your home's flooring (including both the uppermost layer and the flooring system underneath it), here are a few tips that you may want to keep in mind.
Buy the best floor trusses you can afford
You don't necessarily need to spend a small fortune on every single part of your new flooring system; for example, if there are rooms in your home that are not exposed to a lot of foot traffic, then it should be perfectly fine to use low-cost carpeting or linoleum in these areas of your property.
However, you should not scrimp when it comes to the floor trusses. 'Economy' brand floor trusses will be far less robust than their more expensive counterparts. Cheap floor trusses often lack the pesticides, fungicides and waterproofing chemicals that are found in high-end trusses. As such, if you opt for low-cost trusses and some termites take up residence in your property, or if one of the water pipes bursts open and floods your home, the condition of the trusses will deteriorate rapidly.
This deterioration could affect the ability of the trusses to withstand the weight of the objects that are placed on the floor. This could then result in the floorboards bowing or becoming distorted. As such, it is best to purchase the highest-quality floor trusses you can afford.
Think about your lifestyle when choosing between carpeting and hard floors
When choosing between carpeting and hard floor materials (like tile, timber or linoleum, for example), it's important not to base your choice solely on what you feel will look best, but also on what will suit your lifestyle.
For example, if you have pets that are not yet house trained or if you have young children who frequently spill their drinks and food on the floors, then it might not be a great idea to opt for carpeting, as this type of flooring is highly absorbent. As a result, it will be difficult to properly clean up any accidents or spillages, and keep the flooring smelling fresh. In this situation, hard floors would be a far better choice, as any liquids that land on them can be removed quickly and easily, and there is very little chance of the floors becoming stained or malodorous.
Conversely, if you or your family members have health conditions that could increase your risk of falling (such as vertigo, for example) or if you have health conditions that mean that a fall could have serious repercussions (for instance, if you have osteoporosis and are very likely to suffer a bone fracture if you fall), then it would be best to opt for a deep-pile carpet rather than hard flooring. This is because tiles, lino and varnished timber are all very slippery and, as such, could increase your chances of falling. Additionally, because they are very hard, you are much more likely to sustain a serious injury if you do end up falling. In this scenario, carpeting that provides plenty of traction and which is quite soft and cushioned would be a far wiser choice.
To learn more, contact a company like Simon Home Timber & Hardware.