It’s the new year and we have our minds on redecorating and where best to start than from the bottom up? It is easy to think all floors do the same thing for a homeowner, no matter the season, but that is simply not the case. There are floors that are a better choice if you live in a colder climate.
The Carpet Choice
Perhaps one obvious option to consider during the winter are carpets. Carpets are a good option for a number of reasons, especially if you choose the one that is thick enough. For one, a good thick carpet adds an extra layer of insulation to your home, and that adds to your home’s ability to insulate.
This keeps you warmer, and it saves you energy since your furnace won’t have to work so hard to keep your house cozy. Now, it is important to point out that a carpet won’t be able to take in all the mud and snow that you or someone in your family might bring in. It is important to take precautions, like removing shoes immediately or placing a protective mat near the entrance of the house. Keep up with maintenance to make sure your carpet lasts for a while.
The Vinyl Option
Another material to consider for your flooring is vinyl, which gives you many more options than you could ever imagine. Vinyl is quite versatile, and if you choose the right provider, like Lifestyle Flooring UK, then you should get some of the best brands out there.
This type of flooring can be made to look like a number of flooring materials, even something like hardwood floors. You know hardwood floors aren’t necessarily great for colder climates because they can buckle, but this is a good way to still enjoy that aesthetic. There are a few reasons vinyl is a good option, like how the material is actually waterproof, which is a big deal during the winter.
The material also provides some insulation for your home that is what a carpet might do, except you don’t have to worry about protecting it so much from mud or snow. Now, you are going to want to stick to a vinyl plank style of flooring rather than the vinyl sheet because that could become brittle or even crack if the temperatures drop too much. Plank installation works because they are normally installed in a floating fashion, which helps protect it from those extreme weather changes.
The Engineered Wood Way
Engineered wood is another option, especially because it retains heat so well. You might feel the warmth coming from your floors when you step on them. You should also keep in mind that engineered wood flooring is pretty versatile as well so that
means you can experiment with the patterns you end up choosing for your home. Those with a creative eye can definitely give their home a signature look that many might envy.
Now, engineered wood flooring will resist warping better than hardwood flooring, but they are not waterproof, so it is important to take a few precautions, like making sure you have a mat near the entrance of your door and making sure you remove your shoes. The reason engineered woodworks during the winter is because it retains heat. If you have a good furnace running, it can keep you warmer and protect your flooring.
It should be pointed out that if you are willing to install below surface heating, then you may be able to install other types of flooring that is not recommended during the winter, like hardwood floors. These are more expensive, but they are exquisite and can retain heat just as well as engineered wood. Again, you are still going to have to make sure you protect your hardwood floors from snow and mud, but this choice is only an acceptable one if you are installing the below surface heating system.
Hopefully, you can choose the right flooring for your home with the help of this guide. Make sure you have your flooring or carpeting installed professionally. You don’t want any gaps, which can happen with bad installations. Gaps are pretty bad during the winter because it will reduce your floor’s ability to insulate your home.
