If it’s time to upgrade your house, you’ll probably need to consider your flooring while you’re at it. Remodeling may lay waste to the floor you currently have, so having a plan for a replacement should be part of your scheme. That said, there are certain things you’ll need to think about when it comes to your floors that you might not need to worry about with other parts of your house. This article will outline some of the things you need to know when replacing your floor.
Asbestos
If you have an older house, you’ll want to make sure the floor doesn’t contain asbestos before you start ripping it out. Asbestos was used as a fireproof building material for many decades before it was realized it could cause lung cancer. In its undisturbed form there are few problems, but if its fibres are allowed to fly about, severe health problems can ensue. If your floor was installed previous to 1980, you should call in an expert for analysis.
Cost
Although certain materials such as marble can be incredibly expensive, you’ll also want to avoid the other end of the spectrum and refrain from installing a floor that’s too cheap. You don’t want to have to be replacing your floor every few years. Beware of cheap flooring materials that will save you money in the short run but cost you a fortune in frequent replacements.
Resale Value
Realtors will tell you that hardwood floors have some of the best resale values of all flooring types available. Home buyers find them more flexible when it comes to decorating or remodeling compared to materials such as carpets or higher end stone. They also provide a sleek and attractive yet neutral first impression when compared with other flooring materials.
Moisture And Humidity
Understanding that amount of moisture and humidity a certain room will experience should play an important role in what type of floor you install in that room. Certain flooring materials do not stand up well to moisture and therefore should be avoided in places like the bathroom and kitchen. Keep this in mind when deciding where you’ll be using specific types of flooring materials.
