Floor Coverings for Concrete
Various kinds of floor coverings are retailed in the home-improvement/home-décor market. However, choosing the appropriate floor covering can be confusing for first-time buyers. It should be understood that concrete flooring is the most common type of flooring surface among domestic spaces. Hence, it is vital to understand the compatibility of different floor coverings with concrete floors.
Understanding Various Floor Coverings for Concrete
The interiors of the home present certain distinctive attributes that should be considered when evaluating a floor covering. Interior floors present issues such as excessive cramping of the flooring material around tightly-angled walls and safety hazards related to staircases. A prudent approach to solve such predicaments is using a blend of various floor coverings discussed below.
1. Carpet as Floor Covering
Carpeting is the most basic form of concrete floor covering. Carpets are considered an affordable floor-covering option. Carpets can be cut and sewn across demanding corners and edges to render a uniform appearance to the floor. If you have well-finished (uniform) concrete floors, a carpet-cover can be easily installed by using an adhesive. However, some concrete floors may need a bit of padding (or insulation) to establish a properly-carpeted floor. However, carpeting is not recommended for high-traffic areas. Carpet seams are often undone when exposed to repeated usage. Such ruffled seams and layering along a carpet’s surface pose a threat to the safety of daily footfalls.
2. Artificial Turf Floor Coverings
A critical consideration when choosing floor coverings is the location of the flooring surface. Certain household spaces, like the ones in a garage, need a sturdier form of floor covering. Such surfaces are often neglected in terms of daily cleaning or overall maintenance. Hence, decorative floor-covering options, like carpeting, are not suitable for them. Similarly, a storage room or the laundry room also require a durable, low-maintenance floor covering.
You should consider covering such floors with artificial turfs. Synthetic turfs offer greater easy-of-handling and overall durability. They offer a decent grip, ensuring that chances of slipping on the floor are minimized. Artificial turf is a better option for covering staircases. Carpets tend to get crumpled if spread over the stairs. This is a major safety hazard. Artificial turfs are available in an exhaustive range of designs/shades, offered by many home-improvement stores. Indoor artificial turfs are different from exterior artificial turfs (meant for outdoor use). Further, you should resist using artificial turf floor coverings in areas vulnerable to dampness. Moisture can seep between the turf covering and the floor, causing displacement of the turf.
3. Engineered Wood and Hardwood Floor Coverings
Wooden floor coverings are a fashionable flooring option. Wooden floor coverings can be divided into two categories: engineered and hardwood flooring. Engineered wood consists of thin, wood veneers that are installed upon the concrete flooring, with an adhesive. Natural wood or hardwood flooring uses actual lumber or planks of various woods as the floor covering. In terms of installation-ease, engineered wood, or wood veneers have a distinct advantage. Installing hardwood floor coverings requires more-than-average woodworking skills. Engineered wood veneers are more durable in terms of their ability to handle temperature/moisture issues. Wood veneer floor coverings are much cheaper than hardwood flooring. However, the exotic finish, accentuated by the natural grain in hardwood flooring, has no comparisons among contemporary flooring options.
4. Laminate Flooring/Vinyl Floor Coverings
Laminated floor covering or vinyl flooring is among the most popular of floor-covering options. For starters, it is the most affordable option. Carpeting is cheap too, but it cannot be used for covering the entire household. Carpeted floors need constant cleaning and they are vulnerable to moisture-seepage and staining.
However, laminate flooring can be ordered in bulk volumes, at wholesale rates, to cover the entire, interior flooring space. Laminate flooring offers amazing installation-ease. It has the ability to complement all types of concrete floors. If you are struggling with uneven concrete floors, laminated floor coverings are recommended. They need minimal maintenance and can be easily repaired using basic, household tools. Commonly retailed as synthetic or acrylic flooring, they are offered in a vast of range designs and patterns. Being synthetic, vinyl floor coverings are impermeable to moisture or chemical vapors. Basement floors that often suffer from moisture-related problems are best covered with laminate flooring.
