Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993 TAG: 9303050397
SECTION: BETTER HOMES PAGE: BH-38 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOANNE ANDERSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
THESE FLOORS ARE MADE FOR WALKING
The force of gravity that keeps us literally down-to-earth outdoors, keeps us down-to-floor indoors. Floors are second only to walls in comprising large, uninterrupted surface expanses in our homes, so careful thought needs to be given to several factors. Cost, durability, maintenance, sound, resilience, light reflection and desired effect or appearance each need to be addressed.Variable prices are available for every type of flooring. Determining your maximum budget should be an early consideration, and the classic buying advice is to buy the best you can afford.
Durability refers to the manner in which a floor wears. The higher priced products are more lasting, but final choice will depend on how and where the new floor will be. Also consider static load, that is, dead weight such as a piano, couch, bed - anything heavy and stationary. These items leave permanent marks on soft.
Ease of maintenance can mean the difference between a marvelous looking floor for little effort and one that never looks really good. Sound is often the deciding factor between carpet and other floors. Carpet absorbs sound and allows quieter movement. Things dropped on soft floors are not as likely to shatter.
Resilience is often overlooked when selecting floor materials. Anywhere that one stands for long periods of time or walks frequently, such as the kitchen, should have a floor that gives a little with each step. While not an obvious factor, it is an obvious source of annoyance if a non-resilient floor is chosen for a heavily used area.
Pure white reflects 90 percent of light that strikes it and lends a very refreshing brightness to a room. Darker colors create an interior warmth that enhances an overall color scheme. Reflection of some popular colors are: Off white: 82 percent; medium gray: 50 percent, sky blue: 49 percent; pale yellow: 78 percent; walnut: 10 percent; chocolate: 15 percent; pale pink: 70 percent; and red: 21 percent.
Although last on this list, appearance is usually the first consideration. Different floors give completely different moods to rooms. Choices are primarily subject to budget and personal preference.
One important point is overall coordination of floors. Too many different floor types or colors on one level can create a choppy atmosphere. How a new floor will look and feel with adjacent and nearby existing floors should be examined. Wood. The original North American floor material, wood comes in several grades, prices and styles. The three standard wood floors are strip, plank and block. Traditional strip floors are comprised of 2\ -inch wide wood strips, joined or notched tightly together.
Plank floors, very common in historic homes, vary in width from 8 to 24 inches. Block floors, more commonly called parquet, are wood mosaics. Small wood pieces are fitted together in a pattern that is repeated with each block. These are elaborate floors, but installation has been greatly simplified, and pre-assembled squares 16 to 39 square inches can be purchased and installed with glue.
Modern technology has created a virtual plethora of colors, patterns and textures in resilient floor materials. Characteristically, these floors are comfortable, leakproof, tough, wear resistant, quiet and attractive. The popularity of resilient sheets, which come in 12-foot widths, is due to the volume of floor covered with few seams.
Do-it-yourself squares are easy to install and very affordable. "The key to success with this type of floor, is preparation," says Mary Graham of Blacksburg Floor Fashions. Before any installation, the bare floor must be thoroughly dry and void of one speck of dust or grain of sand. With proper attention to preparing the floor, a nice, new floor can be created in a few hours.
From formal elegance to contemporary simplicity and country warmth, there is are rugs or wall-to-wall carpets for every decor. What defines quality, and therefore durability and appearance, is fiber, density and pad. Wool is an elegant fiber, but expensive and not easy to care for, while the synthetics are more affordable and wear well due to factory treatments which prevent stain damage.
Density can be translated into loops or twists per square inch: The more twists, the better the carpet. Height and texture usually reflect personal taste and home decor. A newly emerging popular rug is berber, a short, thick, wide looped carpet in cremes, beiges and tweeds. It suits informal, country style rooms and is easy to keep looking good.
"Carpet pad is almost as important as the carpet itself," says Graham. "Quality carpet pad can extend the life of the carpet by absorbing motion and preserving the carpet." She recommends buying carpet pad that is warranted for the life of two carpets.
Ceramic tile is lovely to look at and very easy to clean; however, it is very hard for standing and frequent walking. Slate is also hard and unyielding, but impervious to moisture, fireproof, handsome and easy to keep looking fine. Marble is elegant, but expensive and susceptible to scratches.
Brick is also hard, but evokes an attractive country appearance. Flagstone is splendid floor material; skidproof, informal and long-lasting. Terrazzo is a poured floor, part marble and part cement; durable, pricey, unusual and elegant.
Floors play a big role in our indoor lives. Wise selection and good care of flooring material will assure comfort for feet, attractive appearance and positive results for time and money invested.