Flooring Types

• 100% Waterproof – Traditional LVT and SPC vinyl are 100% waterproof. Spills and humidity will not cause any damage to these types of vinyl flooring options.

• Availability – Both traditional LVT and SPC vinyl floors are available in a variety of colors, decors, patterns, textures and plank widths. You can find each type of floor in a variety of styles, from modern to rustic.

• Application – Like most vinyl flooring options, traditional LVT and SPC vinyl can be installed below, on and above grade. They are great flooring options for kitchens, baths, laundry rooms and businesses like restaurants or cafes.

• Maintenance & Cleaning – All vinyl flooring options are very easy to clean and maintain. It just takes a little effort to regularly sweep and deep clean occasionally

The durability factor is what makes laminate a top flooring choice. The way this popular floor choice is produced is much more robust and scratch resistant than other types of flooring.

The AC rating describes the application and durability of the of the floor you’re considering. The ratings range from low-traffic, like homes to high-traffic commercial zones. No matter what type of space you’re looking to have covered, there is a type of laminate floor that is strong enough to hold up to your demands.

A lot of people assume that because a certain laminate is thicker or has a longer warranty, that it is more durable and longer-lasting. This is not necessarily the case. That is why the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) has developed the Abrasion Rating System also called AC Rating. All laminate floors are AC rated based on a series of rigorous tests, including tabor abrasion test, burn resistance, impact resistance, stain resistance, and swelling under moist conditions. EPLF adopted a standard based rating which helps buyers understand the differences in durability among laminate flooring products.

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About 97% of carpeting is made from synthetic fibres which are more resistant to stains and much less expensive than natural materials.  The other 3% are natural fibres which tend to resist crushing from traffic. There are 6 primary types of fibres used in rugs:  acrylic, nylon, olefin blends of nylon & olefin, polyesters (new & recycled), and wools. 

Acrylic

Acrylic fibre is known as man-made wool because it is an artificial fibre that provides the look and feel of wool at a fraction of the cost.  Advantages of acrylic are that it resists static electricity, moisture, mildew, fading, crushing, staining, and sun damage.  It is not however durable enough for high traffic areas.

Blends

Blends are typically made from nylon and olefin.  This blend is resilient but the different fibre types often resist stains unevenly.  Stains will often stand out prominently with these blends.

Nylon

Nylon is the strongest fibre of all the carpets, with excellent resistance to abrasion, insects, mold, mildew, rot, and many chemicals. It is easy to maintain and dye, while upholding its colour admirably. Nylon is durable and static free, maintains fibre height, and resists soiling or staining.  All of which makes it the most popular carpet fibre by far (90%) for homes and heavily favoured (65%) for all uses – both residential and commercial.  Nylon carpet is usually moderately priced, not quite as expensive as wool, but more expensive than polypropylene, and polyester. Nylon carpet of midlevel and higher quality can last up to 12 to 15 years.

Olefin Or Polypropylene

Olefin (polypropylene) is the next-best seller after nylon, making up about 80% of commercial carpet installations.  Olefin fibres are colourfast, strong (resisting abrasion), mildew & moisture resistant, and easy to clean (bleach can be used safely in some cases).   It is suitable for high traffic areas – even actually used for artificial sports turf.  Less expensive than wool, nylon, and polyester, olefin/polypropylene continues to gain popularity. Polypropylene is not exactly ‘crush resistant’ and can be prone to matting, crushing, and general scuffs, depending on the pile cut.

Polyester

Polyester does not hold its fibre height under traffic and shifting weight as well as other carpet fibres.  Polyester has a luxurious feel, is durable against abrasions, resistant to water soluble stains and easy to clean.  Polyester can fade with bright sunlight.

Polyester Recycled Carpet Fibre

Polyester/PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate carpet has bright colours and is available in many textures.  It is more stain resistant than nylon carpet and at least as resistant to mold and mildew. It is also non-allergenic. Some of it (if not all) is made from recycled bottle caps…about 50 soda bottle caps go into a square yard of carpet. Polyester/PET is also quite inexpensive, less than wool, and nylon. Since it is actually made of plastic, it would be a good idea to first test this in a single room to see how you like it, before going all out with this environmentally friendly carpet.

Wool

Wool is a purely natural product — luxurious, strong, and stain resistant.  It maintains its fibre height very well.  Soft to the touch and very dense, wool has a more comfortable feel than other carpet fibres; plus it will hide soil to a much greater effect than other synthetic fibres, mainly in part due to its opacity (other fibres are clear, and thus soil can be seen through it).  Wool is also quite durable, and easily dyed in many colours. It is an excellent choice for its rich appearance and luxury image; however, it must be maintained properly. It does tend to fade in sunlight, has low-resistance both to stains and to the chemicals used to remove stains. Unlike the synthetics, wool can attract and suffer damage from moths, beetles, and other types of insects.

Probably the biggest advantage of vinyl sheet flooring is that it’s water resistant. It’s made with waterproof materials, such as PVC, which makes this flooring option perfect for water prone areas of the home. Sheet vinyl flooring is a great fit for any room in your home, but it exceeds expectations in the kitchen, laundry room, basement and the bathrooms.

Stain Resistant

Printed vinyl tiles and sheets have a clear wear layer that acts as a surface barrier, protecting the floor from stains and spills. These materials are very easy to clean and maintain. By contrast, solid and composite vinyl tiles do not have this surface protection and will be more susceptible to stains, requiring occasional stripping and polishing.

Comfort

Vinyl sheet is softer underfoot than other hard-surface flooring options, making it much easier to stand on for long periods of time. It’s also warmer to the touch than harder surfaces like ceramic or stone tile. If comfort is a priority for you, look into vinyl sheet options that have an additional layer of cushioning.

Durability

Vinyl sheet flooring is a highly durable material that, if properly installed and maintained, can last upwards of ten to twenty years. This advantage makes it great for any room in the house, especially the high traffic areas that are constantly assaulted by sneakers, spills, pets and sloppy spills!

Did you know there 4 different grades of wood flooring? Those grades are: prime, select, natural and rustic. The grade of the wood doesn’t necessarily mean that one is better than the other, it simply means that it looks different and has different characteristics.

Prime grade timber flooring is that it is extremely uniform in its appearance, It has a very small number of knots and a highly consistent colour, it is perfectly suited to top-end designer settings where you would want it to look sharp and clean. This is the

Select grade timber flooring has slightly bigger knots and a little more inconsistency colour-wise than the Prime grade timber, but is still a highly stylish flooring option. Select grade is a great compromise if you want (almost) the uniformity of premium grade timber, but can’t quite justify the price tag.

Natural grade timber flooring allows the natural beauty of the wood to take centre stage. It will have a fair number of knots that can be quite big as well as colour variation that can be quite significant, natural grade timber is full of charm and character.

Rustic grade timber flooring has a rustic grade wood effect on the eye, look fabulous when used with a bit of imagination. With it’s obvious, chunky knots and sometimes dramatic colour variation, rustic timber flooring can add real interest and charm to a room that is simply furnished and decorated.

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