September 27, 2022
Flooring’s super-important. Especially in an environment where durable flooring’s required. Ideally, you don’t want to be replacing it too frequently, so it’s important to get it right when you do replace it.
What is the most durable long lasting flooring? The good news is that there are some great durable types of flooring options out there, as we’ll go over below.
Flooring choice questions usually boil down to two factors:
Is the floor within an area that sees a lot of footfall? In other words, is it a busy area? Classic examples include hallways in busy family homes, and school corridors, especially where they form part of a junction.
Is it going to be mainly people in their socks, as in the most civilised home flooring applications, or, at the other end of the spectrum, big burly firefighters in boots? You can see from this that it’s important to know not just how many feet are going to be placed on the floor, but who those feet are likely to belong to.
Once you have a good idea of the quantity and quality of floor use that’s likely, you’ll be in a position to move to the next stage, that of looking at the floor covering options available.
The most durable types of flooring include the following:
What flooring is the most scratch resistant? Porcelain has an excellent claim to the title. Also slip-resistant, waterproof and downright gorgeous to behold, porcelain tiles have been among the best flooring options for centuries and is likely to carry on being a favourite for many years to come.
For smooth, clean lines combined with natural warmth, you can’t beat the look and feel of hardwood flooring. You have a choice of solid wood or wood veneer (AKA engineered wood). The former is usually harder wearing. The latter boasts better water resistance. The other major benefit of the former is that it will add to your home’s value.
This one’s got the look of wood but at a fraction of the price, so it’s among the best cheap flooring options. It’s a synthetic wood facsimile that gives excellent scuff resistance as well as being easy to clean. Be warned though – it’s usually not waterproof.
Perhaps not an obvious choice for many when it comes to durable flooring, but carpet has a lot going for it in the durability stakes. Best not to skimp when it comes to purchase choice, and opt for loop rather than cut for most hardwearing quality.
This is made of vinyl layers, solidly fixed together to produce a rigid and extremely resilient option. It can have some of the charm of wood and as such is the best facsimile wooden floor vinyl can deliver. What’s more, it’s waterproof, relatively cheap and fairly easy to install. And for external use, there’s outdoor vinyl.
Super-durable and no cracks so maximum waterproofing. These and other qualities make sheet vinyl a perennial favourite for both flooring for housing and for industry.
A fabulous looking and incredibly tough flooring solution, bamboo is hugely in vogue right now. It also scores very well on the sustainability scale, being fast-growing and a great crop for emerging economies to harvest. It can be susceptible to water-damage though, so not great for all uses.
This is where laminate flooring is made waterproof with the addition of a PVC composite. Hybrid flooring pros and cons include the following: pros – durable, stylish, waterproof; cons – requires very even subfloor, more expensive than laminate, there might be pattern repetition in larger floor areas.
What is the hardest and most durable flooring? Possibly polished concrete, which is super-tough but not that common in residential use. Cork gives a lovely natural warmth and is surprisingly hardwearing. Rubber flooring is durable, but stains easily.
No two ways about it, some surfaces are expensive. Solid hardwood flooring for instance can be mega-pricey. But it looks incredible. You need to budget carefully to see what’s affordable before you go cooking up any dream flooring scenarios.
If there’s likely to be a lot of water in the vicinity, then you’re going to want a waterproof flooring surface. Examples include bathrooms using porcelain tiles, kitchens with vinyl (sheet or plank), and playrooms with laminate. Also think about whether any exterior spaces are going to be covered, in which case outdoor vinyl planks or certain kinds of hardwood flooring (decking) might be considered.
Are there awkward bits that will make the fitting tricky? If so, you might want to consider carpet tile, vinyl or laminate, which are easier to install than some other options.
Research is ongoing on whether carpets are bad for people with allergies or actually beneficial because they trap the dust mites that cause the trouble, stopping them flying around bothering people. Possibly a good way to get the best of both worlds is to have a hard floor with a rug on it, which you wash reasonably frequently.
Of course you can replace them yourself. Whether you get the finish you want depends however on your ability and on the flooring choice you go for. Start by measuring out the space and assessing the lie of the land. If you’re confident, why not give it a go? If, on the other hand, you have any doubts, it’s best to call in the pros.
Try Jupps Floor Coverings for some of the best flooring options Australia can boast. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be delighted to talk to you about your flooring needs and will make sure you end up with the best floor surface for the job. Submit an enquiry form today and get the ball rolling.
Sometimes all you need when starting out on a project like this is a bit of help from an expert. Jupps will be there for you, to ensure that all your flooring steps are firm ones.
