Finding the best type of flooring material to use on your residence can be confusing. This is due to the fact that there are various factors that you need to consider before you can make your final decision. The flooring industry has introduced multiple types of materials that can be effective when used for certain situations. You have the option of using one type of flooring material for all the rooms in your house.

However, there are times in which you may need to consider using different types of flooring materials for specific rooms in your house. One of the commonly used types of flooring materials is plywood. It has certain characteristics that would make it the cost-effective option. This article will discuss the different factors that need to be considered in choosing the best type of material to be used as the flooring for specific rooms of your residence. In addition, this article will talk about the pros and cons of using plywood flooring to help you in making your final decision.

Important Factors To Consider When Choosing Flooring Materials

When you are in the process of installing new flooring to your residence, a myriad of questions would suddenly pop up in your mind. This is normal since it is very important that you choose the option that would balance beauty and the costs of new flooring. This also concerns people who are planning to renovate or fix their present flooring. To help you make an educated decision, you may use the following below as your basis:

Budget constraints

o   This is the biggest issue that homeowners have to consider. Different types of flooring options are made from materials that may be costly to begin with. In most cases, wood flooring costs more than synthetic flooring. This usually points to the cost of installing hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring comes in different kinds that have a wide range of costs attached to them. So you may need to look into those different kinds to check which would fit your price range. Wood flooring has other options like softwood flooring and plywood flooring. These are known to cost significantly lower than hardwood flooring, and some of these may be enhanced to look like certain types of hardwood flooring.

Durability and longevity

o   People always question the lifespan of certain types of flooring materials. Flooring options that use synthetic materials have been known to be durable enough to last long periods of time. However, this synthetic-based flooring also has issues that must be factored in. Take vinyl and laminate flooring, for example. These types of flooring materials may look good and fit well in rooms that have relatively low foot traffic. However, they may not last long if there are people who walk around with sharp heels, pets with sharp claws run around the room, or if furniture or appliances are placed inside the room and are dragged around the room. These may rip or deeply scratch some of the layers of these types of flooring materials which would require you to replace the ruined vinyl or laminate flooring panels.

Resistance to extreme climate changes

o   Residences located in countries that are like Canada, which experience extreme climate changes all throughout the year, have issues with certain types of flooring materials. Climate changes entail that the air may be hot or cold, depending on the season. Air and moisture are known to have negative effects on wood flooring. This is because hot or cold air can cause wood to expand or shrink. Wood flooring panels may rise up or form gaps that may not be repairable and would need to be replaced with new ones. However, this issue usually happens to wood flooring that only uses solid wood as a material that would make up the flooring panels. There are types of wood flooring materials that have been added with protective coatings and strong adhesives that would keep them secure from getting exposed to air and moisture. This can be found with engineered hardwood flooring and plywood flooring. So using them in residences that are under harsh weather conditions would be more cost-effective.

Fitting with the house design

o   New houses are usually designed with flooring that would fit the overall style that the homeowners are going for. Flooring experts may help you find out how certain types of flooring materials would fit your preferred style. However, there are some flooring materials that have designs that can fit most styles. Wood flooring has its natural and authentic look that can enhance or mix well with most styles. Some wood flooring materials can be added with paints and stains so that they will be able to blend with the style of certain rooms. Plywood flooring is one of the materials that can easily be painted with designs and stains. It can be made in such a way that it can perfectly blend with the modern look of certain rooms.

Maintenance requirements

o   There are flooring materials that are known to use up too much time to maintain and clean. Concrete flooring may need to be regularly applied to maintain its shine and smooth surface. Wood flooring can be cleaned by vacuuming and sweeping the dirt off them since it is not advised that you let them get wet for long periods of time. Even the best type of flooring material will still be affected by natural forces that may cause it to degrade faster. Flooring made from tiles is not free from maintenance requirements since they need to be regularly scrubbed to remove dirt and dust that may have stuck to them. If you do not properly wash off or rinse tile flooring, a film of detergent may trap dirt on the tiles when the detergent has dried up. This makes it difficult to scrub off the dirt that has already been trapped.

Pros and Cons Of Plywood Flooring

Since plywood is used widely in construction projects, it just shows it has certain qualities that make it a good material to be used on structures. However, these qualities also make it a good option for your flooring needs. However, since there are no perfect flooring materials, this would mean that there will be certain characteristics that would make them a bad option under certain circumstances. By referring to the below, you will get a better view of the pros and cons of plywood flooring:

Pros

o   Plywood flooring is made by bonding together several layers, or plies, of wood veneer. The strong adhesive that is used for bonding the veneers form a layer of protective coating on the different layers of wood veneer. This protects it from the risk of air and water leaking into the core of the plywood flooring panels. This prevents the materials from shrinking or expanding and helps the flooring panel retain its shape for long periods of time.

o   Plywood is more affordable than hardwood flooring. It may not have the same durability as hardwood flooring, but it can last longer than most of the synthetic-based flooring materials.

o   In relation to design, you may leave your plywood flooring with its natural design since it still gives off the authentic look of wood. However, you may also change the design on your plywood flooring by using paints and stains. You can make your plywood flooring mimic the design of your favorite type of hardwood floors. You may also let it look as if your flooring is made of marble by giving it a look and shine the same as with marble flooring. Since it is cheaper to purchase plywood flooring panels, then you can draw and paint on them to make your flooring unique.

o   You can opt to have plywood panels installed on your flooring without cutting them. Since a plywood panel has a usual dimension of 8’x4’, then each panel will be able to cover a wider area. Wood flooring is known to have visible seams between the flooring panels. With a greater distance between the seams of plywood flooring panels, they will help make your room look bigger than its actual size.

Cons

o   Even though you may add protective coating on your plywood flooring, it will still be susceptible to scratches, gouges, and dents if something sharp or heavy is dropped on it.

o   It does not have the same effect as hardwood flooring when it comes to raising the value of your house. This is due to the fact that plywood flooring will never compare to the durability of hardwood flooring. Even if it is more durable than other types of flooring materials, its comparison to hardwood flooring makes it hard to increase its resale value to the same level of hardwood flooring.

o   Since plywood is made from thin layers of wood veneer, it has the risk of having the knots break off.

Plywood Flooring Is The Cost-Effective Alternative To Hardwood Flooring

Since most people dream of installing flooring that has the appeal and durability of hardwood flooring, not all of them may be able to afford the cost to make their dreams come true. However, they can still go for its best and most cost-effective alternative, which is plywood flooring. You may contact Three Trees Flooring at (416) 665-2624 to learn more about plywood flooring and find out if it is the right flooring option for you.