It wasn't that long ago when wall-to-wall carpeting was considered the only real flooring option for householders. Today however there are numerous options available, many of which are stylish, affordable and relatively easy to fit if you have some basic DIY skills and a bit of common sense.

Below is a short list of the common choices of flooring, together with a brief summary of what to look for when buying.

Carpeting
Carpet is still one of the most common choices for furnishing a home. Not only is it warm and comfortable under the feet, it also has the added advantage of being relatively cheap when compared to some of the other flooring options. You can often get end-of-roll pieces for knocked down prices that will easily carpet a small to medium sized room, so saving you even more money.

Recent advances in technology have meant that carpets are now being manufactured from materials which are easy to clean and virtually stain proof. This is great if you have children or pets and it may be worth paying a little extra for this kind of carpet.

If you are thinking of buying reduced price end-of-roll carpeting then you need to make sure it fits the room, with a good few inches to spare. Although this is an inexpensive way to buy carpeting, you will have to take whatever pattern or colour that the seller has available. Thus you may have to wait a few weeks for the carpet of your choice to become available in the size that you require.

You might also want to consider buying carpeting second hand if it is in relatively good condition. If you buy a large carpet for a small room you can cut out the best section and throw the rest away. You should watch for fraying at the edges though if you intend to use the entire piece as it is bought.

Rugs
Rugs today come in all manner of shapes, sizes, colours and materials. In fact it should be quite easy to find a rug to go with any style of room. Small rugs add a focal point to large rooms, and they can also be used to cover up damaged areas of carpeting! Large rugs, especially in upstairs rooms can be used instead of carpeting with the floorboards around the edges being stained the colour of your choice.

You can often buy second hand rugs that are still in very good condition for much lower prices than you would pay brand new. However you should check them for stains and other damage, and look for areas of excessive wearing.

Wood Flooring
Many people are now turning to laminate flooring for their homes. This option not only gives a room a very fresh look, it also makes the floor easy to clean and even easier to vacuum! The price of laminate flooring ranges from easily affordable to quite expensive, so you should think about how much foot traffic your floor will get before splashing out on the most expensive type available.

In addition to the actual flooring, you will also need underlay and beading for around the edges, so these need to be added into the overall cost. Depending on which type you choose, you might also need a glue product also.

If you really want to impress the neighbours, then you can opt for real wood flooring instead. This is quite an expensive option, especially if you use reclaimed floor boards from a famous stately home! It does however look great when it is finished, although you will need to seal and polish it before using it. Because of the expense, it might be worth thinking about hiring a professional to lay real wood flooring, so that it looks its best when finished.

It might be possible to buy packs of laminate flooring and real wood flooring second hand. If you do go for this option then you should measure your room carefully and check that you have enough wood to do the job. You should also check that there is no damage to the wood, and that it hasn't been stored somewhere that could cause warping or bowing.

Floor Tiles
Another option to think about is to use floor tiles in the home. You can use carpet tiles in places like the bathroom and toilet and even the kitchen. Alternatively you can opt for ceramic or even slate tiles and create geometric patterns to suit your tastes. Black and white geometric designs look very good in hallways, while large slate tiles look good when used to furnish the entire downstairs. Tiles can be very expensive though and some materials break and crack very easily, so care needs to be taken when laying them.

If you look around, you might be able to buy slate or ceramic tiles as a 'job-lot' for a fraction of their worth, simply because the seller has changed their mind about their flooring needs. It is important to take potential breakages into consideration when deciding how many tiles you need. Experts suggest buying 10% more tiles than you actually need, especially if there is a lot of cutting and shaping to do.

Conclusion
There are plenty of options available when it comes to floor furnishings today. If you don't mind looking around and maybe waiting a few weeks, then you can often find the kind of thing you want for a lower than normal price. Buying second hand is a good option, although buying end-of-roll off cuts or bulk buying tiles can also save you quite a lot of money. If you are using expensive flooring then it may be cheaper in the long run to hire a professional floor fitter to help, especially if your DIY skills aren't worth talking about!
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Classified Ad Results  ( 1 to 4 of 4 ads found )
11 March 2010
ukwoodandlaminatefloorings.co.uk..
Suppliers of solid hardwood flooring, engineered wood flooring, and laminated floors. also all installation materials, and cleaning and maintenance products. advice on installation methods and how to avoid problems. .
B90
16 February 2010
Laminate Flooring and matching beading £60 MUST GO TONI..
Beech coloured laminate 20 m2 and matching beading all new and unused. must go tonight or weill be taken to the skip!! offers welcome.
£60
CV1
05 February 2010
Parquet flooring - from ordinary up to limits of your i..
Company offer a parquet supplies from international hardwood and install works. european parquet from oak, natural, selected and prime grades. parquet patterns from straight, herringbone and master to complex inlayed mix wood blocks. bordeaux, rosettes, inlayed corners an. .
£1,000
15 December 2009
100% WOOL DEEP PILE BERBER RUGS FROM "NEXT"..
Both are 120 by 170cm, chocolate(dark brown). both are from "next" still on sale for £99 each. excellant cond house move forces sale. £40 . tel 07960 068558 eggborough. .
£40
DN14
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