Here are some tips to follow when buying new flooring for your home.

Opt for engineered wood flooring in your kitchen if you like the aesthetic of wooden floors

If you love the appearance of wooden floors and you think this type of flooring would fit your kitchen's aesthetic to a tee, then you should not get solid wood flooring but should instead opt for engineered flooring instead.

The reason for this is that whilst a solid wood floor might look beautiful in your kitchen for the first year or so after its installation, it will probably deteriorate over time, as solid wood is very sensitive to temperature changes and moisture exposure. In a kitchen, where you're using the stovetop and oven regularly, opening and closing the fridge freezer, and probably spilling some water on the floor when washing the dishes each day, it is inevitable that the flooring will be exposed to both moisture and frequent temperature changes. In these conditions, solid wood floorboards will usually fade and warp; the latter can be an especially big problem, as warped floorboards are all too easy to trip over.

In contrast, if you fit engineered wood flooring in your kitchen, you should find that it remains in excellent condition; this is because whilst it is not waterproof, it is more resistant to water damage than solid wood flooring, due to its layers being glued together in a way that minimises the risk of warping.

Research the care the flooring you're interested in buying will require

No matter what flooring you choose to buy, you should ensure that you fully research the type of care it will need before you purchase it. For example, if you opt for solid wood flooring, you should keep in mind that you may need to wax it regularly to keep stains at bay and to prevent scratches. In contrast, engineered wood flooring doesn't usually require waxing and only needs some sweeping and light mopping. If you opt for carpets, you'll need to be prepared to not only vacuum them regularly but also to have them steam-cleaned once a year or so.

Knowing what maintenance requirements each type of flooring has in advance will mean you can get the tools or products you'll need for it and start doing maintenance before you notice a decline in the flooring's condition. It will also ensure that you don't buy flooring that you don't have the time or resources to maintain.

Check out a local flooring supplier to learn more about engineered flooring.