Help Me Choose – Common Scenarios
Our Guide to the Common Scenarios
These scenarios represent common cases we encounter when helping customers choose their flooring. No situation is exactly the same but we hope these scenarios will give you a good starting point. And of course you can mix the cases for different areas.
Scenario 1
A rental or short-medium term refresh
In this scenario, we are looking for an economical recommendation. The maintenance may not be as rigorous as in your own home so going for a more expensive option may not be advantageous.
Carpet
The carpet durability is not a factor, it is the appearance that will suffer in the first place. Choose darker colours and a lower weight SDN or even a Polyester yarn to strike a good balance of durability and cost.
For the most economical solution go with the lighter weight underlay. This will also improve the feel of the lighter carpet. Choosing a heavier 11mm underlay will improve the lifespan of the underlay.
Hard Flooring
In this scenario you are choosing between a Hybrid Flooring and a Laminate. Hybrid is economical, completely waterproof and virtually indestructible but beware of very cheap product that can crack, peel, shrink and go green in the sunlight.
Laminate is also a great option and you can find a product that strikes the right balance between resilience and cost.
Scenario 2
Young family or pets
This is a step up from Scenario 1. Similar challenges remain with various accidents, but you hope to mitigate these by timely and more rigorous clean ups.
Scenario 3
Entertainers
We are looking for practical products with a premium feel. They need to be durable, easy to maintain, present well and retain this presentation for a long time.
Carpet
Here we recommend a higher gauge tight (short) cut pile/loop SDN. The tight pile gives durability and consistent appearance. The carpet being firmer makes it is easier to walk on (think of high heels).
SDN is your first choice for durability, pile shape retention and ease of maintenance. However modern textured wool carpets bring a touch of class to any space albeit requiring more attention.
Hard Flooring
A high quality laminate is your first choice in this scenario. It can be virtually indistinguishable from the natural timber but is highly resilient to dents and scratches (high heels again).
Engineered timber can be a consideration. It, however, comes at a significant premium, especially at the high end and will sacrifice resiliency.
Scenario 4
Families with older kids
For these households the accidents are no longer a concern but the flooring needs to work harder with heavier and more active traffic.
Carpet
Look for a mid-range and up carpet with firmer feel (higher weight, shorter pile, tight loop) in both SDN or Wool yarn. If well looked after, such carpet will last many years under high-wear conditions without losing its appearance. Naturally, lighter colours will stain more so it comes down to your personal preference.
Scenario 5
Low usage scenario
Your flooring does not get much use. You may only have two people in the house or large spaces so the traffic is spread around more.