Whatever your style or budget, there is a flooring trend to suit your personal preferences. The scope of your renovation however should be determined by your time, emotional and financial commitments. With this in mind, here are some popular and very current flooring material trends in the home improvement market. Take your pick and your home will never be the same!

1.    Tiles

The wonderful world of tiles is full of exciting options that you can opt for. Large, mosaic, small, porcelain, ceramic… there is always something for all. Best of all, there is a tilling solution to suit almost any budget. Best of all, tiles are essentially long-wearing and hardy. For those homeowners that are handy, they might even try laying them by themselves.

When choosing tiles, it is recommended to keep in mind that larger floor tiles are best for larger spaces. They often cost more and require to be laid by a professional flooring expert.  If you are planning on a long term remodeling undertaking, keep things as simple as possible. Remember also that mosaic and patterns do age over time and hence the need for old flooring material to be replaced.

2.    Floating floors

Floating timber floorboards are a great option for rooms that are used by people that suffer from allergies or want a dust-free solution. They are available in a wide range of styles and colors. In fact these flooring materials can almost be mistaken for the real thing. However, though they offer a wide range of benefits, they also have a downside – heavy moisture absorption.  This makes them not suitable for use in wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and the likes.

3.    Carpets

Carpets are making a huge comeback, thanks to different array of fibers and styles that are available on the market today. When choosing a new carpet for your floor, it is recommended that you consider the volume and nature of traffic in the area. Heavy traffic areas such as hallways require tightly wound sisal fiber carpets to safeguard against tear, wear and fluff. Areas such as the dining room can lead themselves to higher pile shag, meaning that they also require heavy duty and tightly woven carpets.

4.    Concrete

Concrete as a flooring material is as popular as it has always been for years now. Polished concrete is particularly popular for heavily trafficked and large areas. Surprisingly, it is also quite budget friendly. The only downside is that concrete floors can be really cold under the feet. This makes them not ideal for spaces such as the bedrooms, living room and the likes.

5.    Fine parquetry

Fine parquetry flooring was once considered an indispensable 80s staple. It has now seen resurgence in recent years and has become one of the most opted for flooring material in the market. Yes, we all concur that nothing brings hospitality and warmth to a room like natural timber. Parquetry floors do just that, not forgetting it also brings both contemporary and conventional beauty and character through a number of unique designs.  A touch of French polish takes the look to whole new level.

Whichever flooring material you opt for, go for a type that best suit your personal preferences and home as they are not constructed the same. And just before undertaking a home improvement undertaking, it is advisable to first check with your local council to determine what is permitted and what is not.

Check with your local building regulators before commencement of a renovation undertaking

Expert renovators recommend this as the first step in any potential home improvement undertaking. In simple terms, if you are undertaking major remodeling undertakings around your home, including building an extension, knocking down walls or doing anything that will affect your neighbors, a development application has the be done. This is followed by a building or construction application that details the build info.  No renovation undertakings can be carried out without these approvals as they ensure your remodeling plan is safe for one and all.

Construction legislation differs from one local council to another. So it is important to check with your local council if development application or building application is required. You will save yourself major headaches down the line because any unapproved work may be halted without notice or even unceremoniously removed.

Do all home improvement undertakings require these approvals?

Not all home improvement projects require approval before their commencement. The majority of small structures such as fences, sheds, decks, superficial renovations and the likes do not require either development application or building application approval. However, some may still require these approvals though they are considered exempt for one reason or another.  In this case, think water-efficiency and heritage restrictions. So if uncertain on which of these approvals you need to seek, it is recommended that you contact your local council for clarification.