Building and designing a house means carefully considering your climate. What do you need to do to make your home liveable under the conditions you’ll face? You need to think about things like open-plan living, block orientation and cross-breezes. But perhaps an even bigger consideration is flooring and the different types to choose for your climate.
Your flooring will form a big part of your home’s overall liveability. Every time you take a step, you’ll be experiencing the result of your carefully chosen flooring solution. So it’s important to choose well! Luckily, with these tips, you can easily choose the right flooring options for all the different climates you’ll face.
Choosing flooring for different climates – the two most common choices
Wherever you go in the world, you’re likely to find homes with timber flooring, and homes with tiles. They’re arguably the most popular flooring choices on earth. But just because you can find them in any climate, does that mean they are the best choice for all climates? That really depends on your priorities. For some people, tiles in a cold climate might be a tough choice to justify. But for others, it might be the only natural fit. However, despite the importance of personal preference, there are some factors that might guide your decision. Let’s take a look at them below!
Tropical timber flooring: easy to choose for warmer climates – here’s what makes it different
Generally, as a starting point, timber flooring will go best in warm tropical environments. The humidity of those environments can leave carpets and other fibrous floorings susceptible to mould. Timber, on the other hand, is easier to treat against mould, and easier to recondition if any deterioration does occur. But that doesn’t mean other options simply won’t work in humid environments. In fact, there are some fibrous flooring materials purposely built for easy cleaning and robust durability. So if you can’t go past the soft feeling of carpets or rugs underfoot, rest assured there are plenty of options for you!
Carpets for the cold – is it better to choose carpet flooring than hard flooring in cold climates?
Let’s take a look at the colder side of things for a moment. If you live somewhere where winter has some bite, the idea of taking your first step for the day on a cold hard surface might be less than appealing. Tiles can often leave a harsh feeling underfoot, complete with a cold bite. If that rings a bell, carpet is probably the best choice for you.
Carpet is certainly much easier underfoot than tiles are. And when you throw some cold into the equation, carpet can be a hard choice to go past. However, if you’re drawn to tiles for the aesthetic, you’ve got options too. Mats and rugs are a great way to take some of that cold hard edge off. Coupled with tiles, rugs can offer you the best of both worlds.
You don’t always need to choose between hard and soft floors in different climates
Speaking of the best of both worlds, let’s take a look at one of the favourite combinations for southeast Queensland: timber or tiles and carpet! It’s common to see carpeted bedrooms, in homes with hard flooring throughout Queensland climate areas. The reason is simple: you’re most likely to be barefoot in the bedroom.
Carpet flooring makes that a more comfortable choice, and takes the cold away in cold winter climates. In the remainder of the house, you’ve got hard flooring to create a quintessential décor for the Queensland climate. Better still, the carpet in your home will only cover small areas, making it easy and cheap to maintain.
Climate is an important factor in choosing different flooring, but it’s not the only thing to consider
Clearly, climate does play a role in choosing different flooring options. But it’s not the only thing to consider. There are plenty of combinations that can gift you with the comfort you need, and the aesthetic you want.
To choose the right flooring combination for your climate, get in touch with the experts for some more tailored advice.
