#1 Pros and Cons

First and foremost, you must know the pros and cons of each type of flooring material before deciding what type of flooring fits your lifestyle most. Talk to the sales representative about your expectation, building a good rapport is very important. 

After all researches and talking to different flooring companies, you’re still confused with the 1001 types of vinyl available in the market? What else should you look out for?

#2 Certificates and Test Reports

You should make sure the product you are getting is safe and deliver what it claims. Ask for all certifications and test reports. Be certain that you are getting what was said to be. You want to give your loved ones a safe environment to live in.

#3 Value vs Quality

Vinyl price can start from as low as $1.90 per square feet. This price is the most likely supply of material only. Are you getting what you see/hear – price vs design vs quality vs durability? Invest some time, make an effort to visit the showroom, look at the actual product, feel the quality, if it meets your expectation, you’ve probably found THE one.

#4 Knowledge & Experience

Budget is important. But more importantly, is the person who is going to give you advise, explain the product and spend the next few days or months with you till your flooring job is complete.

This floor representative should be equipped with good knowledge of the different types of flooring materials, a sound technical skill on how and what to do to achieve your ideal theme and experienced enough to foresee and tackle the tricky situation.

#5 Testimonial

Be it an established or newly set up company, there are customer orientated ones, there are sales figure orientated ones. 
Apart from the points we’ve highlighted, there is one last but not least factor you should consider, TESTIMONIAL.

Existing customers are the best person to tell you if this company is the one you should award the job to. Every customer’s expectation and the floor’s condition are different. There won’t be 100% positive reviews but do make an effort to read up some reviews of the company that you are considering. The salesperson will only paint you the beautiful picture but the reviews from the customers are always the truth that you need to know.

Looking for a suitable flooring company that suits your budget and preferences? Discuss your needs with our flooring team HERE.

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Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #1:
Presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) & volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Play safe! HERT vinyl flooring is a great choice for young ones who love to roll around the floor during playtime.

Because of the chemicals used in producing conventional vinyl flooring, there is the likelihood of a potentially dangerous amount of VOC being released into the air. This can be harmful to our bodies when inhaled on a constant basis at home. Homeowners with young children or pets will definitely want to consider an alternative such as Hybrid Eco RigidTech (HERT) flooring. Manufactured with phthalate-free material, this low VOC-emitting vinyl flooring will ensure safe and non-toxic air quality for the little and furry little ones. And, unlike conventional non-biodegradable vinyl flooring, HERT flooring is an eco-friendly vinyl flooring option that eco-conscious homeowners can embrace.

Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #2: Subfloor imperfections & telegraphing

Goodbye uneven floors! Homeowners who use ETEC flooring can feel comfortable with a flat and safe floor for the most accident-prone part of the house – the kitchen.

With conventional vinyl flooring, the installation must be done with utmost care and precision to ensure that the subfloors are absolutely clean and smooth. This is to avoid any unevenness from underneath the vinyl flooring that may eventually show up and be a permanent eyesore! To address such potential floor bumps, a great alternative to put on your list of flooring options is the EcoTech Extreme Core (ETEC) flooring. Unlike other common vinyl flooring, ETEC has a rigid and high-density core, which makes it resistant to most subfloor imperfections and prevents the telegraphing of vinyl tiles.

Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #3: Stains & Discoloration

Beautiful yet easy to maintain, ETEC flooring is a versatile option that this homeowner chose for the kitchen, living room and even the bedroom.

Common vinyl flooring stains often include discolouration that arises when rubber comes in contact with low-quality vinyl flooring. It is an issue that many homeowners fail to note, especially when many shoes come with rubber soles that can threaten the aesthetics of your vinyl floor! That said, homeowners who want to enjoy the advantages of vinyl flooring without sweating over this can breathe easy with ETEC vinyl flooring. With its waterproof features, ETEC vinyl flooring is less susceptible to stains and discolouration and homeowners do not have to trade off its easy-to-maintain benefit.

For more information on The Flooring Gallery’s wide range of vinyl flooring and its advantages, feel free to get in touch with our vinyl flooring experts HERE.

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Building up a party-friendly home or hosting a big party at home? Here, we have some tips on the best types of flooring for parties, how you can prepare your floors for a house party, and some house party cleaning tips.

If you’re a homeowner considering flooring options for your new party-friendly house, The Floor Gallery (TFG) highly recommends vinyl flooring for parties. Vinyl flooring is a top choice amongst party-hosting homeowners due to its low maintenance features. Break little to no sweat when there’s a food or drink accident. Vinyl flooring will only need basic wiping with an ordinary damp cloth – hello easy party cleanup and goodbye sticky floors!

Credits: floorstoyourhome.com

While we never really know what our guests bring to the dance floor, vinyl flooring is a great option when it comes to protecting your house floors. Not only does it have scratch-resistant features, vinyl flooring is water-resistant – making it immune to glaring coffee stains – and has a wide array of high slip resistance textures as well. This reduces the likelihood of slips and nasty falls. If you find that vinyl flooring is suitable for your house, check out the wide range of eco friendly vinyl flooring that we offer here.

Alternatively, if you are looking to introduce a breath of fresh air to the party by means of an outdoor space, be it a garden or balcony, you could consider wood decking as well. TFG’s eco-friendly wood decking options are slip-resistant, ensuring a greater and safer time on the floor. If a downpour occurs before your party (and hopefully not during), there is no need to tip toe cautiously on semi wet floors just to avoid slipping. Being heat-resistant as well, you will not have to worry about the dance floor literally heating up!

For those who already have hardwood flooring installed in your home, here is something to note for your big party preparation. The biggest no-no is waxing your wooden floor before the party. We understand that you may want to impress your guests with a glossy, pristine floor. That being said, guest safety is still very important, and you want to prevent a slippery and dangerous dance floor at all cost.

Do you have questions about installing vinyl flooring in your home? Feel free to get in touch with our vinyl flooring experts HERE. In the meantime, happy party planning!

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Credits: Homeloans

Flooring accounts for a large part of the design and renovation of a property. Unless one opts for cement screed for that industrial look, chances are that one will need to spend a substantial of the renovation budget on flooring. Although buyers are spoilt for choice today when it comes to flooring options, it might be worth considering using eco flooring material.

When considering the environmental impact of flooring, it is more than just choosing material that comes from natural and safe sources. One also has to take into account the way the material is harvested and processed, as well as how the separate pieces are put together to form a complete whole. What happens after the flooring comes to the end of its useful life is worth considering, too.

Let us have a look at the various green flooring options available in the market.

Vinyl Flooring

Credit: Carpet Review

Vinyl flooring has grown in popularity in recent years. Buyers are attracted to the product’s durability, safety, wide array of designs and colours. However, what is not commonly known is that many vinyl flooring products contain a class of chemicals called phthalates. Phthalates are hazardous to children and can cause serious damage to their livers, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems.

If one does opt to use vinyl flooring, choose vinyl tiles and planks from manufacturers that commit to phthalate-free and sustainable processes. Where possible, also choose vinyl products that contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). High exposure to VOCs can cause adverse effects, like respiratory track irritation, dizziness and nausea.

The Floor Gallery’s non-toxic and low VOC flooring range  – Eco Protect Resilient Flooring (EPRF) – offers protection from such harmful chemicals.

Wood Flooring

Wood has been used for centuries and is a common choice for people who want a timeless, classic look in their premises. While wood is certainly a green flooring option and does not emit much VOCs during its processing, bear in mind that forests are depleting in many parts of the world. Choose hardwood that comes from sustainable and responsibility managed sources At the end of their useful lives, wood can be burnt to generate energy, rather than being dumped in landfills.

One important thing to note: When installing solid timber flooring, get the vendor to use adhesives that emit little or no VOCs. Get acquainted with The Floor Gallery’s all natural and environmentally friendly range of Solid Wood Flooring.

Stone Flooring

Stone is another common material used in flooring. Common choices are marble, granite and slate. Its extreme durability makes it an environmentally friendly flooring choice. One advantage of using stone: When it has outlived its usefulness, it does not go to waste. Stone tiles can be crushed and repurposed into aggregate material for use in stone tiles or as the foundation of roads.

The Eco Flooring Choice is Yours!

As you can see, whether it is for decorating home or furnishing corporate offices, buyers today are spoilt for sustainable flooring choices when planning for their renovation. Vinyl offers a contemporary and refreshing look, while wood exudes that timeless, classic feel.

At The Floor Gallery, we offer one of Singapore’s widest range of products for your flooring needs. Not only do we care about the aesthetics of your home or office, we are also fully committed to your health and environmental sustainability.

To find a flooring option that fits your budget and lifestyle options, do not hesitate to contact our friendly consultants for flooring advice HERE!

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Homeowners are immensely proud of their abodes and without a doubt, the floor accounts for a major portion of their renovation needs. As 2018 gets well underway, it is worth having a look at trendy vinyl flooring ideas in home décor this year.

Although traditional wood flooring still captures the imagination of many homeowners, a relatively new type of flooring has been gaining popularity – vinyl flooring. Eco Resilient Flooring are layers of virgin PVC. EcoTech Extreme Core and Hybrid Eco RigidTech are PVC mixed calcium powder Co extrusion. Vinyl flooring has gained wide interest due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and safety. Because of its versatility, it remains popular in 2018 and beyond.

Vinyl flooring comes in many styles, but two major types are tops with homeowners. The first are wood effect vinyl flooring tiles. These synthetic tiles are made to look and feel like natural wood, complete with their naturally coloured grains and textures. This trendy vinyl flooring option appeals to people who yearn for the wood-like look in their homes but also desire the ease of maintenance and soft feel. Wood-look vinyl comes in various colours, among them the evergreen brownish hues. Classic Oak and Danish Oak are always in demand.

      
Styles: Classic Oak & Danish Oak

Style: Scandi White Oak

Another popular class of vinyl flooring is stone effect vinyl flooring. As the name implies, stone-look vinyl flooring refers to vinyl tiles that mimic the look of natural stones. While natural wood evokes a sense of class, stone represents high-end natural look, with its associated luxury and stability. Stone-look flooring has the additional advantage of not having repeated patterns. Think of the polished marble or granite tiles in a five-star hotel lobby – there you have it. You can now replicate that posh and trendy look in your very own home! Consider Slate Grey and Washed Concrete. Both are dark grey tiles with the washed stone look that will evoke feelings of being at one with nature.

Source: Pinterest

  
Styles: Frosty & Sterling

Browse our wide selection of trendy vinyl flooring as you plan for the renovation of your dream home here.
Feel free to contact us should you require any advice; our consultants are always ready to assist!

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Comfortable to the Feet

Wood flooring is a natural insulator of heat compare to other types of flooring. That means in chilly weather, you will feel warmth on the feet and during hot weather, you will feel coolness beneath. This feature therefore adds extra comfort to your feet while keep one away from illness such as cold and sinus.

Adds Value to Your Home

Do you know that wood flooring adds value to your home? Compare to other types of flooring, one reason why wood flooring adds value to your home is because of its luxurious status. However, it is important for homeowners to know what type of wood flooring to install that can actually increase the property value of your home. The highest value should be solid wood flooring, followed by layered wood flooring and then parquet. Do note that laminate flooring is not considered as wood flooring, therefore it will not help in the increase of the property value if you have the intention to sell the home to upgrade to a bigger home.

Unique Look

Each wood flooring plank has its own unique feature, design and look. You cannot find one wood flooring to be the same as the others. Therefore, it gives your home the unique design and feel. With real wood flooring, your home will stand out among the others.

Nostalgic Value

Another important feature of wood is in its nostalgic value. Every little marks left by your little ones on the wood flooring, create a memory for you, the home owners, many years down the road. This is one reason why some home owners love to have a keepsake of his or her old wooden flooring to be installed in the new home.

Long Lasting

Ever been to more than a century house where the wood flooring is still in its original state? Still strong and sturdy even though it has been more than a hundred years old. Well, this is because wood flooring can be very long lasting if the owner knows how to maintain it periodically (preferably twice a year) via re-varnishing, re-coating and re-painting.

So, there you have, the 5 unique feature of wood flooring. Hope you will appreciate the value of real wood flooring for your home!

The post Benefits of Wood Flooring in Singapore Homes appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

#1 Highly Water Resistant

The number one thing a working kitchen needs to have is a flooring that is highly water resistant. This will hence, make the flooring easy to wash and clean.

#2 Slip Resistant

While washing or cleaning your kitchen flooring with soapy water, one thing to caution about is potentially slipping accidents. This is especially so when it comes to ceramic tiles. Eco resilient flooring is tested to be highly slip resistant, hence after the washing, you will still feel assured that slipping is minimised. This is therefore recommended for families with elderly parents who always do the cooking or laundry.

#3 Impact Resistant

Touch wood, though there is no wood. Even if an unlikely scenario of slipping accident, the cushion effect of eco resilient flooring greatly reduce the impact of the fall. Therefore, it enhances safety at home.

#4 Stain Resistant

Stubborn oil stains that gives you the headache of cleaning it away. No worries about it when you have eco resilient flooring.

#5 Heat Resistance

Intense cooking cause one to feel very hot in the room. If the flooring is not a good insulator of heat like ceramic tiles, sometimes you may feel your feet being uncomfortable. As for eco resilient flooring which is highly heat resistant, you have no worries about uncomfortable feet.

#6 Fire Resistance

Eco resilient flooring (ERF) has been tested to have high quality standards in terms of fire resistance such as the credible CE rating and other European (EN) standard test. Hence, such feature enhances safety at home. In the event of fire incident (touch many wood, please), fire spread will be greatly reduced with eco resilient flooring compared with non-quality vinyl or resilient flooring.

#7 Certified Eco Friendly

One reason to choose eco resilient flooring for your kitchen is because it is certified eco-friendly such that it has credible accreditation such as the Singapore Green Label. Certified eco-flooring products are tested based on stringent standards such as indoor air quality, composite of safety materials used to manufacture the product, VOC emission and formaldehyde emission rate. By installing certified eco friendly flooring products, one will therefore feel extra safe at home.

Hope you have a clear understanding of eco resilient flooring (ERF) and why is it different from most types of clickable resilient flooring in the market.

The post 7 Reasons Why Eco Resilient Flooring is Recommended for Your Home Kitchen! appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

Heath

While doing shopping for your flooring, always ask yourself what are the health benefits to consider in the flooring products. One easy way is to look for flooring products that are certified eco friendly with credible accreditation such as the Singapore Green Label. This is because such label ensure the flooring product go through stringent standard such as better indoor air quality, less VOC, no harmful materials used in manufacturing and also low formaldehyde emission. Your pet may love to lick the flooring or stay at home most of the time while you are at work, hence the exposure of your pet to the flooring is much more compared to you and your family. Therefore, a pet friendly flooring must have good health benefits.

Easy to Clean

Your naughty dog poo or urine on the flooring causing stain and stench on the flooring. In the long run, these stains may make your home unhealthy and unpleasant especially to your guests who do not have pets. Therefore, it is important to look for a flooring which is easy to clean, highly stain resistant and most of all, 100% waterproof.

Safety

The other key feature to consider is the safety standard of the flooring. Your pet sometimes may run wildly around the house, any broken tiles or wood flooring with splinter will cause cuts on your pet’s feet. Other safety feature to look at are high slip resistance, high impact resistance and also heat resistance. With these features, it will double ensure safety for your pet and your family.

In summary, remember the 3 key features to look for when buying a pet friendly flooring for your home. At The Floor Gallery, we have  flooring products with these 3 key features.

Contact our friendly consultants for flooring advice HERE

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Homeowners sometimes got confused by the range of vinyl flooring products, hence let’s delve into the topic on the types of vinyl flooring available for home owners in Singapore today.

Clickable Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring is part of the family of vinyl flooring. However, it is very different to traditional vinyl flooring due to features like 5mm thickness, 0.5 mm wear layer, made from pure virgin vinyl pulp and you do not need a flat subfloor to install the resilient flooring. Many flooring contractors sometimes will confuse the consumer by telling consumers that their resilient flooring is high end, premium and luxury. Basically, these flooring are considered as clickable resilient flooring which is categorised under the big family of vinyl flooring.

Vinyl Sheet, Plank or Tiles (or Traditional Vinyl Flooring)

These types of vinyl flooring are usually installed in clean room, clinics, hospitals and science labs. This is because medical vinyl sheets and tiles have anti-static and anti-bacterial properties which make it suitable for the above-mentioned areas. One thing to know that vinyl sheet and tiles usually has low thickness and wear layer compared to clickable resilient flooring, that is why, it is not recommended for homes.

Medical Clickable Resilient Flooring

From the terms, you will be able to guess this type of flooring has both features of a clickable resilient flooring and also medical vinyl sheet or tiles. Usually, they are in plank types and is highly recommended for homes with kids and elderly due to its eco friendly, anti-bacterial and durable features.

Eco Resilient Flooring (ERF)

This type of vinyl flooring has similar features to clickable resilient flooring, only that its focus is more on being certified eco friendly and eco healthy. Typical features of eco resilient flooring that makes it different to traditional clickable resilient flooring are its safe composite of material used to manufacture the flooring, better contribution to indoor air quality and also certified eco friendly. Other than that, it has all the features of clickable resilient flooring (whether it is name premium resilient, high end resilient, luxury resilient and so on), such as high slip resistant, waterproof, high impact resistant, high stain resistant, better dimensional stability, termite proof and more.

Now, you have a better understanding of vinyl flooring and the current types of vinyl flooring options available today for our home owners. Hence, do make wise decision when shopping for flooring. Do not be misled by marketing terms of clickable resilient flooring such as high end resilient, luxury resilient, premium resilient and more!

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“What are some of the safety properties of the flooring should we be looking at, if we have elderly at home then?” you may ask. Read on for the answer!

1. Slip Resistant

Water spillage or water pouring from the rain into the house, is something inevitable. This is especially true for the kitchen, service yard and toilet area. According to Health Promotion Board, a lot of injuries happened to elderly due to fall each year. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a flooring that is highly slip resistant. Also, look for a flooring that is impact resistant, so that in event that may not fully prevent falls, it may also help to cushion falls, lessening impact.

2. Easy to maintain

Very often, the younger ones are either out at work or in school. The cleaning is, sometimes, done and maintained by the elderly. Having an easy to maintain flooring will help them have an easier job. They need not need to scrub the floor hard, but just using their comfortable way of having a broom and a mop, they will feel the floor clean. Having an easy to maintain flooring may also help them to gain their confidence as they know these are simple chores they can help out at home, if they want to do, of course.

3. Comfortable

When we are buying shoes, we look for shoes that we are comfortable to walk in. The same goes for flooring. We need to be comfortable with the flooring that we are walking on as we are spending a lot of the time walking at home when we are home. What more about the elderly who could be at home more often than you do? Some flooring, such as concrete tiles, may not be good for health if we were to stand on them for long. People with morning sinus will not like to step on ceramic tiles or marbles in the morning too. Hence, look for a flooring that will not be cold during cold weather or hot in the hot afternoon.

4. Air Quality

Fresh clean air helps to improve our life quality. As much as we like to have clean air, we also need to understand that dust is everywhere. We can clean them, but some flooring, such as carpets, tend to trap dust easier than others. Dust and dust mites will cause problems to elderly, especially those with respiratory problems. Hence, it is vital to look for a flooring that is tested and proven for better indoor air quality standard.

Flooring may seem to be the easiest to go for in a house, but when safety for the elderly becomes a concern, you will realise there are many considerations you need to have. There is no perfect flooring for a safe house. Do consider what your priority are. Research well before committing and don’t forget to involve the elderly when choosing flooring as their comfort should also be taken into consideration!

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