When building a house in Ghana, it is important to pick the right type of flooring that will best suit you. Here is a list of different types of flooring along with their pros and cons.

1. 1. Laminate

      If you’re looking for an extremely durable and long-lasting flooring solution designed for high traffic areas and fits your lifestyle, then Laminate Flooring is an excellent choice, especially for homes. If you can get your hands on good quality laminate flooring it can last you up to 15 years.

      It’s stylish, long-lasting and due to its versatility, laminate flooring is suitable for virtually all room types. Laminate gives the look and feel of real wood.

      Pros

      • Laminate flooring is relatively quick & easy to install. For a 4-bedroom house, the laminate can be installed in half the time compared to other flooring options.
      • It’s very easy to clean.
      • Durable and long-lasting.

      Cons

      • Due to the tropical climate in Ghana, sometimes laminate can get really moist and start to peel. Great care needs to be taken so that not too much moisture gets onto the laminate. If you’re having laminate in a cool environment where the air conditioner is on most of the day (such as an office), then laminate is good flooring solution.
      • Some people confuse laminate with wood. Though laminate isn’t actually real wood, it is engineered to look and feel like wood.

   2. Vinyl

      Vinyl flooring comes in either tile or sheet form. One of the least expensive forms of flooring, vinyl is very popular amongst homeowners because it offers great value.

      Available in a wide range of colours, designs and styles, vinyl tiles are easy to cut and install by yourself, especially when the tiles come with self-adhesive backing.

      Pros

      • Vinyl flooring provides a slightly softer surface than other options like tile or wood because the product is backed with a thin layer of either felt or foam depending on the manufacturer. The soft layer results in the floor having a little more flexibility and give, which makes it comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.
      • Vinyl tiles are available in a huge assortment of colours and styles, with some designs even mimicking the look of stone tiles or wood planks.

      Cons

      • The spongy quality of vinyl flooring may prevent a glass from breaking if it’s dropped on the floor, but a sharp object can gouge the surface if dropped. This is also a concern when it comes to moving furniture.
      • It is not as long lasting as other floor textures especially in a tropical climate, after some years it can become very soft and even in some extreme cases, it can melt.

   3. Bamboo

      

      Offering a strong, sustainable alternative to traditional hardwood, strand-woven bamboo floors are ideal for home and commercial environments.

      Bamboo floors offer a few distinct features as opposed to laminate flooring which have made them a popular choice for a wide range of buildings.

      Pros

      • It’s eco-friendly, bamboo is made from natural vegetation. The bamboo plant is a highly renewable resource that is able to grow to maturity in as little as 3 to 5 years.
      • It’s very durable and long-lasting.

      Cons

      • It may not be the best in a very humid space if the floor is installed in a very humid area, the moisture in the air can cause the floor planks to bobble. In a dry environment, the planks can shrink. In both cases, cracks in the bamboo will be the result.
      • Bamboo scratches easily, great care needs to be taken when moving furniture or even wearing heels on a bamboo floor.

   4. Tiles

      Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles are a very popular flooring choice in Ghana.  Not only does it look clean and classy, but it’s extremely durable for our climate.

      Ceramic tiles are made from clay fired in a kiln. Then a coloured glaze is added, and the tile is fired again, making the colours stand out. Ceramic tiles tend to be slippery, so they are usually treated with an abrasive if they are to be used as floor tiles.

      Porcelain tiles are clay tiles fired at very high temperatures. This creates a dense tile that is quite resistant to moisture. Porcelain tiles are also extremely strong and long-lasting and are great for heavy traffic.

      Pros

      • Extremely durable and long lasting
      • Wide range of designs, colours and designs
      • Timeless flooring solution
      • Very easy to clean

      Cons

      • If it is not installed correctly it can crack
      • It can be very expensive.

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   About the author

   Joelle Eyeson is an interior designer based in Accra and London. She will be providing a weekly dose of home décor tips for your home or office. She will also be sharing some amazing finds in and around Accra.  For more on home and interior decoration visit her website, www.joelleeyeson.com<