If you are the proud owner of a Toronto condominium residence in 2017, congratulations: the GTA housing market has never looked better, particularly for condos. The sellers’ market of the last couple of years is probably making you feel as if you are sitting in a small gold mine, but you should not get too confident; once buyers start getting picky, they will likely start looking closely at the condition of your property, particularly your condominium flooring Renovation.
In a condo, nothing attracts the attention of residents, guests and prospective buyers as much as the flooring. There was a time when condominium flooring in Toronto meant parquet installed over bare concrete. Interior design trends eventually welcomed greater diversity, which means that condo owners can now choose between laminate, carpeting, engineered wood, and even concrete.
Hardwood can also be an option; however, the bylaws of many strata councils prohibit this type of flooring since it can be noisy when walked on. Council members may approve hardwood installations when they adhere to certain structural guidelines that include acoustic underlay for soundproofing. Engineered wood or laminate flooring are often more adequate options in these cases.
Even though carpeting is not as trendy as it used to be, you may want to consider woven wool materials in natural colours for your bedrooms. If your prospective buyers are younger members of the Millennial Generation, they may be turned off by wall-to-wall synthetic carpeting, but most people find wool carpeting in bedrooms to be irresistible.
Tile floors can look very sharp in a condominium, particularly if they are made from natural metamorphic materials such as granite and marble. Modern synthetic and ceramic tiles can be engineered to resemble the patterns of just about any metamorphic rock and they are easier to clean; however, you should also realise that large areas covered with tile can get very cold, which may result in higher heating costs, and thus you may want to limit this material to the kitchen and bathrooms.
Laminate flooring is extremely flexible. Modern manufacturing techniques give you a very wide range of options in terms of colours, patterns and material emulation. Laminate flooring is affordable, easy to soundproof and can be kept pristine with simple maintenance. Laminate can be stained or glossed for different looks, and you can actually combine pieces if you feel inspired.
In the end, upgrading your flooring can be the best renovation project you can select for your condo. If you really want to boost the value of your property, look down and think about the floors first.
Jessica Kane is a writer for OSHA Campus Online, where you can complete a variety of OSHA training courses 100% online at your convenience.
