If you're getting ready for a big remodel and someone in your household relies upon a mobility device to get around, there are some extra things you need to take into account as you move forward. This is especially true for the flooring you choose.
The safety and effectiveness of wheel chairs, walkers, canes and crutches can be seriously impacted, for better or worse, by the type of flooring they are being used on. Uneven transitions from one room to incompatible flooring and slippery flooring, can all be problematic for people who rely upon them. Beyond that, these devices also can have an impact on the service life of your floors.
As you can see, choosing the right floor is about more than simple appearances for those who use mobility devices, it's a quality of life issue. So, which floors are best? Here's a quick rundown.
Hardwood flooring
Aside from the many other reasons that hardwood flooring is considered to be the holy grail of flooring, it also makes an excellent flooring choice for any home with mobility device users. Hardwood flooring is durable, so it can hold up to impacts with mobility device contact points and transitions beautifully, from one room to the next for unimpeded movement.
Any scuffing from rubberized contact points is fairly easy to simply wipe away, and they can be re-sanded a number of times over the course of their service life to like-new condition if any damage does occur. Hardwood flooring's longevity serves another useful purpose for mobility device users. Flooring renovations are disruptive, doubly so for those who rely upon mobility devices to get around the house. Longer-lasting floors means having to put up with that, less than you would with flooring options that aren't as long-lived. Once again, hardwood flooring knocks it out of the park!
SmartStrand™ carpeting
You might be surprised to see carpeting on this list, but hear us out! Many of the doubts you might have come from the fact that the contact points, such as wheels or cane feet, can track in all sorts of dirt from the outside that would stain carpeting , as well as the crushing these devices would cause in the pile. This simply isn't an issue with SmartStrand™.
You'd be hard-pressed to find any stain that can't be removed from this fiber with just a bit of water, and it simply cannot be crushed by any but the most extraordinary means. All of this is due to the built-in qualities of the fiber itself.
The stain-fighting power of SmartStrand carpeting is a result of the material used to create it, not a chemical application. That means this carpet will slough off stains like it did the first day it was installed, even years down the line. This fiber also has a unique shape that allows it to spring back into position after even the most punishing crushing forces.
Don't take our word for it, though! Google “SmartStrand Rhino Challenge", and you'll see a carpet that can withstand two weeks in a rhino enclosure at a zoo and come out looking like new after a normal professional cleaning. Wheels and cane feet won't even register with this carpet. If you want the plush comfort, warmth, and vivid color of carpet, there's nothing holding you back!
Want to learn more?
These are just our top two choices for the best floors for mobility device users. There are other great options out there, such as slip-resistant tile or luxury vinyl tile, that might suit your tastes and practical needs better. We just thought we'd get you thinking with our top hard-surface choice and the soft-surface choice most would overlook.
The best way to really get a handle on your needs is to see your options in person, and discuss them in real time with an expert. If you'd like to arrange for a free, no-obligation flooring consultation and estimate, we'd love to hear from you! Just call, email, or stop by our Mississippi Pro Design Center showroom in Pearl, MS, to get started.
Our reputation for offering top-quality flooring and flooring installation services to the greater Jackson, MS area, stands second to none. We'd love to put our experience to work for you! Why wait? Your new floors are just a few clicks away!
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