If someone suffers a physical disability of any kind, whether permanent or temporary, it is bound to have a strong effect on his home life and his surroundings. Things that we take for granted, such as going in and out of rooms or up and down the stairs, suddenly become major issues. If a person is now wheelchair-bound, for example, the doorways in his house have to be wide enough to accommodate him. And if he has become elderly and has developed brittle bones, general safety is now far more important. Whereas previously, a fall meant getting slightly bruised, now it could mean broken bones, a stay in hospital, or even ending up in a wheelchair.

For this reason, the kind of flooring that we use is very important. Floors need to be even, non-slippery, and for those who are sensitive to allergies, free of any possible allergens. Let’s take a look at different flooring options and see what would be the best choices for anyone having to deal with physical challenges of one sort or another. Although there is no one leading choice, the following options are presented with their advantages and disadvantages. All you need to do is see which one suits you the best:

Wood – A wooden floor looks beautiful, is sturdy, and easy to clean, and it comes in a variety of designs. The main problem, however, for anyone who suffers from a disability is that it can be terribly slippery. Indeed, many able-bodied people will acknowledge that a rug on a newly polished or waxed wooden floor is a major health hazard. If, however, you already have a wooden floor and you can’t change it, one solution is to put down area rugs that are properly secured with carpeting tape. This will alleviate the “slip” situation. But you should regularly check that these rugs are in place.

Carpeting – While this is soft and you don’t get the “slip” factor mentioned above, the main problem with carpeting is that it contains allergens. Therefore, if you are sensitive to dust or other spores, this may not be a good option for you. However, a soft carpet will certainly break a potential fall much better than wood flooring or tile flooring. The other problem is that it is hard to clean and it stains easily. Your best bet is to put down area rugs where there are heavy stains – but once again, you have to make sure that they are secured properly and there are no dog-eared edges obstructing wheelchair passage. The edges of a rug that ride up can also be dangerous as they could cause a person to trip – so be careful.

Vinyl – This comes in precut squares of material. It is easily fitted, washable, and it doesn’t cost too much, either. The other great benefit of vinyl in a home where someone has a disability is that it is glued down in all the corners, so there is no risk of riding up. It is also non-slip, making it the ideal material in such a situation. The only major disadvantage is that it can get damaged very easily.

Author Bio: Sacha is an expert contributing article author composing on the subject of household designing. She really loves utilizing flooring resilient and area rug ideas for flooring surfaces to bring a real dash of panache for the space.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: best carpet flooring,best flooring for disabled,best stone flooring