Listening – Gap Filling – Bài Thực Hành Số 8

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How to Choose Flooring Materials

We’ve been talking about choosing building 1 in the last week. Now, a great many 2 influence the choice of building materials. You can’t make a house of 3 , right? And “people who live in glass 4 …” and all that… Anyhow, today I’d like to say a few words about 5 .

Some 6 materials can be used, like plastic for instance, which offer mixed 7 when used as a flooring 8 . On the one hand, plastic is cheaper than nearly any other 9 , short of bare ground. Plastic also does not warp like 10 . On the other hand, the best that can be said about plastic is that it “looks like” wood or 11 . However, it cannot replace the real materials. As I have 12 , I’m fixing up a new house. The decorator my wife 13 told me, “Plastic does a great job of looking 14 like plastic.” Besides, it 15 easily, fades or 16 , and starts cracking within a year or two. So, if you’re fitting out a sleazy hotel or plan to live in a 17 park, go with the plastic. Really, though, for all intents and 18 , this leaves us with wood or stone as choices for flooring.

Stone and wood are alike in at least one respect: both go through processing before they can be put to use. Since few of us cut our own lumber or quarry our own stone, this is not perhaps a pressing 19 . Still, do-it-yourselfers would do well to remember to buy only properly 20 wood. Unseasoned wood warps and a warped floor quickly becomes 21 (and its owner quickly becomes poorer). Likewise, except for dull-hued materials like slate or sandstone, most stone floors are 22 before 23 . The choice goes well be­yond just wood or stone – each type requires many further 24 . A few special remarks are called for when considering wood, for example. As always, 25 , personal taste, and layout all play roles as well as the type of house or room. Oh, and certainly don’t forget the cost. When it comes to cost, a rule of 26 is that the softer and less 27 the wood, the lower the cost. In the US, for instance, pine is both 28 and cheap. Mahogany is imported and 29 expensive. If you’re on any kind of budget when 30 , it’s really helpful to remember to go for the softer woods.

Aside from cost, there are still lots of different factors that are im­portant in choosing the best flooring for the job. Continuing with the example of wood, one must consider the 31 of each type of wood on the mood of the room. When selecting the best wood to use, particular 32 needs to be paid to its grain 33 , texture, and colour. In rooms where 34 or deep thought is the aim – say bedrooms or the study – dark, strong grained woods are the rule.

Here the grain ought to match the 35 for a feeling of 36 . In rooms where activity and motion are typical – the dining room or living room – lighter, finer-grained lumber is more 37 .

In such a setting, the wood grain might be useful in offering a contrast to the furniture. This leads to a feel of subconscious 38 , in keeping with the room’s function.

In either case, though, consult a decorator. It is a decorator’s job to know what materials to use to fit the function of the room. Though some things about putting together a room are subjective and based on one’s individual taste, materials 39 to a room’s function are much more 40 . A decorator takes the needs of the customer and uses a mathematical formula, rather than 41  words. Since feelings vary from person to person, verbal 42 of wood types tend to be 43 . You want the wood you select, not something 44 ! And if you do decide to do it yourself, remember that all wood must be treated with 45 to en­hance its appearance and 46 its natural beauty.