When choosing a flooring, many people make the typical mistake of not looking at all the criteria. Most often attention is paid only to cost with aesthetics and ignores practicality, reliability, difficulty of installation and the recommended area of application. This approach is erroneous. To buy the best suitable coating, it is necessary to comprehensively examine all the criteria for each material.
1. Wooden flooring
Popular despite the high price. We are attracted to the naturalness and coziness that all real things have architect-yagupov.com.
Solid parquet
These are pieces of solid wood in small pieces and are very convenient for those with complex floor configurations. The fewer flaws in the raw material (spalls, knots), the higher the quality and nobler the look. But even wood with flaws looks wood-like cozy and has high design possibilities. Parquet pleases with an aesthetic look and can keep it for decades, though, if it is well cared for.
Cons: it costs a lot, especially valuable varieties. Non-moisture-resistant, so it is difficult to clean. Installation is better to entrust to a specialist, as well as care: you will have to renew the top layer every year, and every few years to do it with a preliminary sanding.
Parquet flooring
Cheaper than parquet, because only the top layer is made of precious wood, while the bottom and middle layer consist of softwood. But the look is no less decorative, and the composition is completely natural and environmentally friendly. Insulating material. Beautifully serves 20 or more years without much concern on the part of the hostess.
Disadvantages: difficult to install, since it is placed on a substrate or on glue (glue or non-glue method – equally difficult), and every few years to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the top layer is slightly renewed.
Massive board
The board is loved by designers for its expressive texture, it is warm to the touch, hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. It will last over 40 years. It has good heat and sound insulation. In the installation is easier than other coatings made of wood.
Cons: cost – it is more expensive than parquet. When installing will have to buy expensive consumables (plywood, insulating materials) and use the services of the master. Swelling, burning, rotting, damaged by insects. Care is as complicated as the parquet.
Cork
This material is made from the bark of the cork tree, and it retains all the properties of a natural, ecological covering. Plus: cork flooring has high noise and heat insulation properties, it is non-slip, hypoallergenic, resistant to natural wood pests, easy to clean (you can limit yourself to a vacuum cleaner). The material is springy, this orthopedic property will help people with spinal problems to reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system. At the price of cork is an alternative to laminate.
Cons: afraid of sharp objects. Can be deformed by sharp heels or furniture legs. Visually suitable not for all rooms.
2. Wood imitation flooring
Such coatings are serious competition to natural wood. First of all it is laminated. Their high-quality varieties so skillfully imitate the texture of wood that even experts find it difficult to distinguish them at a glance.
Laminate flooring
Laminate has a moisture protection layer. This HDF board with a laminated surface is very durable, designed to withstand heavy loads, especially if it is a 33 and 34 class material. Laminate is easy to install, durable enough (10 years). Fireproof and not deformed by differences in temperature. Easy care, does not change appearance over the years.
Disadvantages: to avoid squeaks and kinks, you need a perfectly flat surface of the base. Can swell if the floor will be on the water for several hours (spilled by the neighbors, for example).
Linoleum
Practicality and low price – the main advantages of the material. The spectacular texture, imitating wood, in high-quality materials looks quite expensive. Of course, modern technology allows you to apply any patterns on the top layer, but copying the texture of the tree – the most popular option. Installation is simple, it does not require perfect leveling of the floor. Waterproof, not afraid of fungus and insects, easy to clean. Service life – up to 20 years.
Disadvantages: does not tolerate temperature changes and rough physical impact. Not all varieties can be attributed to environmentally friendly materials, so linoleum is more used in commercial premises. In the apartment linoleum has long since given way to laminate as a more environmentally friendly product.
3. Carpet flooring
The material guarantees warmth and comfort in the interior. But is it good in operating conditions and easy to care for?
Carpeting
Made of natural or artificial fibers that are bonded with a latex base. You can walk on the carpet without shoes, it is useful and pleasant, it has high characteristics of noise and heat insulation. The pile height is varied, as are the colors, so the material is very decorative.
Carpet tiles
Similar to carpeting, but more convenient to use. It is enough to change one tile to remove an indelible stain in the room, instead of having to change the entire covering. Easier to install than carpeting, allows you to work economically with complex floor configurations – little waste.
Cons: Both carpet and carpet tiles require constant vacuuming and periodic wet cleaning. Some stains are difficult to remove. Burns out, not moisture resistant.
4. Infused floors
They are also called polymer, because they contain these substances in their composition. Installation, although it seems simple, but requires the participation of specialists: the mixture is prepared according to the recipe and poured on the floor according to a certain technology, often in several layers. Design options abound, up to 3D-effect. This is a seamless material, so there will be no problems with joints and leaks. Does not require special care.
Disadvantages: the preparation of the base for liquid flooring must be carried out professionally, otherwise you will flood the neighbors, and not water, and polymers that are difficult to dispose of. Poured floors and their installation – not a cheap solution and is not suitable for every interior. Also, for comfort under such a coating, it is better to provide “warm” floors, and this entails additional costs.
5. Universal floor coverings
Suitable for any room because of the impressive set of positive characteristics and design possibilities.
Ceramic tiles
Particularly indispensable if they have to withstand heavy use and aggressive surroundings (all kinds of dirt and cleaning agents). Other pluses include: environmentally friendly, resistant to wear and tear, non-combustible and non-conductive, moisture-resistant and easy to care for.
Suitable for underfloor heating. Extremely decorative because of the variety of textures, colors, sizes and structures.
Disadvantages: fragile, afraid of bumps and curves of the base. Burns, cold to the touch.
Porcelain stoneware
This is the leader in terms of technical characteristics among finishing materials. Has all the advantages of tile plus its outstanding characteristics: high levels of strength and hardness, so it does not fear even the unevenness of the basis or strong impacts. Its durability is almost unlimited, it is not afraid of ultraviolet light (does not burn out), it does not interact with chemicals and aggressive media. Suitable for “warm” floors. This makes it an ideal coating for the kitchen.
It also has unique properties: a higher class of frost resistance, fire resistance, moisture resistance and thermal conductivity.
Cons: it is difficult to cut and process – special equipment is required. Tile is heavy, so it is difficult to work with it. Expensive, although the price range is quite wide. Cold to the touch.
