Choosing floor coverings for an apartment and a house
Construction, reconstruction, repair work of any room ends with its internal decoration. If the foundation is the basis for the entire structure, then the floor is the basis of its separate part, the room. The interior of a particular place as a whole depends on the foundation.
The top layer (floor covering) not only decorates the floor, it protects it from moisture, mechanical stress. Given this circumstance, the owners will think about how to choose the flooring for the room, which should be preferred. Some dwell on linoleum, laminate, others choose natural raw materials - parquet, board. Only after considering all the possible materials offered by the construction market, you can create an original design.
The peculiarity of the room, its functionality affects the choice of material for flooring. The floor in the bathroom cannot be the same as in the bedroom, these are rooms with different functions. Gym, office, warehouse, living space - all of them require a separate, individual flooring. So, the top layer must meet the following general requirements:
The flooring must match the overall interior design;
Take into account the targeted use of space;
Have good decorative qualities;
Do not create difficulties when cleaning it from dirt, dust;
All floorings can be divided into three groups: industrial, office, residential. For the premises of the company, enterprises require low-wear materials. For rooms in a house or apartment have their own requirements:
Living rooms - living room, bedroom, children
All the inhabitants of the house spend most of their time in living quarters. Therefore, the flooring in these places should be durable. Friends and acquaintances are received in the living room, family members themselves spend evenings here, so the load on the floor is quite large. The material of the floor covering is chosen taking into account its resistance to destruction, the occurrence of scratches that may be left by your favorite pets or furniture when it is rearranged.
The bedroom, children's room requires a responsible approach to the choice of flooring. It should be made from natural raw materials so as not to cause allergic reactions or diseases in households.Children, in turn, love to have fun. They run, jump, do something, play games, draw with pencils, felt-tip pens. Their actions create a large dynamic load on the floor, which must be considered when choosing it. In addition to environmental factors, properties such as hardness, slip resistance should be considered. For a child, such a characteristic as ergonomics is also applicable, so that the child does not receive an accidental injury.
An important requirement is the correspondence of the floor to aesthetic properties and the general style decision of the interior. For example, for the Arabic style, the characters are dark colors, African - shades of dry grass, scorched soil, Greek - green, lemon background.
Kitchen
A kitchen is not only a place for cooking, it fits much more into this concept. This is where the family gathers, discusses important topics, and makes serious decisions. Some even use this room to wash things, having a washing machine in it. Accordingly, the room should be comfortable for hanging out, and the floor should be practical, harmoniously fit into the general view, and meet the characteristic requirements.
The kitchen is highly visited, it is an area of intense movement of households. Food is cooked here, so the temperature and humidity constantly change in space, and fumes enter the air. Accordingly, the genital layer should be:
Moisture resistant. Having water on kitchen floors is a fairly common scene. Liquid gets in when condensation forms, spray from the utensil in which the food is cooked remains after wet cleaning;
Waterproof. The material should not only be resistant to water, its absorption is unacceptable, pass through it. This condition must be observed because under the coating microorganisms can decompose concrete or wood, laid under the surface;
Wear resistant.Around the stove often there is a greasy layer that must be removed using chemicals and stiff brushes. The coating should withstand such loads and not change its color and structure;
Do not slip. To prevent injuries, it is necessary to choose rough surfaces that do not allow to spread along the plane of the liquid;
Shock resistant. The coating must withstand various impacts. Awkward movements can lead to accidental breaking of dishes, falling pots, pans.
When combining different materials, zoning the space, it is necessary that the combined coatings meet the listed requirements.
Hallway
The room where every person goes to work, walk, for shopping. This is the first place in the house you enter at the entrance to the dwelling. It focuses all the dirt brought on shoes. Particles of sand, clay are abrasive materials that can damage the floor, so it must be protected from such effects. In addition, women's heels, handcarts, bicycles, skis can also have a negative impact on him.
During rain and snow, people carry moisture into the house left on umbrellas, clothes, hand luggage, as well as various reagents used on the street to process roads. Therefore, the characteristics of moisture resistance, ability to withstand chemical influences for coating play a large role.
The hallway is characterized by harder decks capable of withstanding shock loads. Different synthetic materials are also used - laminate and linoleum, less often ceramic tiles, natural stone, parquet. The main thing is that they do not emit harmful substances, have an attractive appearance.
A bathroom
Toilet, bathroom - the most demanding rooms when choosing finishing floor materials. It is necessary to take into account the eternal humidity, temperature changes, as well as combine the aesthetic properties of the coating with safety, create comfortable conditions.
The layer of the selected raw materials should correspond to the room. The floor should be made warm.If ceramics, a bulk coating are used, then an aqueous, electric heating system is installed for heating. Regarding the entire space, the fact of the constant presence of water, its hit on all surfaces, is taken into account, therefore, steam and waterproofing should be present here.
When choosing a coating, its ability to withstand loads in the form of a washing machine, shower, water bath, toilet, and other useful items is taken into account. It is desirable to have a slope on the plane, this helps to collect water in one place, does not allow it to spread around the entire perimeter of the room. It is important not to forget about the decor of the bathroom, the compatibility of colors of all elements.
Balcony / Loggia
A feature of these rooms is the lack of heating. This fact leads to the fact that the temperature here is almost the same as the street temperature, constantly changing. Unglazed balconies are exposed to natural atmospheric precipitation. Due to moisture, the floors can rot, become a favorable soil for the development of mold.
The floor on open balconies should be frost-resistant, non-combustible, not to slip, not to pass moisture, not to absorb it. The conditions put forward reduce the types of materials used for the surface. Here you can leave an ordinary concrete flooring, cover it with ceramic, rubber tiles, porcelain stoneware, use frost-resistant linoleum.
Closed balconies, loggias are less susceptible to sunlight, rain, snow. If you install heating, the room will not differ much from the residential one, so you can cover the floor with any material. It is desirable that it be soundproof. On an insulated balcony, a loggia without heating, frost-resistant flooring is laid.
Options for flooring, their advantages and disadvantages
Suburban residential building, city apartment must have a strong, durable floor. Its base can be concrete, wood, covered with the corresponding floor material.The choice of raw materials is approached thoughtfully, the service life, the general appearance of the room depend on it. Unlike the surfaces of walls and ceilings that can be regularly updated (re-stick wallpaper, repaint, whiten), the floor is less exposed. In addition to time-consuming work, this is still a rather expensive undertaking.
The materials used to cover the floor surface differ in their properties and have different characteristics. As raw materials use: concrete, stone, plastic, wood, polymers, rubber. Also, flooring is divided into piece, roll, tiled, bulk floors. The construction market offers a wide range of building materials, able to meet the needs of homeowners. Consider the characteristics of the most popular of them:
Batten
A profile board made of wood is divided into solid and spliced according to the production method. Depending on the type, the products differ in characteristics, the method of attachment to the base.
Massive board is obtained from solid wood, the quality of the finished product depends on the quality of which. There are only four of them. The first two are used for the main flooring. They are varnished, emphasizing the natural, natural pattern. The third, fourth grade contain knots, small defects. Such boards are often used for roughing. When used as a finishing floor, they are painted. To obtain a flat floor plane, after installation, the material is ground.
Fused board is obtained by gluing individual lamellas. It is distinguished by the absence of defects and durability. A plane from such a building material does not require additional alignment.
The building material is environmentally friendly, has good wear resistance, it helps to keep heat in the room, has high strength. The disadvantages of raw materials include poor sound insulation, low moisture resistance.
Heavy furniture must be installed on additional rubber stands for legs, which will avoid dents on the tree.
Laminate
Building material is a four-layer structure. The bottom row protects the product from deformation. Surface - made of acrylic resin, less often melamine, which give products shock resistance, wear resistance. The second layer is the main one, represented by a fiberboard. The image is applied to paper, which is the third layer. It can imitate wood, stone, other texture.
Laminate has a low price. It is resistant to stress, does not require constant care. It is an environmentally friendly material, it lacks substances that can harm human health. In the presence of a special substrate, it can be mounted on floors with water, electric heating. With proper use, it can last for 10 years.
The disadvantages include poor resistance to water. Laminate flooring requires laying skills; if technology is broken, it swells. The coating should be laid on a very flat plane of the base, otherwise it will make characteristic sounds (creak). It has many classes that determine the ultimate load on the material.
Parquet and parquet board
Building material refers to traditional flooring. It has a wood base, with a glued layer of valuable species. When laying parquet, you can use several methods. It can be glued directly to an even screed, simply laid in a mosaic way, without using adhesive mixtures, having previously prepared the surface (the base is covered with waterproofing, the substrate is laid on top). The second method is less durable, but allows you to replace the damaged element.
The advantages of parquet are expressed in its durability, reliability. It consists of a tree that is neutral for humans. It keeps heat well.Of the existing wooden coatings, building materials are most in demand. It has a large number of different shades.
The high price and deformation of the material are its main disadvantages. It also has a limited design, imitating only a wood structure. It requires additional processing with special compounds that protect it from moisture, impart wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage.
Linoleum
A common type of coating. Material is ubiquitous. It is produced in rolls, there is also PVC tile. By the type of application it is divided into household, semi-commercial, commercial. The view determines its hardness and thickness, which affect the wear of the material. Mounting to the base is done in three ways. It can be glued, flattened and fixed with a skirting board, use tape.
The building material is well protected against moisture and has a very long service life. It is easy to maintain, clean from pollution. It is represented by a wide range of colors and textures. Frost-resistant options can be used in unheated rooms.
The composition of this product includes rubber, alkyd resin, polyvinyl chloride. These chemicals do not classify the product as environmentally friendly. With strong changes in temperature, the material changes its physical properties, it begins to crack, crumble. After spreading to the surface, he needs time to straighten, adapt to the surface, and fit snugly to the screed.
Carpet
Soft coating, which, unlike the carpet, completely covers the room. It is made of natural materials (wool, silk), also artificial (polypropylene, polyester, nylon). By analogy with linoleum, it can be produced in rolls, tiles. Fastens with nails, clamps, glue, double-sided tape.
The product has good noise insulation qualities. The carpet is very soft, pleasant to move. Virtually no wear.It has many colors, may contain images, ornaments, drawings. Carpet made from natural raw materials is environmentally friendly. This is the safest floor covering.
The product requires regular cleaning, otherwise the dirt gets clogged among the fibers of the carpet, which creates inconvenience during operation. The material is sensitive to moisture, poorly tolerates exposure to solar radiation. It is not used in the kitchen, in the bathroom.
Marmoleum
Externally, the product is similar to linoleum, but the marmoleum is made from natural ingredients. It consists of: linseed, hemp oil, wood flour and resin, limestone, jute. When painting the top layer, get different texture options. The finished product is produced in the form of tiles, panels, twisted rolls.
The product is given a long warranty period of more than twenty years. Such a coating can be used even in a children's room, thanks to the natural components that make up its composition. The material is resistant to sunlight, has a high ignition threshold, and is immune to temperature changes. It does not get wet, lays well on top of old coatings, perfectly decorates the room.
The disadvantages of marmoleum include its rigidity. The product is very fragile, it is impossible to re-roll it. Differs in big weight, complexity in installation. It has a higher price compared to unnatural counterparts.
Cork floor
The bark of an evergreen oak (cork), growing among the states of southwestern Europe, also North Africa, is an excellent component for creating a finished product. In its production, crushed raw materials are used or a more expensive option is veneer. The cork structure resembles a honeycomb, but instead of honey, they are filled with air.
The product has a non-standard structure. It has good elasticity, which is felt in comfortable movement. It does not require additional heaters; it corresponds to mineral wool panels in terms of thermal conductivity.It has good sound insulation (dampens sound waves). It features a simple installation, has a small weight.
The main disadvantages of the material are its fragility, susceptibility to destruction, poor moisture resistance. Afraid of flooring and direct rays coming from the sun. The coating is poorly compatible with other materials, especially rubber.
Ceramic tiles
The product is represented by plates, which are made of baked clay. It is obtained by casting, extruding, pressing. The color of the product is acquired through the application of a layer of glaze. All tiles can be divided according to certain characteristics:
Type of raw material. In the manufacturing process, different clay is used (white, red, combined) with the addition of other minerals;
The porosity of the structure. Highly porous products are afraid of moisture;
Type of coating. The presence of a layer of varnish on the surface of the material.
Building material is indispensable for a bathroom, kitchen. It is neutral to temperature differences, and if there is a system of underfloor heating, tiles can be laid even in the hall, bedroom. Tile has a huge selection of colors, it can be combined with any interior. It is also very durable, not afraid of water, after ten years does not lose its original appearance.
Among the shortcomings can be distinguished cold coming from the surface. It is difficult to stack in order to achieve an even plane. On the surface, seams are always very noticeable, regardless of the skill of the person who made the installation.
Bulk floor
The main criterion that determines the quality of flooring is a flat surface, its strength. The liquid solution meets these requirements. The bulk floor has a monolithic structure, consisting of three layers. Images, including 3D, which can be obtained using this building material, are unlimited.
The surface obtained from the liquid solution has many advantages. The bulk floor is characterized by high rates of operational load.There are no seams on the plane, it is even, resistant to shock loads. This material does not burn, providing fire safety. Due to adhesion, it adheres well to other foreign surfaces.
Among the shortcomings, the price of flooring can be distinguished. When pouring, there is very little time to work with the material in a liquid state, it is necessary to work very quickly, so it is problematic to do the installation yourself.
Table of flooring, their parameters
Coating
Declared service life, years
Decorative qualities
Moisture resistance
The presence of seams
Application area
Linoleum
5-10
Large area of decors
+
+
The whole house except the nursery
Laminate
5-15
Limited to wood texture
+-
+
Hall, corridor
Parquet
up to 40
+-
+
+
In addition to the bathroom
Flooring, lining
15-20
—
+
+
Do not use in the bathroom, in the kitchen of insulated balconies
Board (parquet)
15-20
+-
+
+
In addition to the bathroom
Carpet
5-10
Natural colors, variety of patterns
—
+
In addition to the kitchen, bathroom, balcony
Bulk floor
25-45
Huge selection of colors, different abstractions, images, 3D
+
—
Bathroom, dining room, hallway, corridor
Ceramics
up to 20
Many colors, small drawings
+
+
Bathroom, dining room, balcony
Bung
to 10
A small selection of colors
—
+
In addition to the bathroom, bathtub, hallway
Marmolium
up to 20
Natural colors, textures
+
+
Everywhere
Liquid linoleum
before 18
Small selection
+
—
Bathroom, dining room, hallway
How to prepare the floor before finishing
The building construction of the floor consists of several layers: fine, rough. The first is flooring. The second is the base for the final flooring, which includes several rows (layer, screed, additional waterproofing, soundproofing, heat-insulating layer). Materials for the rough layer can serve:
Wooden joist floors. It is better to lay such a base in a private house, it is also suitable for a terrace. Such designs differ in their light weight, which allows you to perform work with them yourself.Wooden beams, beams are laid on a concrete base, they can themselves serve as a base. Alignment using wedges, slivers is unacceptable, so that the floor does not sag, lay metal. At the final stage, the tree is treated with antiseptics, covered with sheet material (fiberboard, chipboard, OSB, plywood).
Cement strainer. A budget option. It can be put on heating, layers of heat and waterproofing. It consists of cement mixed with water and sand. After pouring, the solution is leveled by the rule, it is allowed to dry. After cover the final layer.
Semi-dry screed. It is a semi-dry concrete or standard cement mortar with a minimum amount of moisture. To prevent the appearance of cracks in it, fiber is added at the rate of 80 grams per bucket of water.
Dry screed. Different materials are used: expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite. The density of such bases is lower than that of traditional ones, but it is sufficient even for heavily used rooms. Laying is carried out by filling dry raw materials onto the rough floor. Then it is leveled and covered with sheets of fiberboard, particleboard.
Floor insulation
An unheated floor will cools the room. It is the coldest place in the house, as the warm currents always rise up. In winter, to exist in such conditions is generally uncomfortable. To solve this problem, special heaters are used: glass wool, ecowool, polymer (polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam). They can be used in the hall, kitchen-studio, hallway. The only place where there will be no good from them is an unglazed balcony. Consider several options for insulation:
Styrofoam. Gas occupies its main volume; therefore, it has good thermal insulation properties. Lay it on any foundation. Most suitable for placement above basements, open ground. It is possible to insulate concrete floors.
Mineral wool.The list of work with the material (as well as with foam) is reduced to laying insulation between wooden blocks, on top of which the floor covering is mounted.
Conclusion
Design decisions in interior arrangement lead to the search for the best materials for flooring. The construction market offers a wide selection of finished products. There are even topcoats such as vinyl or polycarbonate. So, if desired, the presence of a huge variety of materials, you can give an original look to any room in your own home.
Construction, reconstruction, repair work of any room ends with its internal decoration. If the foundation is the basis for the entire structure, then the floor is the basis of its separate part, the room. The interior of a particular place as a whole depends on the foundation.
The top layer (floor covering) not only decorates the floor, it protects it from moisture, mechanical stress. Given this circumstance, the owners will think about how to choose the flooring for the room, which should be preferred. Some dwell on linoleum, laminate, others choose natural raw materials - parquet, board. Only after considering all the possible materials offered by the construction market, you can create an original design.
Content
Floor requirements for different rooms
The peculiarity of the room, its functionality affects the choice of material for flooring. The floor in the bathroom cannot be the same as in the bedroom, these are rooms with different functions. Gym, office, warehouse, living space - all of them require a separate, individual flooring. So, the top layer must meet the following general requirements:
All floorings can be divided into three groups: industrial, office, residential. For the premises of the company, enterprises require low-wear materials. For rooms in a house or apartment have their own requirements:
Living rooms - living room, bedroom, children
All the inhabitants of the house spend most of their time in living quarters. Therefore, the flooring in these places should be durable. Friends and acquaintances are received in the living room, family members themselves spend evenings here, so the load on the floor is quite large. The material of the floor covering is chosen taking into account its resistance to destruction, the occurrence of scratches that may be left by your favorite pets or furniture when it is rearranged.
The bedroom, children's room requires a responsible approach to the choice of flooring. It should be made from natural raw materials so as not to cause allergic reactions or diseases in households.Children, in turn, love to have fun. They run, jump, do something, play games, draw with pencils, felt-tip pens. Their actions create a large dynamic load on the floor, which must be considered when choosing it. In addition to environmental factors, properties such as hardness, slip resistance should be considered. For a child, such a characteristic as ergonomics is also applicable, so that the child does not receive an accidental injury.
An important requirement is the correspondence of the floor to aesthetic properties and the general style decision of the interior. For example, for the Arabic style, the characters are dark colors, African - shades of dry grass, scorched soil, Greek - green, lemon background.
Kitchen
A kitchen is not only a place for cooking, it fits much more into this concept. This is where the family gathers, discusses important topics, and makes serious decisions. Some even use this room to wash things, having a washing machine in it. Accordingly, the room should be comfortable for hanging out, and the floor should be practical, harmoniously fit into the general view, and meet the characteristic requirements.
The kitchen is highly visited, it is an area of intense movement of households. Food is cooked here, so the temperature and humidity constantly change in space, and fumes enter the air. Accordingly, the genital layer should be:
Hallway
The room where every person goes to work, walk, for shopping. This is the first place in the house you enter at the entrance to the dwelling. It focuses all the dirt brought on shoes. Particles of sand, clay are abrasive materials that can damage the floor, so it must be protected from such effects. In addition, women's heels, handcarts, bicycles, skis can also have a negative impact on him.
During rain and snow, people carry moisture into the house left on umbrellas, clothes, hand luggage, as well as various reagents used on the street to process roads. Therefore, the characteristics of moisture resistance, ability to withstand chemical influences for coating play a large role.
The hallway is characterized by harder decks capable of withstanding shock loads. Different synthetic materials are also used - laminate and linoleum, less often ceramic tiles, natural stone, parquet. The main thing is that they do not emit harmful substances, have an attractive appearance.
A bathroom
Toilet, bathroom - the most demanding rooms when choosing finishing floor materials. It is necessary to take into account the eternal humidity, temperature changes, as well as combine the aesthetic properties of the coating with safety, create comfortable conditions.
The layer of the selected raw materials should correspond to the room. The floor should be made warm.If ceramics, a bulk coating are used, then an aqueous, electric heating system is installed for heating. Regarding the entire space, the fact of the constant presence of water, its hit on all surfaces, is taken into account, therefore, steam and waterproofing should be present here.
When choosing a coating, its ability to withstand loads in the form of a washing machine, shower, water bath, toilet, and other useful items is taken into account. It is desirable to have a slope on the plane, this helps to collect water in one place, does not allow it to spread around the entire perimeter of the room. It is important not to forget about the decor of the bathroom, the compatibility of colors of all elements.
Balcony / Loggia
A feature of these rooms is the lack of heating. This fact leads to the fact that the temperature here is almost the same as the street temperature, constantly changing. Unglazed balconies are exposed to natural atmospheric precipitation. Due to moisture, the floors can rot, become a favorable soil for the development of mold.
The floor on open balconies should be frost-resistant, non-combustible, not to slip, not to pass moisture, not to absorb it. The conditions put forward reduce the types of materials used for the surface. Here you can leave an ordinary concrete flooring, cover it with ceramic, rubber tiles, porcelain stoneware, use frost-resistant linoleum.
Closed balconies, loggias are less susceptible to sunlight, rain, snow. If you install heating, the room will not differ much from the residential one, so you can cover the floor with any material. It is desirable that it be soundproof. On an insulated balcony, a loggia without heating, frost-resistant flooring is laid.
Options for flooring, their advantages and disadvantages
Suburban residential building, city apartment must have a strong, durable floor. Its base can be concrete, wood, covered with the corresponding floor material.The choice of raw materials is approached thoughtfully, the service life, the general appearance of the room depend on it. Unlike the surfaces of walls and ceilings that can be regularly updated (re-stick wallpaper, repaint, whiten), the floor is less exposed. In addition to time-consuming work, this is still a rather expensive undertaking.
The materials used to cover the floor surface differ in their properties and have different characteristics. As raw materials use: concrete, stone, plastic, wood, polymers, rubber. Also, flooring is divided into piece, roll, tiled, bulk floors. The construction market offers a wide range of building materials, able to meet the needs of homeowners. Consider the characteristics of the most popular of them:
Batten
A profile board made of wood is divided into solid and spliced according to the production method. Depending on the type, the products differ in characteristics, the method of attachment to the base.
Massive board is obtained from solid wood, the quality of the finished product depends on the quality of which. There are only four of them. The first two are used for the main flooring. They are varnished, emphasizing the natural, natural pattern. The third, fourth grade contain knots, small defects. Such boards are often used for roughing. When used as a finishing floor, they are painted. To obtain a flat floor plane, after installation, the material is ground.
Fused board is obtained by gluing individual lamellas. It is distinguished by the absence of defects and durability. A plane from such a building material does not require additional alignment.
The building material is environmentally friendly, has good wear resistance, it helps to keep heat in the room, has high strength. The disadvantages of raw materials include poor sound insulation, low moisture resistance.
Laminate
Building material is a four-layer structure. The bottom row protects the product from deformation. Surface - made of acrylic resin, less often melamine, which give products shock resistance, wear resistance. The second layer is the main one, represented by a fiberboard. The image is applied to paper, which is the third layer. It can imitate wood, stone, other texture.
Laminate has a low price. It is resistant to stress, does not require constant care. It is an environmentally friendly material, it lacks substances that can harm human health. In the presence of a special substrate, it can be mounted on floors with water, electric heating. With proper use, it can last for 10 years.
The disadvantages include poor resistance to water. Laminate flooring requires laying skills; if technology is broken, it swells. The coating should be laid on a very flat plane of the base, otherwise it will make characteristic sounds (creak). It has many classes that determine the ultimate load on the material.
Parquet and parquet board
Building material refers to traditional flooring. It has a wood base, with a glued layer of valuable species. When laying parquet, you can use several methods. It can be glued directly to an even screed, simply laid in a mosaic way, without using adhesive mixtures, having previously prepared the surface (the base is covered with waterproofing, the substrate is laid on top). The second method is less durable, but allows you to replace the damaged element.
The advantages of parquet are expressed in its durability, reliability. It consists of a tree that is neutral for humans. It keeps heat well.Of the existing wooden coatings, building materials are most in demand. It has a large number of different shades.
The high price and deformation of the material are its main disadvantages. It also has a limited design, imitating only a wood structure. It requires additional processing with special compounds that protect it from moisture, impart wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage.
Linoleum
A common type of coating. Material is ubiquitous. It is produced in rolls, there is also PVC tile. By the type of application it is divided into household, semi-commercial, commercial. The view determines its hardness and thickness, which affect the wear of the material. Mounting to the base is done in three ways. It can be glued, flattened and fixed with a skirting board, use tape.
The building material is well protected against moisture and has a very long service life. It is easy to maintain, clean from pollution. It is represented by a wide range of colors and textures. Frost-resistant options can be used in unheated rooms.
The composition of this product includes rubber, alkyd resin, polyvinyl chloride. These chemicals do not classify the product as environmentally friendly. With strong changes in temperature, the material changes its physical properties, it begins to crack, crumble. After spreading to the surface, he needs time to straighten, adapt to the surface, and fit snugly to the screed.
Carpet
Soft coating, which, unlike the carpet, completely covers the room. It is made of natural materials (wool, silk), also artificial (polypropylene, polyester, nylon). By analogy with linoleum, it can be produced in rolls, tiles. Fastens with nails, clamps, glue, double-sided tape.
The product has good noise insulation qualities. The carpet is very soft, pleasant to move. Virtually no wear.It has many colors, may contain images, ornaments, drawings. Carpet made from natural raw materials is environmentally friendly. This is the safest floor covering.
The product requires regular cleaning, otherwise the dirt gets clogged among the fibers of the carpet, which creates inconvenience during operation. The material is sensitive to moisture, poorly tolerates exposure to solar radiation. It is not used in the kitchen, in the bathroom.
Marmoleum
Externally, the product is similar to linoleum, but the marmoleum is made from natural ingredients. It consists of: linseed, hemp oil, wood flour and resin, limestone, jute. When painting the top layer, get different texture options. The finished product is produced in the form of tiles, panels, twisted rolls.
The product is given a long warranty period of more than twenty years. Such a coating can be used even in a children's room, thanks to the natural components that make up its composition. The material is resistant to sunlight, has a high ignition threshold, and is immune to temperature changes. It does not get wet, lays well on top of old coatings, perfectly decorates the room.
The disadvantages of marmoleum include its rigidity. The product is very fragile, it is impossible to re-roll it. Differs in big weight, complexity in installation. It has a higher price compared to unnatural counterparts.
Cork floor
The bark of an evergreen oak (cork), growing among the states of southwestern Europe, also North Africa, is an excellent component for creating a finished product. In its production, crushed raw materials are used or a more expensive option is veneer. The cork structure resembles a honeycomb, but instead of honey, they are filled with air.
The product has a non-standard structure. It has good elasticity, which is felt in comfortable movement. It does not require additional heaters; it corresponds to mineral wool panels in terms of thermal conductivity.It has good sound insulation (dampens sound waves). It features a simple installation, has a small weight.
The main disadvantages of the material are its fragility, susceptibility to destruction, poor moisture resistance. Afraid of flooring and direct rays coming from the sun. The coating is poorly compatible with other materials, especially rubber.
Ceramic tiles
The product is represented by plates, which are made of baked clay. It is obtained by casting, extruding, pressing. The color of the product is acquired through the application of a layer of glaze. All tiles can be divided according to certain characteristics:
Building material is indispensable for a bathroom, kitchen. It is neutral to temperature differences, and if there is a system of underfloor heating, tiles can be laid even in the hall, bedroom. Tile has a huge selection of colors, it can be combined with any interior. It is also very durable, not afraid of water, after ten years does not lose its original appearance.
Among the shortcomings can be distinguished cold coming from the surface. It is difficult to stack in order to achieve an even plane. On the surface, seams are always very noticeable, regardless of the skill of the person who made the installation.
Bulk floor
The main criterion that determines the quality of flooring is a flat surface, its strength. The liquid solution meets these requirements. The bulk floor has a monolithic structure, consisting of three layers. Images, including 3D, which can be obtained using this building material, are unlimited.
The surface obtained from the liquid solution has many advantages. The bulk floor is characterized by high rates of operational load.There are no seams on the plane, it is even, resistant to shock loads. This material does not burn, providing fire safety. Due to adhesion, it adheres well to other foreign surfaces.
Among the shortcomings, the price of flooring can be distinguished. When pouring, there is very little time to work with the material in a liquid state, it is necessary to work very quickly, so it is problematic to do the installation yourself.
Table of flooring, their parameters
How to prepare the floor before finishing
The building construction of the floor consists of several layers: fine, rough. The first is flooring. The second is the base for the final flooring, which includes several rows (layer, screed, additional waterproofing, soundproofing, heat-insulating layer). Materials for the rough layer can serve:
Floor insulation
An unheated floor will cools the room. It is the coldest place in the house, as the warm currents always rise up. In winter, to exist in such conditions is generally uncomfortable. To solve this problem, special heaters are used: glass wool, ecowool, polymer (polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam). They can be used in the hall, kitchen-studio, hallway. The only place where there will be no good from them is an unglazed balcony. Consider several options for insulation:
Conclusion
Design decisions in interior arrangement lead to the search for the best materials for flooring. The construction market offers a wide selection of finished products. There are even topcoats such as vinyl or polycarbonate. So, if desired, the presence of a huge variety of materials, you can give an original look to any room in your own home.