A variety of floor coverings, or how to choose your comfortable floor

Everyone wants to equip their home with impeccable comfort and coziness - these indicators are as important as the location or area of ​​​​an apartment or house.

In addition, the interior of the home should please not only the owner, but also all visitors and guests.

During the renovation, attention is drawn to absolutely all the details:

• Walls can be decorated with stylish wallpaper or practical and beautiful decorative plaster.

• The kitchen or bathroom area is lined with ceramic tiles.

• A modern multi-level material with built-in lights is sent to the ceiling.

What can be put on the floor? Which product is best suited for installation in all rooms? Are there any differences in the materials offered on the market? What types of floors are there and what are their advantages? What floors are better to lay in the apartment? We will answer all these and other questions in detail in this article.

The floors in the apartment are one of the most important details of the entire interior - they create harmony and keep the room warm. Modern finishing materials have several types and differ from each other in some features and characteristics. To make the right choice, you should definitely get acquainted with each in more detail.

There are six types of flooring - laminate, parquet, linoleum, facing tiles, carpet and the most modern and increasingly popular polymer 3D floor.

Each coating, of course, has its pros and cons, as well as its own specifics. It should be borne in mind that not every material is suitable for use in all rooms. So, the carpet will deteriorate in a few days (lose its luxurious look) in the kitchen, and the tiles will bring to the bedroom the feeling that you are in a hospital or other unpleasant institution. Therefore, depending on the purpose of the room, you need to choose your perfect floor option.

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Laminate floors in the apartment

Laminate is considered a relatively new floor covering, but it has already managed to take a leading position among consumer preferences. The material is popular, easy to install and incredibly beautiful. Thanks to the unique lamination process, the product is strong, durable and versatile, and the optimal cost allows you to make your home original and expressive. Moreover, the laminate has a huge number of variations of colors and textures.

Another undoubted advantage is the ease of installation on the floor - the laminate has special spikes or grooves that make it easy to install on your own. The sheets are simply snapped into a strong lock, which eliminates the separation of the coating in certain places during operation.

The construction of the material consists of three or four layers.The decorative coating of the laminate is a special paper that can be made with a variety of patterns. The most commonly used imitations of precious woods, leather, metal, stone or tiles. The paper is protected by a transparent layer that prevents it from getting wet, from losing its beautiful appearance, from being damaged by dirt, sun or chemical compounds (found in detergents, etc.). The better the protection of the laminate web, the higher its cost will be.

Under the paper, fiberboard or chipboard is placed - the basis of this coating. Due to the board, the floor becomes rigid, capable of absorbing incoming water, durable and holding a lot of weight. All layers are connected with a special adhesive.

Where can you install laminate flooring? In almost all rooms without high humidity.

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Parquet boards

For many years, wood flooring has been considered the most environmentally friendly and popular. And its practicality, warmth and beautiful view attract many owners who make repairs.

Interesting fact: In order not to walk on bare ground, the inhabitants of wooden huts and houses covered the floor with solid boards, having previously cleared it of bumps and other defects. Then parquet was created, which was considered one of the most expensive and most beautiful coatings. They faced only the houses of the nobility, as well as palaces. In addition, any pattern could be laid out from parquet strips, which turned the floor into a real masterpiece of art. Until now, we can enjoy the creations of masters in the Hermitage, the Louvre and other famous museums.

At the moment, practically nothing has changed - parquet still remains the most expensive flooring, and its installation requires a certain skill. Therefore, many companies have given preference to the production of more inexpensive, but no less beautiful material - parquet boards. It is larger in size, so the installation takes much less effort and time, and can also be used without the participation of specialists.

Facing of this type is created from the following layers:

• Beautiful, sorted, good quality wood. It is because of the variety that the price of the product will be formed. The thickness of this layer of the board can be four to six millimeters.

• Two more layers are made of wood, inferior in value.

All layers, after applying the adhesive, are joined by pressing in special installations. Then the product is varnished (in several varnishes), giving a perfect shine.

Due to the peculiarities of the assembly, the result is a lightweight, durable, long-lasting floor material. Among the multiple advantages, resistance to high humidity should also be noted. Due to the optimal cost and almost complete resemblance to expensive parquet.

No sanding or varnishing process makes flooring installation perfect and incredibly easy. The board can also “survive” several repairs due to the ability to scrape it - this is a truly durable material. On the packaging, the manufacturer indicates the number of possible grindings, and if one of the boards is out of order, it is easy to replace it with a new one.

Versatility can be considered a special advantage of the product - you can make a parquet floor in any chosen living room.

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Linoleum floor

This coating is made in three variations: commercial, household and semi-commercial. The differences are already clear from the name - a household option is suitable for an apartment.

Interesting fact: in the heyday of the eighteenth century, the first variations of linoleum were already known - then natural ingredients (heated to boiling point) were applied to the fabric. Just one century later - in the 19th century, manufacturers of that time were able to apply a pattern to the coating.

At the moment, natural materials are not used to make linoleum - it is too expensive and not profitable for either buyers or sellers. In the twentieth century, the production of PVC coatings, a material consisting mainly of plastic, began.

Household, apartment linoleum can be of several types, differing from each other in the basis of the material - non-woven or containing a foam substrate.

Among the advantages of the product for the floor should be noted:

• Excellent cost - there are very budget options that are used mainly for cosmetic, surface repairs.

• Huge selection of colors, patterns and textures.

• Simplicity and ease of installation - linoleum is simply laid out on a pre-glued floor, leveled and placed under the baseboard.

• Heat retention - the material perfectly retains one temperature.

• Does not absorb moisture - a special plus for pet owners and parents of little pranksters.

• Noise absorption - you can walk around the house comfortably, silently and without slipping (the coating is not slippery at all).

• Long service life - after proper cladding, the floor will look amazing for many years.

However, linoleum also has disadvantages, but there are not so many of them as pluses:

• The presence of artificial, considered harmful, components.

• Remains of mechanical impact - for example, traces of standing furniture.

• Risk of deformation from a sudden change in temperature.

Choosing linoleum, you can lay it in any room of a residential purpose.

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Facing tiles

Ceramic tiles are great for installation in the kitchen or in the bathroom / toilet. The material has such useful and necessary properties as strength, beauty, durability, naturalness and versatility.

Of course, there are several nuances that must be taken into account. For example, a tile with a relief, absolutely non-slip surface is suitable for a bathroom - this will reduce the risk of injury to a minimum.

It should be noted that the material has a huge variety of types and types. But the most demanded and popular, of course, remains ceramic. The main component of the product is ordinary clay, which is divided into its subspecies. The processing of the substance is also different - the firing process is different for different models. Thus, the consumer receives an excellent wide range and reasonable price.

In appearance, ceramic cladding is divided into rustic (porous heterogeneous surface), glazed, porous and completely untreated. All types are original, and you should choose the one that goes well with the chosen interior.

When choosing a tile according to its size, you should pay attention to the features of its installation - the larger the area of ​​\u200b\u200bone tile, the less time it will take to finish the room. However, for laying very large specimens, a special tool will be required.

You should take a closer look at the most important characteristics of the material that will help you make the right choice:

• Strength qualities - there is nothing more to add, because the higher this indicator, the better the material.

• Wear resistance - floor tiles must be wear-resistant, because even with high strength, after losing a beautiful appearance, you will want to change it.

• Hardness level - too high a value can lead to severe deformation or complete destruction. Therefore, the more flexibility (endurance to physical impact), the better.

• The presence of porosity - if the tile is porous, then it will absorb some of the incoming moisture and not slip. The material will serve especially well in the bathroom, shower or even in the pool.

• Heat retention – Ceramics have excellent thermal conductivity. This allows you to place under it underfloor heating.

When choosing ceramic tiles for your floors, be sure to pay attention to the area of ​​​​its application. In no case should you lay the wall covering on the floor - it is not intended for this, which means it will not last long.

When installing in a bathroom or other rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to select a cladding with an increased moisture-absorbing index and resistance to temperature extremes.

Among the disadvantages of ceramic floor tiles, the lack of impact resistance should be noted - usually, after such damage, the product cracks. Also, almost any kind of material is cold to the touch (except for cases with a warm floor). But with a decent heating of the room with the help of conventional heating devices, the tile will quickly take heat in the winter season. But in the summer it will be possible to enjoy excellent coolness.

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Carpet soft floor

Carpet can be made on completely different bases, both natural and artificial. Most often you can find a material created from foam rubber, jute or felt.

Interesting fact: In ancient times, only very rich, wealthy people could afford to buy carpets. Carpets were made by hand, that is, they were woven for many months, and such work was highly valued - it was well paid.

Today, anyone can lay carpet in their apartment. Also, the material differs by type - there is a carpet of a woven type or a quilted one.

The product has a pleasant and soft to the touch structure, and its appearance creates warmth and comfort in the room. Among the useful characteristics, it should be noted practicality and ease of maintenance, sound insulation, heat retention, as well as antistatic properties.

Also, the carpet differs in the production method, which allows it to be placed for various purposes:

• In the children's room, a fluffy carpet with a high pile is suitable.

• In the living room you can put a covering made from jute - a natural raw material.

At the moment, you can find super durable, resistant to wear and dirt absorption, material. With proper cleaning with special products and careful care, such a floor can last at least ten to fifteen years. It is better to use outside the kitchen, bathroom and corridor.

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Real floors in 3D

The most modern, popular and sought-after type of floor cladding is 3D polymer floors. The main differences of the perfect material can be called amazing strength, long service life, wear resistance and versatility. The product has neither cracks nor seams - after installation, a solid image appears on the floor.

The only reason to replace such a coating can be boredom - when you get tired of the same image. For other reasons, such floors are not changed.The only preparation before installation is a thorough and very careful preparation of the floor - it must be perfectly flat. But in the end, you can get not a room, but a blooming summer meadow or a real sea beach.

The 3D floor is divided into several types, differing in the composition of the mixture and the degree of its filling:

• The epoxy type of coating will please with its moisture resistance, durability and resistance to physical stress, as well as a calm attitude to various chemicals.

• The polyurethane volumetric floor avoids the appearance of various vibrations, and also perfectly resists temperature extremes.

• Acrylic material is one of the cheapest in the entire line, as its strength characteristics are much lower. But for residential use, such a floor will last quite a long time.

Polymer 3D floors are perfect for lining any room in your home. In addition, with their help, you can solve problems such as a small area or non-standard housing layout.

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A few words in conclusion

Choosing the flooring for your home is no easy task, as the sheer variety of floor coverings leaves you with a difficult choice. You should be guided by the purpose of a particular material, its main characteristics and the price-quality ratio. Be sure to remember that the surface on which you will walk should not only have excellent aesthetic qualities. The floor must be strong, safe, durable and cozy. With the coincidence of all these multiple characteristics, you can choose the best option.

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Photo gallery - types of flooring

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