Introduction
Types of flooring
Flooring features
Flooring material
Flooring rates
Flooring is the general term for a permanent
covering of a floor or for the work of installing
such a floor covering.
Floor covering is a term of generically describe
any finish material applied over a floor structure
to provide a walking surface.
Both terms are used interchangeably but floor
covering refers more to loose laid material.
Material almost always classified as floor
covering include carpet area ,rugs and resilient
flooring such as linoleum or vinyl flooring .
Materials commonly called flooring include wood
flooring , ceramic tile, stone, terrazzo and
various seamless chemical floor coating.
HARD FLOORING –
Wood, Stone, Tile
SOFT FLOORING-
Carpet, Rug,
Resilient
Concrete is a hard durable
flooring material with a
life expectancy exceeding
other flooring. Concrete
surface can be made
decorative by treating it
with stains and colorants
or stamping and scoring it
with a pattern. Easy to
clean, and if properly
maintained will never
have to be replaced.
Stone flooring is available
as travertine tile, marble,
granite, slate, limestone
and sandstone , ceramic
porcelain tile .
Solid hard wood flooring are
one of the staples with in
flooring industry. Because of
natural beauty and durability
of solid hard wood floors,
they have been around for
centuries.
Solid wood floors are a
timeless investment that can
produce a life time of beauty
and add value to the home .
Wood floors come in maple,
Pecan, Beech, Cherry,
Hickory and more.
Strip flooring, Random plank
, Parquet are some most
popular.
Bamboo flooring is one of
the newcomers in flooring
industry. Bamboo is more
environmentally friendly
hard wood flooring and it
is actually no wood , it is
a grass.
Bamboo is very durable ,
elegant and versatile. The
natural variations of color
that is unique to bamboo
come from carbonization
and are usually a honey
brown color or light tan.
Laminate floors are
fastest growing choice
in flooring. Laminate
flooring received its
fame from Europe and
now it is increasingly
popular in United
States. It is cheaper
than hard wood flooring
easy to maintain.
It is virtually resistant
to burns, scratches,
chipping and is great for
high traffic areas.
Linoleum or vinyl are
commonly confused ,
however genuine linoleum is
a classic and it was invented
about 150 years ago.
Linoleum is made only from
raw , natural materials and it
is preferred environmentally
.
Linseed oil is main
ingredient. Mineral pigments
are responsible for beautiful
rich colors of linoleum.
Linoleum flooring comes
rolled and ready to install . It
is available in varying
thickness,
It is a most waterproof flooring ,
can be used as floor tiles or
counter tops, indoors or outdoors.
The high class finish is usually most
popular although they do tend to
scratch.
For outdoor flooring , unglazed
finish is preferred because of the
possibility of standing water. This
type of finish on ceramic tiles is
commonly used in bathrooms,
kitchens entryways .
Finishes available are : matte,
embossed, glazed and textured
ones for anti- slip.
It is made from baked clay and
durable, moisture resistant, easy
to clean. It can crack if no stalled
on even surface.
Ceramic mosaic–
individual tile
mounted together to
keep together and
make installation
easier, more often on
walls.
Mexican– made from
clay, shaped by hand,
dried in sun.
Quarry– fired earth/
clay, warm brown to
beige
Carpet has been used for
years and only downfall is
bulky installation problem. In
effort to rectify the
difficulties of installation ,
carpet tiles are now offered.
These tiles are squares like
ceramic tiles which have
been proven to be superior in
choices in every way. This
new carpet can be easily
installed by most
homeowners.
Another benefit is, if there
is a split on the carpet jus
one tile needs to be
replaced.
A room or house have a
clean, rich feel with
gorgeous marble flooring.
Tiles come in different
sizes, usually around
12”*12” and are easy
to install.
Marble products are
processed everywhere in
the world from
metamorphic rock blocks
that contain mostly
calcium carbonate that
are quarried.
Marble tiles make an
elegant foyer and come in
many colors.
Vinyl flooring used to be
called linoleum flooring , It is
available in a variety of
colors and styles. It is
excellent in bathrooms and
kitchens.
This type of flooring has an
ease of installation and is
quite affordable.
As an alternative to flooring
with ceramic tiles, vinyl
floors give same look as tiles
except they cost less than
ceramic tiles.
The most common of vinyl
flooring used today are sheet
vinyl.
Most people think about floor
of a school when they hear
rubber flooring. There are
several other places that
this flooring would be
excellent, like recreation
rooms, home exercise rooms,
playrooms and children
bedrooms.
There is very little
maintenance required , just
a routine wash and
occasional sweeping is all is
takes.
Rubber floors come in many
colors as well as cut and
inlaid designs too. They
retain their sheen and color
for years.
Many people think that cork
is new , it actually has been
used for over a thousand
years. It is a natural
harvested product that
comes from trees in Portugal
and Spain.
Cork is retrieved only from
mature trees and can only be
harvested every 9 years, so it
is very economical. Cork can
be colored in any shade
because it accepts easily
absorbs stains.
It’s natural patterns and
designs enhance any décor .
It is available in various
styles, sizes and colors.
There are a number of special features that may be used
to ornament a floor or perform a useful service.
Floor medallions decorative centerpieces of a floor design
Doormats to help keep a floor clean
Gratings used to drain water or to rub dirt off shoes
Tactile or rumble strips to warn of for instance a
wheelchair ramp, these would normally also be
distinctively colored or patterned.
Light stripes to show an escape route out , especially on
airplanes.
Moldings or baseboards to decorate the side of a floor or to
cover the edge of a floating floor.
Anti- slip mats: Addition of either granular or rubberized
particles that will allow wheels, shoes or feet better
traction.
The choice of material
for floor covering is
affected by factors such
as cost, endurance,
noise insulation,
comfort and cleaning
effort.
Some types of flooring
must not be installed
below grade [ lower
than ground level] and
laminate or hardwood
should be avoided
where there may be
moisture or
consideration.
Flagstone is a sedimentary rock which is split or cut into
layers. Flagstone tiles are most often used outdoors for
patios , walkways, steps and similar applications.
Granite is very dense, scratch resistant and occurs
naturally in hundreds of varieties of color and shading.
Granite floors are one of the most popular types of stone
flooring. Granite is also often used for kitchen counter
tops and in some bath environments.
Limestone is formed of sedimentary material quite often
including corals and shells and occurs naturally in a
variety of subtle colors.
Slate used in flooring is actually composed of slate, quartz
and shale and comes in a wide variety of natural colors. Il
is highly water resistant.
Terrazzo is formed using marble or chipped stones
embedded in full concrete. Artistic , very reliable and best
for outdoor spaces such as verandas or patios. Strong but
50% chances of breakage at quarry.
Marble present an elegant , classic veined appearance. It is a
relatively soft , easily polished stone that is somewhat susceptible
to scratches. The tools and techniques involved in stone floor
installation can make the work area hazardous. Various colors
depending on origin. Verdigris marbles that have a green color.
Sandstone is composed largely of quartz sand grains and often has
a rough textured surface. Maintain good ventilation in the
installation area for 48 to 72 hours after installation. This will allow
any fumes to dissipate and any particulate dust to settle.
Travertine is somewhat soft and porous and while it has density of
marble. It has a textured rather than smooth surface . When used in
flooring , travertine’s cavities can be filled for a polished finish or
left empty to keep the original texture of stone.
Onyx may have layers of colors or banding
NYLON– most POLYPROPHYLENE
popular, durable, [ OLEFIN]– strong,
easy to maintain, nonabsorbent,
limited colors resists stains and
static, colorfast,
cheap, crushes
easily, limited
colors, heat
sensitive
Cut pile– forming looking plush, velvet, smooth,
may flatten
Saxony– similar to cut but yarns have been
twisted more giving less formal appearance
Frieze– informal, curly texture, shows minimal
marks
Level loop– loops are all same heights, may have
flecks of darker color, durable
Multi level loop– two or three loop heights,
sculptured or embossed effect, good in high
traffic area
Cut and loop pile– sculptured effect from some
looks cut and some braided, very durable
-------MANISHA AGARWAL
