Today, there are various types of floor coverings for an apartment on the market. It should be noted that this segment is constantly expanding. The former are being replaced by modern floor coverings for the apartment. Each material has certain properties. Next, we will find out in more detail what popular floor coverings for houses and apartments exist today, their types, advantages.
Classification
Today the following types of flooring for apartments are on the market:
- Piece materials. These include board, tile, parquet, porcelain stoneware, marble and other slabs, laminate.
- Monolithic seamless materials. These include bulk, polymer floors.
- Roll or sheet materials. This category includes linoleum, fibreboard, carpet.
There are some differences between different floor coverings. Let's look at some types in more detail.
Parquet
Many consumers believe that this is the best flooring for the apartment. I must say that this material began to be used as early as the 17th century. But since then, the manufacturing technology has changed and, accordingly, its appearance and quality. Today, this flooring for apartments and houses is presented in three versions: piece elements, parquet and solid board. The main advantages of the material should primarily include durability and environmental friendliness. The working layer of the parquet has a thickness of several millimeters. This allows you to repeatedly scrape and update the surface. Due to the variety of shades, sizes of elements and installation methods, you can create different compositions in accordance with the style of the room. Among the shortcomings of the material, consumers note its high cost. In addition, parquet is not used as a finish when installing a "warm floor" system.
Tile
These floor coverings for the apartment are used in rooms with high humidity and traffic. Tiles are laid in bathrooms, as well as corridors, in the kitchen. The material is presented on the market in a huge assortment. Ceramic tiles are available in different patterns and shades. The material is popular due to its performance properties. Among the main ones should be called resistance to temperature extremes, the influence of aggressive chemical compounds, wear resistance. However, ceramics is afraid of mechanical damage - it is fragile and can crack if a heavy object falls on it. This type of flooring for an apartment is notused in children's rooms and bedrooms. However, in other rooms this material will be optimal. Often a "warm floor" system is laid under the tiles.
Laminate
Modern floor coverings for an apartment often imitate different materials. One of these is laminate. It is often referred to as a "parquet board simulator". Laminate is an artificial floor covering made from pressed HDF board. A polymeric decorative layer and a protective film are applied to its surface. As a result, the elements are given one form or another. The film provides protection of drawing against attrition. The material can imitate any wood, marble, etc. The popularity of the laminate is due, however, not only to its high decorative qualities. Among other advantages, it is worth noting easy maintenance, ease of installation. Laying laminate flooring can be done by hand. The duration of operation of such a coating is 10-15 years. As practice shows, the material has no special shortcomings. However, if the installation technology is not followed, the wrong choice of the laminate class, the coating can quickly become unusable, deform due to moisture or heavy loads. Incorrect installation or lack of underlay may cause excessive noise while walking.
Massive board
Such floor coverings for an apartment attract with a surface that is pleasant to the touch, as well as nobleinvoice. As for the quality, the material is not inferior to parquet. In terms of performance, solid board successfully competes with laminate. Most often, the material is used in classic interiors, where attention is focused on the naturalness of the coatings. The advantages of a massive board, among other things, include high resistance to deformation. However, with its advantages, the coating also has disadvantages. The massive board is afraid of moisture and requires special care. Regularly, the material must be treated with protective compounds.
Stone flooring for apartments
Among these materials, natural stone, marble, granite should be especially noted. Such a coating is not as popular in the domestic market as described above. This is primarily due to the high cost. In addition, such a floor turns out to be quite cold, and many seek, on the contrary, to insulate the base. But this problem is easily solved. Under such a coating, a "warm floor" system is installed. Most often, stone materials are used in bathrooms, hallways, and kitchens. In these rooms, high demands are placed on the strength of the floor covering. Stone materials are durable, wear-resistant, not afraid of moisture and mechanical stress, they are not afraid of temperature changes.
Linoleum
This material is universal. It is quite popular with consumers. It is used for laying in a variety of rooms. On the market, linoleum is presented in a wide range. The material may havedifferent color, pattern, thickness. Due to its external qualities, it can be used in almost any interior. The surface of the material can imitate parquet, marble, wood, ceramic tiles. Its undoubted advantages include ease of installation and ease of maintenance. The laying of the material itself does not take much time and does not require special skills. Washing regularly is sufficient to keep it clean. Another advantage of linoleum is its affordable cost. Among the disadvantages of the material, it should be noted instability to direct sunlight - the surface fades over time. At low temperatures, linoleum may crack.
Carpeting
This material is considered one of the modern and fashionable. The market today presents a variety of textures and colors. The carpet is very comfortable to walk on. It creates comfort in the room even in winter. The undoubted advantage of the material is its high soundproofing ability. When heavy objects fall on the floor, no noise is created. However, carpet also has disadvantages. Among the main ones, it is worth noting the need for special care. Carpets should be cleaned regularly using special products. Long service life is ensured by proper care of the material. In the manufacture of the coating, both natural and artificial raw materials are used. This point should be taken into account when choosing, since synthetic materials can not be used in all rooms.
Seamed floors
This coating appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already gained popularity among consumers. The materials are environmentally friendly polymers, presented in finished form as semi-liquid mixtures. Such a coating is poured onto the base and leveled. The result is a seamless surface. After hardening, the floor becomes perfectly smooth and even. The color range of materials is very diverse. High-quality self-leveling floors are durable and high strength. They are resistant to chemical influences, mechanical stress, moisture and temperature extremes. The disadvantages of the coating include the need for careful preparation of the base.