Among the most popular materials, which are considered as a possible future flooring, This:
- parquet;
- linoleum;
- laminate;
- ceramic tiles.
Each owner strives to make the best choice, since the flooring brings harmony to the design of the furnishings of all rooms, emphasizing the taste of their owner.
Parquet and parquet boards
Without a doubt, the most traditionally prestigious option for floor design is. Being a natural material with the qualities typical of wood, parquet has been used for flooring for hundreds of years, introducing classic elements into the design, suitable for any chosen room style. Proven for centuries, this material is durable and will serve not only you, but also your children.
Unfortunately, the fibrous structure of wood is susceptible to mechanical stress in the form of dents and scratches. Another disadvantage of wooden floors is hygroscopicity. With excess moisture from improper care or flooding, it can “rise” and rot. Because of this, such flooring is optimal only in dry rooms, which include living rooms, and the bathroom, kitchen and hallway are not the most suitable places for parquet.
Linoleum
Select flooring for the bathroom and kitchen will help next material- linoleum. Created thanks to the development of advanced technologies in production building materials, this type of flooring has undergone long period improvements. Today they are made from natural materials: linseed oil, natural resins, wood and limestone flour, with the inclusion of synthesized industrial method polyvinyl chloride.
The linoleum that is produced now is significantly different from the one that was invented in 1763. It has become more durable and wear-resistant, retains heat well, is easy to maintain, and allows you to apply any pattern and texture, including those imitating wood and ceramics in a variety of color scheme.
Linoleum is hypoallergenic, and therefore is used in medical institutions and is recommended for people sensitive to other materials. The basis of modern linoleum is a fiberglass layer, which provides it with high strength characteristics that increase service life.
Modern components make it possible to produce linoleum with special properties: a waterproof base and a cork layer. Many consumers are deterred from choosing this material by the large footage and the inconvenience of laying a continuous sheet. However similar option is also an advantage of linoleum, as it allows you to finish the work very quickly.
An alternative to roll linoleum is slabs of various sizes that are easy to install. They are connected using the push assembly principle. A variety of patterns and colors reveal unlimited possibilities for the implementation of any design projects. In addition, a floor covered with this coating is guaranteed to last from 10 to 30 years.
Ceramic tiles
Select flooring For wet rooms the task is not difficult. Along with linoleum, ceramic tiles are undoubtedly the best option for wet rooms. Presented on the market in an inconceivable variety of collections, constantly undergoing format and texture changes, it is successfully used for bathrooms, kitchen premises and hallways. In countries with hot climates, tiles are also used to decorate living rooms.
Ceramics in our latitudes are appropriate if the project involves installing floor heating. The most priority property of this material is maximum strength compared to wood and linoleum. Made from environmentally friendly raw materials, ceramic tiles will help you choose flooring for people suffering from allergic diseases.
Surface thermal glazing of the tile makes it resistant to various chemical agents, which is very convenient for caring for it, and the improvement of production methods equalizes its strength characteristics with natural stone.
Implementation high technology recently introduced new materials laminate, carpet and cork into the list of popular materials for floor finishing. It is worth familiarizing yourself with laminated parquet in more detail.
Laminate
Laminated parquet and laminate, are modern representatives of a number of floor coverings, characterized by durability, strength and relatively low price. Due to all their qualities, these materials are preferred over conventional parquet. Select flooring in the form of a laminate, this is a good economical option for finishing the floor in an apartment.
The laminate, consisting of three durable layers, flawlessly joined using hot pressing technology, is of high quality. This ensures it best characteristics and advantages compared to other types of coatings. The surface layer in the form of a decorative film with a protective polymer protects the underlying layers from moisture penetration, along with the components included in the base plates.
Its resistance to UV rays and local point loads are also considered as preferable properties, which allow you to safely walk in high-heeled shoes and place furniture on legs. The laminate surface is not damaged high temperature and is easy to clean various colors and nail polish, which allows it to be used in any room. A pleasant quality is that it is unpretentious in cleaning, which can only be done with a vacuum cleaner or a damp rag.
The decorative pattern of the laminate surface imitates natural wood of various species, ideally combining with the chosen style of room decoration, in any natural shades. In addition, it can be done without difficulty even by an unprepared person. The latest samples do not require the use of adhesive mixtures, being securely fastened with a special “lock”.
It is quite obvious that finishing the floor is the most labor-intensive and expensive stage of renovation. The use of laminated flooring materials makes it possible to invest economically, optimally combining price and quality. Choosing a floor covering that meets your specific needs is necessary after priorities have been determined. intended purpose premises, taking into account the estimated budget of the project.
Especially for the site:
Flooring is one of the most important components of the interior. Nowadays, there are quite a lot of different floor coverings, which differ from each other in external characteristics and technical properties.
Let's try to understand this diversity and identify the main positive and negative characteristics of each type.
Parquet
This natural and environmentally friendly type of flooring was popular back in the royal palaces of the 17th century. Since then, it has invariably been proof of the special status and excellent taste their owners. Perhaps the most important advantage, along with environmental friendliness and naturalness, can be considered the durability of this material. When installed correctly and in compliance temperature regime, can last up to a hundred years. The disadvantage can be considered the complexity of assembly. Only a highly qualified craftsman can do this correctly and efficiently, whose work will cost quite a lot of money, and large number materials and tools that you will need before and after laying the floor: glue, vapor barrier, primer, plywood for the base; varnishes, putties and grinding machine- for processing an already finished floor. You also need to monitor the level of humidity in the room and you cannot lay parquet on heated floors.
Parquet board
This type of flooring is made from natural wood. A parquet board is a block of three layers of wood, ready for installation and already varnished. The bottom two layers are wood coniferous species, top - valuable or even exotic tree species. 
A noticeable advantage of this material is its relatively low cost, ease of assembly and greater resistance to moisture and dirt than block parquet. The disadvantage can be considered less durability, because top layer is only 0.6 - 0.7 mm and can only be sanded a couple of times.
Solid floor board
Made from solid wood, it can reach dimensions of six meters long by twenty centimeters wide. This wood covering has the highest price. 
At correct installation and proper care can be used for up to forty years. Caring for it is quite simple - waxing or oiling once every few years will be quite enough. Depending on the type of wood, the board is more or less sensitive to moisture and temperature changes.
Sweet cherry, cherry and pear are more demanding than oak, doussia, teak, iroko - this wood retains essential oils even after it is dried, which allows it to be more stable. The technology for installing solid boards is in many ways similar to installing parquet floors. Over time, the boards will become covered with microcracks, which will look organic and will not be considered a defect.
Cork coverings
The newest floor covering that is becoming more and more fashionable is natural and environmentally friendly cork floors. There are two types of such coatings: adhesive and floating cork floors. The adhesive coating is a board, the thickness of which reaches 13 mm, consisting entirely of cork. It has excellent soundproofing qualities, is elastic and not sensitive to moisture. Floating coating is the thinnest (up to three millimeters) cork plates, also called veneer, glued to pressed cork, a layer of fiber, a gasket and a cork base. 
When installing a floating cork flooring, no glue is used; the boards are simply snapped into the grooves. This flooring will add sophistication to your home and will always be warm. Separately, it is worth noting the durability of this coating - based on the unique qualities of cork oak, such a floor will last you up to a hundred, or maybe more, years.
Laminate
This type of flooring does not require as much maintenance and is a cheaper material than natural wood floors. It is called laminated parquet or. The coating is quite durable and stable, has wide range colors and shades, which will help you choose the one you need, the one that will match your interior, giving it coziness and style. 
Laminate flooring is inferior in quality to parquet boards and is not made from environmentally friendly materials. pure materials. Ideal option for the hallway where the degree of daily pollution is high. In case of failure and loss of decorative properties, .
Linoleum
Until recently, this type of coating was considered the most popular and was more often found in ordinary, standard houses.
Since linoleum is an artificial material, it is not recommended to use it in residential premises, and especially in the bedroom or nursery. The advantages include the ease of installation of this coating, its moisture resistance and ease of cleaning. A noticeable disadvantage is considered to be low strength, intolerance to any mechanical loads and not environmentally friendly.
Vinyl floor covering - PVC
This artificial material is particularly durable and abrasion resistant. It is hygienic, does not rot, has excellent shock absorption, is practical and easy to care for, is stable, durable and has a fairly low cost.
He is considered quite warm material, is tolerant if water, grease or other chemicals come into contact with it. But, of course, it is inferior to floors made from natural materials in terms of environmental friendliness and harmlessness to health. These floors are ideal for gyms, public places, kitchen or bathroom at home.
Ceramic tiles
Ideal coverage and where water, grease, and food cannot be avoided on the floor. It is easy to clean, insensitive to moisture and temperature changes, and has a huge range of patterns, colors and textures. 
If necessary, the tiles can be laid on a heated floor with electric or water heating. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting that ceramic tiles are not as resistant to impacts as, say, laminate and are much more fragile. The installation technology is complex and requires professional knowledge, skills and abilities.
Carpet
These coverings are a worthy replacement for carpets that were once in fashion. The warmest and most comfortable type of flooring. 
It is easy to put down, but not easy to care for. The carpet will have to be regularly cleaned of dust using dry cleaning, and sometimes wet cleaning. There is no end to the variety of colors, shades and patterns. You can also choose the height, density and hardness of the pile to suit your taste.
Carpet has excellent heat and sound insulation. There is carpet with a rubber, felt or jute backing. At any time of the year it will give your home the coziness and warmth of a home; with such a floor it will never be cold, even when walking barefoot.
Each of the types of flooring we have considered has its own advantages and disadvantages, so when deciding for yourself what your floor will be like, you need to correctly calculate all the advantages of a particular coating and correctly determine the feasibility of its use in the required area.
Of course, self-leveling floors look very nice, which you can read about in, but it’s still worth deciding what is your priority: the coating material, its price, durability, or a reasonable combination of all these three criteria - after that all that remains is to make your own choice and, after some time required for installation, enjoy your new, beautiful and cozy floor.
One of the integral parts of the interior is a well-chosen floor covering. How to choose a floor?
Flooring has a number of practical requirements, including long term service, high wear resistance, reliability, comfort, hygiene, beauty, environmental friendliness, maintainability and ease of maintenance.
Floor coverings include solid boards of various sizes, artistic and piece parquet, and parquet boards. To produce these products, all types of wood and a variety of protective and decorative coatings.
In addition to wooden floors, there are many other types of flooring - linoleum, laminate, carpet, tiles, artificial stone, linoleum, self-leveling floors, cork flooring and others.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so which floor to choose depends on where it will be used, what loads it needs to withstand, and what requirements the owner places on it.
It is difficult for the consumer to determine which type of wooden floor is optimal in each specific case. First of all, the choice is determined by the characteristics of the location where the coating will be used.
Intense loads on the floor - at the entrance, in high-traffic areas, in damp rooms with sharp temperature fluctuations (kitchen, bathrooms, swimming pool), in public buildings. In housing, the load on the floor is lower, therefore, the choice of coatings is wider, as it may include soft, sensitive wood.
If you choose a floor made of natural wood, then it is first of all environmentally friendly, natural material. Also, if you choose the right type of floor and type of wood, it will be practical, durable and beautiful, but most likely not cheap.
Parquet and its types
If you decide to choose a parquet floor, you should find out everything you need about this material. Important characteristic parquet is its thickness, which varies from 10 to 22 millimeters.
The term "parquet flooring" is used exclusively in relation to products where the top front layer made from natural wood. The minimum thickness of this layer is 2 millimeters. Anything thinner cannot be called parquet. Practicality, environmental friendliness and durability are the main advantages of parquet flooring.
However, the price of material and installation work is not cheap.
Parquet board
Which floor to choose from the wide variety of wood floors? Parquet board - this material is considered more stable.
The type of coating is created on the basis of natural cork wood. He has a very high wear resistance and lasts for about 50 years.
The most popular solid wood flooring today are piece parquet, artistic parquet and batten. Piece parquet, as a rule, is represented by strips of various types of wood of a fixed length (from 20 to 50 cm). Their width is usually a multiple of their length, but does not exceed 7 cm.
Solid wood flooring does not have a fixed length and width. Its dimensions can vary from 60 to 240, and in some cases up to 500 centimeters. The most common width is from 10 to 20cm.
It is an incredible combination of elements made from solid wood of various types, having different shapes and forming original mosaic patterns on the floor. If you choose a floor made from such parquet, it will add zest to the design of your home.
These are small planed wood planks (rivets) arranged in a specific pattern on the floor. This type of parquet can be sanded more than once. This flooring allows multiple experiments with laying patterns, design options, geometries and board sizes.
A type of piece parquet is artistic parquet - this is the top among the array. But if you decide to choose such a floor, you need to know that this is one of the most expensive types of floor coverings, not only because of the complexity of the pattern or the value of the species used, but also because of the enormous costs. Sometimes, when making ornate patterns, up to 80-90% of the wood ends up in waste.
Technologies do not stand still, and today, along with milling cutting, to accurately reproduce the pattern created by the architect, progressive companies use laser cutting to the entire depth, and at 6-8 mm problems may arise when using the floor - natural movement processes will begin in the wood, parts may jump out, and cracks will appear.
Panel parquet
Panel parquet is, as a rule, square multilayer structures, consisting of a soft coniferous backing and a facing layer of valuable wood. Choosing a floor of this type is not a cheap option, as is the case with most wooden floors. The dimensions of the boards in most cases range from 400 to 800 mm on the side. Their total thickness can be from 20 to 40 mm with a working layer from 6 to 15 mm.
A side groove is made along the perimeter of the board, as the parquet is assembled using special dowels. The front side of the panel parquet is laid out at the factory. The drawing can be assembled either in the form of a “square” or in the form of an artistic ornament. If you need to choose a floor that is easy to install, then this good option. This coating is laid relatively quickly, and the process usually does not cause difficulties even for a beginner.
Glued parquet board
Glued parquet board is a multi-layer wooden structure - an achievement of modern developments; its layering allows it to stably retain its original shape when humidity and temperature change.
If you choose such a floor, then you should know that the parquet board is completely ready for laying on self-leveling bases, and, as a rule, does not require additional finishing.
Parquet board
When you are thinking about which floor to choose, you should consider parquet boards. Parquet boards were invented as an alternative to solid boards and piece parquet. The invention of this type of flooring belongs to the practical Swedes.
Basically, these are two or three-layer structures with a tongue-and-groove connection, and some manufacturers have a “click” lock. Their front layer is made of valuable wood, and the intermediate layers and backing are made of common fast-growing species (pine, hevea, some types of walnut) or plywood. Parquet board is a product completely ready for installation, with finishing.
If you choose a floor of this type, you should know the big advantage of this option. And the advantages of parquet boards undoubtedly include its high stability and durability compared to solid wood. Today, they use a coating over a solid base, and it is necessary that the design of the wooden elements itself provide for ventilation. This is especially true in the vast majority of houses with concrete floors– concrete constantly and actively releases moisture, which leads to the risk of the formation of fungus, mold, dampness, unpleasant odors and deformation of wooden coverings. Multilayer parquet boards solve this problem.
Parquet boards are not so capricious due to their multi-layer nature. Installation of this type of flooring is quick and does not require large financial investments.
Parquet board can be restored from one to five times - depending on the thickness of the layer valuable breed wood The service life of the floor, depending on operating conditions and the thickness of the facing layer, can be extended to 60 years.
Solid floorboard
Solid floorboards have amazing decorative properties.
Therefore, if you decide to choose a floor with wide design possibilities, this is interesting option. Its texture can be uniform or with small knots, natural - with large knots that are not acceptable on parquet.
The floorboard is a classic wooden floor. It is distinguished by its large size, smooth or deliberately uneven (brushed) surface, resistance to mechanical damage, and is most often made from hard wood.
Its design provides a tongue-and-groove lock on all four edges or only a groove on all sides for assembly using special connecting strips. On the front side it can be covered with all kinds of protective and decorative layers.
One of the most worthy materials for flooring is the bark of the Mediterranean cork oak. But not everyone can afford to choose a floor of this quality.
In operation, such a floor has many advantages. Its coating is soft, elastic and environmentally friendly. It does not slip and pleasantly absorbs when walking on it. In the house, cork can be placed in the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom, since it does not deform from moisture, temperature changes, and does not absorb foreign odors, no traces of oil and fat remain on its surface. Cork is also good for bedrooms and children's rooms - it is warm - and sound insulation, ecology, lack of allergens and many incredible design solutions. Thanks to the natural elasticity of cork, there are no marks left on it from heels or heavy objects.
Color, selection, cutting
To ensure that the floors in your apartment are not only practical, but also beautiful, you need to choose a floor that will match the design of your home.
Solid board sorted by several types of texture. Radial wood - even in texture and color, without defects and sapwood - is an impeccable classic. Its drawing of strict geometry is a rarity, emphasizing the exclusivity of the owner. Radial cut is optimal for laying artistic parquet, since the details of the ornament are not lost among the wood’s own pattern.
A monochromatic surface that easily plays with shades of wood, with a small number of live knots is called select. She looks elegant at all times and is beyond fashion and time.
The natural look and emphasized naturalness of wood distinguishes the texture of the wood. It provides for differences in shades and direction of wood fibers, the presence of knots and even small cracks
Current style Country interiors will be supported by a board with a rustic texture. In such coatings there are deliberately a lot of cracks, large knots, foreign inclusions, resin “pockets” of irregularities and other natural defects. True, it is possible to achieve any effect, including naturalness, without damaging the structure of the wood only with the most advanced equipment.
Operating conditions for wooden floors
The first condition is right choice. You need to choose a floor with performance characteristics that are suitable for a specific room and operating conditions.
If the wood is properly prepared, dried and the floor is laid well, then it will not cause any trouble in the future. It is easy to care for natural coating. The main thing is to maintain a comfortable microclimate in the room. The temperature should be 18-24°C, humidity – about 50-55%, regular ventilation (or high-quality central ventilation) is necessary. It is better to “shod” the furniture legs with soft pads so that there are no scratches or marks left from them. This measure is not necessary for cork flooring.
You should also avoid “wet” cleaning; it is necessary to remove dirt only by special means on wood care and generally follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions. All these easy conditions will allow you to pass on your gender to more than one generation.
Laminate - an alternative to natural wood
A very popular choice already for a long time is a laminate floor. Choosing a floor from this particular material encourages relatively low price and ease of installation. Durability varies depending on price.
The obvious disadvantages of such flooring are poor sound insulation, as well as low resistance to moisture. When water gets into the joints of the laminate, they swell and the laminate may begin to rise. For heat and sound insulation, you need to put a substrate under the laminate, but this still does not prevent such a floor from being too noisy.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are often placed in the hallway and bathroom, because the moisture resistance of this material is at top level. It is also worth choosing a floor made of ceramic tiles because they are easy to clean.
However, tiles with a glossy surface are easy to damage. Therefore, if you choose this type of material, it will be more practical to choose a floor made of matte tiles. Embossed tiles are not recommended - this will create difficulties in cleaning.
Linoleum
One of the most popular flooring materials. Linoleum is easy to install and very affordable in price, so many people prefer to choose a floor made from this material.
Linoleum can be insulated - with a backing, or simply on a foam base. It is well suited for any room in the apartment, but it goes without saying that you should not lay linoleum in the bathroom. In the kitchen, this type of material will most likely not be the best either. good choice.
Carpet
Carpet is a flooring material that is used for rooms and, of course, is excluded for installation in rooms with high humidity. The carpet is made from synthetic or natural fibers on different types of bases - rubber, felt, etc.
If you choose carpet flooring, you need to clearly understand its disadvantages. The undeniable disadvantages of this material are its fragility and difficulty in cleaning. Such a floor can quickly lose its original appearance. It wears out quickly and becomes contaminated with dust and any other debris.
Therefore, you should think carefully before choosing carpet flooring.
Self-leveling (liquid) floors
Self-leveling floors are beautiful and durable, but very expensive. This type of flooring can be made on the basis of:
- polyurethane;
- epoxy resins;
- methyl methacrylate;
- cement-acrylic.
If you choose such a floor, you will be amazed by the design possibilities - you can make beautiful 3D pictures on such floors, this material is very resistant to moisture, durable, easy to use and clean.
Cons - complex installation and very high price.
Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork tree. It is essentially a thin layer of cork.
If you choose a floor made of cork, then you will undoubtedly be pleased with the advantages of this material - environmental friendliness, sound and heat insulation, anti-allergenicity, such a floor feels pleasant, it is springy and has a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system.
However, this material also has many disadvantages: high price, susceptibility to deformation, difficulty in installation, it cannot be used in rooms with high humidity.
Flooring Materials Chart
Now that we have reviewed all the materials, let's try to summarize all the data obtained into one table.
| Flooring material | Service life | Ecology | Design | Difficulty of cleaning | What rooms should I use it for? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parquet board, parquet | From 10 to 50 years and longer | High | Great | Easy to clean | Any bathroom or toilet area |
| Solid floorboard | Depending on the tree, from 20 years to 50 years and longer | High | Average | Easy to clean | Any room in the bathroom, toilet, as well as balcony |
| From several to 10 years or longer | Average | Great | There are difficulties with cleaning | Depending on the class, it can be used everywhere, there is even a waterproof laminate for the bathroom | |
| Ceramic tiles | 30-50 years and longer | High | Great | Easy to clean | Hallway, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, balcony |
| Linoleum | From one year to 20 years and longer | — Low | Average | Easy to clean | Can be used everywhere except children's rooms; it is also not recommended in the bathroom. |
| Synthetic carpet | From a year to several years | Low | Good | Hall, office | |
| Natural carpet | From a year to several years | High | Good | Difficult to clean and clean | Bedroom, children's room |
| Self-leveling floor | Up to 60 years and longer | Average | Good | Easy to clean | Hallway, bathroom, toilet, living room |
| About 10 - 15 years | High | Average | Easy to clean | Everywhere except the hallway, bathroom, toilet |
Now you can determine which floor to choose for your purposes, take into account all the factors to comply with operating conditions and then your flooring will last you a long time.
Video on the topic
How to choose flooring?
Which floors are better?
Last update: 04-01-2019
Below you will find basic information on the most common types of flooring, their pros and cons.
Laminate
This material is a hard coating, the elements of which consist of several layers, the appearance imitates the texture of wood, stone or tile. Laminate is available in the form of boards up to 200 mm wide.
Advantages of laminate:
- Attractive appearance.
- Strength, sufficient rigidity, structure resistant to mechanical loads.
- Easy to care for.
- Long service life (standard laminate retains its quality for up to 15 years).
Disadvantages of laminate:
- Limited use in rooms with high humidity air (not suitable for the bathroom).
Average cost of laminate:
- From 450 rubles per square meter
Parquet
This material is made in a 3-layer version: the top layer is made of valuable wood, and the intermediate and base layer is made of coniferous wood.
Advantages of parquet:
- Noble appearance, huge selection of textures and shades.
- Versatility of use in various interiors.
- Good wear resistance.
- Possibility of scraping and polishing if appearance is lost.
- Service life up to 25-30 years.
Cons of parquet:
- Fear of moisture.
- More complex care.
- High cost.
Average cost of parquet:
- From 1000 rubles per square meter, depending on the composition, manufacturer and collection.
Linoleum
This roll material, which is mounted using adhesive compositions, it is flexible, available in various shades, with a single-color texture and ornaments.
Advantages of linoleum:
- The ability to lay the material in a room of any size and layout in one piece, i.e. seamless.
- Resistance to humidity.
- Quality products have protective layer, preventing burnout.
- Low cost.
Cons of linoleum:
- Not the highest strength in relation to mechanical stress: linoleum wears out quickly, it can be damaged by sharp shoes, toys or pets’ claws, and is pressed through by heavy furniture.
- Relatively short service life (up to 10 years).
Linoleum price:
- From 150-850 rubles per square meter.
Cork
This is a natural material that is 
Suitable for installation in any living space, with the exception of those with high humidity.
Advantages of cork:
- Environmental safety.
- Increased service life.
- Resistant to wear and mechanical stress.
- Good thermal and sound insulation performance.
Disadvantages of cork:
- Sensitivity to moisture.
- Not the lowest installation complexity.
- Product price.
Cork cost:
- From 1000 rubles per square depending on the brand and collection.
Tile
This material is often laid on the floor in the hall, kitchen, or bathroom; it is durable and has a rigid structure.
Advantages of tiles:
- Increased strength.
- Insensitive to moisture, fading, temperature changes.
- Variety of shapes and shades.
- Easy to care for.
Disadvantages of the material:
- Labor-intensive installation.
- High price.
Tile cost:
- From 500 rubles per square meter.
Comparative table of characteristics of popular floor coverings
| Operating Parameters | Laminate | Parquet | Cork covering | Linoleum | Tile |
| Environmental friendliness | Man-made material, may be toxic | Natural material, when treated with high-quality varnish it is harmless | Environmentally friendly material | Artificial turf, may contain hazardous substances | Can be made from both natural and artificial materials |
| Service life | Up to 10-15 years | Up to 30 years old | From 50 years old | Up to 10-15 years | Up to 60-80 years old |
| Soundproofing | Low | Average | High | Low | Average |
| Moisture resistance | Low | Low | Low | High | High |
| Thermal insulation | Low | Low | High | Low | Low |
| Difficulty of installation | Easy | Difficult | Average | Easy | Labor intensive |
| Care | Using conventional detergents and rags, minimum moisture | Wiping with a slightly damp sponge | Wipe with a cloth or sponge without excess moisture | Using soft cloths and non-abrasive detergents | Use of any materials and means, including rough cleaning |
How to choose flooring for an apartment?
We must remember that each room has its own characteristics. The lifespan of the floor covering depends on this.
Below we will analyze the options of what and where it is better to use.
For the hallway
The floor in the hallway is exposed to the most frequent mechanical loads and comes into contact with dirt and moisture from the street, so it is advisable to use materials that are NOT afraid of water and temperature changes.
It is optimal to lay the following types of floor coverings on the hallway floor:
- Ceramic tiles are an ideal option.
- Laminate or linoleum - it is better to lay a rug on top of it.
Regular laminate and linoleum will not be resistant to mechanical abrasion and moisture, but a simple rug will reduce the impact of these factors. Replacing it is easier and cheaper than flooring.
Another option, combine different materials. The place where they walk in shoes should be finished with tiles, and the rest of the surface with another laminate.
For the bathroom
Ceramic tiles are most often used here: they are not only resistant to moisture, but are also easy to clean.
The only thing, it is better to do it with a “warm floor” system, since the tiles themselves will be cold (especially in winter), and this, although small, is still discomfort + there is a risk of catching a cold.
IN in this case You don’t even have to think about it, but simply look for a suitable design.
For the hall
In the living room or hall, parquet or laminate is usually used:
- the coating blends harmoniously with the interior
- retains its quality for a long time
- looks beautiful
For the kitchen
For this room, tiles, linoleum, and laminate are usually used.
In some cases, these materials can be combined to create zoning kitchen space in places where there will be a refrigerator, stove, sink.
For children's
In this room, cork covering would be optimal, because... itself is warmer and also has good soundproofing properties.
Simple example If you choose laminate flooring for your children's room, the neighbors downstairs are unlikely to thank you. Few people will be pleased after a working day by the clatter of a “herd of horses” overhead, and so on every day while the child grows.
For the balcony
If the balcony is not glazed, has sliding glazing, and is not insulated, then the floor will be exposed to moisture and temperature changes, so wood-based coatings are not suitable here.
On the other side, the use of tiles will make the structure heavier, which is not always possible, and the best option There will be linoleum flooring.
The best flooring
Among various materials varieties such as linoleum, tiles and laminate have an optimal balance between quality and price: they are considered the most popular when finishing the floor in an apartment.
It should be remembered that each room has its own optimal coating option:
- tiles are more often chosen for bathrooms and bathrooms
- for the hallway and balcony - linoleum
- In living rooms, living rooms and halls, laminate flooring is usually installed
Of course, if financial capabilities allow, then it is worth considering the option of using cork flooring in the rooms.
Despite its “venerable age,” ceramic tiles are only strengthening their position in the market of materials for home improvement. This is explained by its excellent operational and aesthetic properties. Traditionally ceramic tile floors installed in “wet” rooms: in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, sauna, swimming pool. Today, the scope of its application has become wider, and ceramic tiles can be found in hallways, open verandas, in the garage and technical rooms. And in lately beautiful expensive ceramic tiles or natural stone They are even installed in hallways and living rooms.
Ceramic tiles themselves are very durable. If you use it strictly for its intended purpose in accordance with the table, then there will be no problems with the floor, if, of course, it is laid correctly. The choice of ceramic floor tiles must be approached wisely, since difficulties associated with its operation may be associated with the incorrect selection of material. The washability class of the tiles must correspond to the room – its trafficability. There are five washability classes and you must decide which one is right for you.
The choice of tiles from the very beginning depends on the purpose of the room in which you want to lay them: a bathroom, kitchen, hallway or commercial building. Since the operating conditions in these rooms are different, the requirements for wear resistance also differ. Therefore, when giving preference to floor tiles, you should pay attention to such parameters as: reliability, thickness, resistance to mechanical damage, level of moisture absorption.
If you need to lay tiles professionally without intermediaries in Kharkov (region) - more details
Kitchen floor tiles.
The kitchen floor is exposed to intense wear and tear chemicals(dishwashing detergent and cleaning detergent), therefore, when choosing floor tiles for this room, special attention should be paid to durability indicators material to chemical exposure. They are marked on the packaging of ceramic tiles. The symbol “AA” indicates that the tile is not afraid of chemical attack (the resistance of ceramic tiles with the symbol “A” is slightly lower, and even less so for finishing material with indicators “B”, “C” and “D”).
Glazed or unglazed tiles are suitable for covering the floor in the kitchen, as they have the required chemical properties, allowing its operation in rooms with an aggressive environment.
Floor tiles for the hallway.
When choosing floor tiles for rooms such as a hallway, where intensive use of the floor covering occurs, i.e. Those who enter/exit the house are constantly wearing shoes; there is usually heavy furniture - you should choose tiles with high strength, with sufficient resistance to various mechanical damages. In terms of appearance, it is advisable to choose dark tones with a bright pattern on the tiles, because various stains on them will not be as visible as on tiles of light, solid colors.
Floor tiles for the bathroom.
When choosing floor tiles for use in the bathroom, you should focus on the presence of such qualities as a low degree of moisture absorption and, most importantly, a non-slip surface. It is better to choose the color and pattern so that stains from dried water are not noticeable.
Floor tiles for bedroom and living room.
For bedroom and living room special requirements operational characteristics There is no such thing as choosing floor tiles; the main thing is that they match the interior of the room. Because floor tiles- this is a cold floor covering, then perhaps in these rooms you will have to additionally lay a carpet or rug on top of it to improve comfort.
Where to buy tiles
Tiles, like everything in this world, can be good and not so good, cheap and expensive. Moreover, the price-quality ratio is not always considered justified. One of the indicators of the quality of ceramics from a particular manufacturer is the absence of the so-called “second category”. These are unbroken tiles that have imperfections in the profile or corners. The manufacturer sells it at a lower price. Good tile you can tell it with the naked eye: the surface is perfectly flat, no cracks (even if the tiles are artificially aged), no glaze streaks - even more so! In addition, the quality of the tile is determined by the condition of the “pillow” (base). You can often recognize the material of a pillow even by its color: for good tiles it is natural, “clay”.
Another important criterion quality of the tile - its format and appearance. The tile must have clear dimensions, absolutely correct angles and perfect flat surface. For glazed tiles, the uniformity of the glaze coating is important: uniform color, absence of smudges or whitish edges. The tile format can be varied (for example, 200x200, 250x250, 300x300, 330x330, 300x400, 400x400 mm). I would like to note ceramic tiles in the form of parquet, format 150x450 or 150x600 mm. Such tiles make the installation process easier, and they look great and unconventional.
To make the right choice, you need to pay attention to the pictograms on the packaging, which inform the buyer about the properties of ceramic tiles. For the floor, you need to take a tile with an image of a foot on a black background, for laying on open terrace- with the image of a snowflake - this indicates its frost resistance. A corner with a drawn foot will indicate a tile with a low slip coefficient, which is important for bathrooms and swimming pools, and an image of a foot on a shaded background will indicate increased wear resistance of the selected material. Tiles that will be cleaned with chemical detergents must have the AA designation on the packaging, which indicates its resistance to their effects.
A large assortment of ceramic tiles is presented in construction hypermarkets and specialized showrooms in Kharkov. You can buy it on the market, but it’s hardly worth taking such a risk on the quality of the flooring, which is not installed every day or every year.
Call us attel.: 066-850-22-86, 093-792-54-89 or leave a request and we will definitely contact you and discuss any issues related to selection and laying of tiles in Kharkov.