Flooring Basics: The Different Floor Covering Materials
Flooring Basics: The Different Floor Covering Materials
The installation of floor covering is often referred to as flooring. It may involve extensive or less strenuous work depending on the kind of material used. Flooring is considered the foundation of interior design. The beauty of the indoor environment is not only accentuated by the color of walls and designs and hues of furniture. The floor covering can also contribute to the aesthetics of the interior.
If you want luxurious or classical flooring, you may opt for hard floors such as marble, granite and slate as well as brick and tiles. When you decide for hard floors, you may have to have rough floors as foundation. Hence, sub-flooring is required before installing the tiles, blocks or sheets of hard materials for floor covering.
If you want less expensive yet hard floor covering, you can settle for synthetic tiles. Terra cotta, mosaic tile, quarry tile and ceramic tiles are options of tiles that can be used for hard flooring.
Hard floor covering can also be made from modern materials such glass, acrylic and metal. Glass is exotic yet costly. Installing this kind of floor covering would literally need support on all edges.
Anti-slip mechanism such as sand blasting may be required for acrylic and glass floorings. However, because of their vulnerability to scratches, they may not be suitable for home flooring. Nevertheless, if these materials are preferred, they are suited to install in low-traffic areas of the home such as personal living room.
Wood flooring and fibre flooring are popular in homes and commercial spaces. Wooden tiles and sheets are commonly found in older homes. Some homes also use wooden planks. Laminated wood flooring is best for high-traffic areas for they are designed to resist moisture. Other wooden flooring may be required to be stained or sealed with finishes to be able to withstand dampness.
Rugs can be used for flooring but their covering is limited. They can be used under the dining table or living room furniture set.