Hit parade of floor coverings. Types of flooring for an apartment and cost Materials for flooring in a house

24.06.2020

Floors, in addition to the interior, perform many other important functions - protect the house from moisture, soundproof, heat in cold weather. When choosing which flooring is better, it is worth considering not only their aesthetics, but also functionality, and the place / conditions of use. That is, the choice of flooring should be approached as seriously and thoroughly as possible.

The materials used for the manufacture of floors are varied - wood, laminate, tile, parquet, porcelain stoneware, self-leveling floors, vinyl and even glass.

Laminate

It is a coating consisting of the following layers:

Kraft paper.
Printed drawing.
Polymer protective layer.

Panels are divided into classes depending on the withstand load. Wear resistance, impact resistance, sensitivity to light, fire resistance are taken into account.

Installation is carried out on a prepared perfectly flat surface.
Afraid of moisture.
The impossibility of restoration.

Attractive value.
A huge range of colors for every taste.
Ease of installation.

When choosing a laminate, you need to consider some features:

Dust is hardly noticeable on a light laminate, it looks very noble. Better not to use dark colors if the room is on the sunny side, even the smallest dust particles settling on the floor will be noticeable in the side rays of the incident sunlight.

Moisture-resistant laminate has a greenish tint, its facing part has a protective coating against fungus, and moisture-absorbing substances are contained in the middle of the panel.

parquet board

Parquet board is the most natural and environmentally friendly type of flooring. Represents several layers wooden slats, up to 5 mm thick, interconnected by slats glued on top.

Hardwood flooring is much easier to scratch, less durable, and more tricky to use than laminate flooring.
If even a medium-sized dog is kept in the room, such a coating will quickly deteriorate due to claw marks.
Damaged by sharp heels and stilettos.
Does not tolerate dry air, in which it dries and cracks.

Natural, environmentally friendly product, with a real wood pattern and with the appropriate appearance;
Undergoing restoration.

Hardwood flooring is made. The most common material is oak, ash, beech, maple. These materials are durable and are recommended for high traffic areas.

Ash has a more pronounced pattern than oak, so the latter is used for standard flooring, and ash for mosaic parquet.

The board itself can be made in completely different configurations - a rectangle, a rhombus, a Christmas tree, and even a round shape. Parquet is much more durable than laminate used in living rooms and bedrooms.

The choice of color can be anything, the main thing is to follow the rule so that the floor and walls are of different shades. This is necessary so that their borders do not merge. That is, if the walls are light, then the parquet board or laminate should be a couple of shades darker and vice versa.

Due to the widespread scandinavian style performed in light colors, interiors with white floors are increasingly appearing.

Tile

The most wear-resistant type of flooring. It is made from sand, clay and other materials of natural origin. Tiled plates are fired at high temperatures, so they are durable and wear-resistant.

They are not subject to deformation, so they can crack if something really heavy falls. But the broken fragment can be replaced with another one.

Main characteristics:

Wear resistance.
Moisture resistance.
Fire resistance.
Not afraid of light and will not lose its color.
Susceptible to external household influences.
Easy care and hygienic.

A prerequisite for laying tiles is the evenness and smoothness of the base. This may include:

Drywall.
Plaster.
Old tiles.
previous paint.
Plywood.

The most common tile shapes are rectangular, square, rhombus. But there are also samples with six and eight corners, as well as special-shaped tiles for decorating corners and cornices.

The sizes are completely different - from huge slabs to small mosaics. Designers are increasingly using several shapes and sizes of tiles at the same time when designing the floors of one room.

Also, the tile is porous or dense. Since porous absorbs moisture well, this type is more relevant in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

These rooms require a coating with high chemical and mechanical properties, such as surface hardness, bending resistance. Tiles of the third and fourth class are recommended for floors in these rooms.

This season, gray, beige, electric colors, as well as lavender and shades of blue are relevant. Oriental designs are popular in bathrooms.

Porcelain stoneware for parquet

In fact, this is an ordinary tile that imitates a parquet board. It is based on two types of clay, it is environmentally friendly and natural. Unlike natural wood, wood-look porcelain stoneware is more practical and is not afraid of water.

It can be used in any room of the apartment, especially in the Provence-style kitchen or bathroom, in the interior of which wood furniture has been especially popular in recent seasons.

glass floors

Recently, designers have increasingly begun to use glass floors and other translucent structures in their work, which can be found on www.glassproekt.ru, and not only in individual houses, but also in apartments.

This type of flooring is quite extravagant, gives a feeling of emptiness underfoot and creates a feeling of weightlessness. The room becomes airy and spacious.

Design possibilities are only limited by your imagination. You can darken the surface using different colors, or apply a photo print or ornament. A niche under glass is often decorated with interior items, which enhances the effect of transparency.

In addition, the impression made can be enhanced by decorating it with lighting. It is necessary to take into account only one nuance - the halogen backlight gives a lot of heat, the glass can overheat and deform greatly, so it is better to use other light materials.

The glass floor looks very good in a small hallway or as an element of zoning a living room or bedroom.

Self-leveling floors

They are made of polymers and, according to materials, are basically divided into:

Polyurethane.
Epoxy.
Methyl methacrylate.

This is best option"price-quality", which has recently become increasingly popular.

The advantages of self-leveling floors:

Thermal insulation.
Environmental friendliness.
Durability.
Strength characteristics.
Fire resistance.
Chemical resistance.

The minimum working resource of such a floor is from two decades, and with proper care it will last much longer.

Polymer floors are applied to concrete base, sometimes it is allowed to fill them on a well-prepared wood base. The concrete must be perfectly even, after screeding, you must wait at least 28 days.

A special primer is laid under the self-leveling floor, the thickness of the floor must be at least 2 mm.

The compound is poured in a path onto a primed screed. In this case, it is necessary to observe the evenness of its distribution. In order to avoid deterioration of adhesion between the layers of a two-layer topcoat, the time gap between the application of layers should not exceed two days.

When rolling with an aerator, it should not be removed from the polymer until the viscosity increases.

When equipping self-leveling floors, the surface is preliminarily prepared, it is leveled in advance, a pattern is applied and decorative elements and filled with solution. After a few days (when the coating hardens), give a matte or gloss.

The self-leveling floor looks great in the hallway, and in contrast to the glossy stretch ceiling with well-designed light, it will significantly expand its space as a whole, as well as in the living room, where it will especially emphasize the light from a large chandelier.

vinyl floor

Such a surface imitates wood, marble, natural stone and even leather. It can be smooth or embossed, glossy or matte. Vinyl tile is a product of innovative technologies that has a number of unique properties:

The vinyl backing is an excellent shock absorber. Springs underfoot, suppresses sounds, movement becomes silent;
It is durable due to crushed quartz with plasticizers in the base;
The strength that results from the application of the hot pressing method in the manufacture.
Moisture and UV resistant.
Easy care.

Depending on the material being imitated, they are produced in rolls and in the form of plates. Plates can be with locking devices, and may have a lower adhesive surface, or even be a regular tile, which requires special glue.

Color solutions can be both monophonic and multi-colored - it all depends on taste. There are also disadvantages:

When in contact with rubber, stains will remain on the surface, which are almost impossible to get rid of.
Synthetic components in the composition.
Difficulty in restoration.

Vinyl flooring is suitable for any room, especially the kitchen and bathroom, where high humidity reigns. But because of the fear of rubber, it is better to refuse this coating in the hallway.

Of course, it is almost impossible to say unequivocally which flooring is better, since a lot depends not only on the characteristics, but also on the specific case. It should be remembered that the material that is ideal in the bedroom may not live up to expectations in the kitchen, and vice versa.

In order to correctly choose the flooring in the apartment, you first need to find out what materials it is made from and consider all the pros and cons of different types.

Laminate

The laminate is based on MDF panels, carefully pressed with a paper layer and varnished.

Depending on the thickness of the panels, the quantity and quality of the primary material, the laminate can be of several strength classes. How to choose a substrate for a laminate -.

Benefits of this flooring:

simple installation with or without glue (in the second case, it is always possible to replace damaged panels);
resistance to mechanical stress;
fire safety;
easy care due to the antistatic layer applied on top;
durability (provided that the wear resistance class is selected correctly);
an extensive range;
affordable price.

Of the shortcomings of the material note:

fear of moisture;
insufficient environmental friendliness due to the use of resins, varnishes, impregnating chemicals in the production.

Overview of various floor coverings can be seen in the following video:

Linoleum

The coating intended for a residential apartment is a multilayer system. Heterogeneous linoleum, which is presented in stores, consists of the following layers:

Frame (fiberglass), impregnated with PVC paste.
Pigment, which determines the color and pattern of the final product.
Protective.

Linoleum can also be equipped with an additional layer - the substrate, which determines its sound and heat insulation properties, and also hides floor irregularities.

Linoleum is sold either in rolls 1–6 m wide and 1.5 to 5.0 mm thick, or in the form of tiles (another name is PVC tiles). The floor surface is carefully prepared, and then the linoleum is laid on a special glue.

The advantages of linoleum:

ease of installation;
ease of care;
variety of design;
excellent moisture resistance;
wear resistance;
low price;
soundproofing.

Of the minuses - insufficient environmental friendliness, sensitivity to temperature extremes, a tendency to bursting under intense loads.

It is worth noting that there is another type of linoleum made from natural materials - flax oil, pigments, additives. The complexity of the production of such coatings makes their cost quite high, so they are not widely used.

carpet

In the context, this coating is represented by the following components:

Pile.
The base is the primary lining.
Secondary lining plus a fixing layer (most often it is latex).

The materials themselves can be artificial - nylon (polyamide), polypropylene, polyacryl, polyester, and natural - wool or a mixture of materials with 10-30% wool.

Laying is done on glue, like linoleum.

Benefits of carpeting:

ease of installation;
ergonomics;
safety;
a large selection of colors;
long-term operation.

There are few disadvantages:

rabies;
the difficulty of cleaning.

The environmental friendliness of the product will depend on the materials underlying the carpet. Accordingly, the price category of natural and synthetic coatings is different.

Self-leveling (liquid) floors

Bulk floor - a novelty in the world of modern floor coverings.

The composition of the liquid floor may include different substances:

polyurethane;
epoxide;
methyl methacrylate;
cement and acrylic.

The last name is the most environmentally friendly option, and the most expensive self-leveling floor is methyl methacrylate.

Advantages of self-leveling floors in their:

durability (perhaps one of the largest for flooring);
environmental friendliness;
strength;
water resistance, as well as resistance to chemicals, oil, solvents, etc.;
ease of maintenance.

Such floors are especially demanding on the surface for installation, and their laying is quite complicated. Of the negative aspects, the owners also note a tendency to burn out in the sun. For the price - the option is quite affordable.

Tile

The most popular are ceramics. They are durable, passable and water resistant. In appearance, ceramic tiles are very diverse, they can imitate wood or other natural materials.

From tiles, you can create a real work of art on the floor, it becomes possible to zone the room and visually optimize the size of the room. In this case, you do not have to worry about mechanical loads on the floor, exposure to sunlight, high humidity. Excellent wear resistance is another plus of ceramic tiles.

Of the shortcomings:

complexity of installation and subsequent repair;
the presence of seams;
cold (this problem is solved by installing a warm floor under the tile).

cork floor

It is a plate measuring 90.0 by 18.5 cm and a thickness of 9 mm (sometimes it can also be found in the form of rolls), based on veneered or pressed chips of natural cork bark.

Other layers may include wood dust on resins (function - imparting strength and rigidity) and face finishing (increases wear resistance and provides aesthetic appearance).

The cork floor has a lot of advantages over the above coatings, in particular, this material:

environmentally friendly and natural;
provides soundproofing in the room;
has a variety of models;
keep warm;
pleasant to the touch;
able to absorb mechanical pressure;
has a long service life (warranty is not less than 10 years);
water resistant;
does not slip.

The negative point is the complexity of laying, because before that it is necessary to carefully level the base, and the price is quite high.

Another environmentally friendly option.

The parquet board is made from wooden base, pasted over with a layer of valuable rocks (thickness 3–5 mm).

They are usually laid by gluing the panels to the base. The base is prepared in advance.

In addition to the fact that a natural wooden floor will create special comfort and coziness in the house, it has other merits:

durability and reliability;
ease of cleaning;
ease of installation;
low thermal conductivity.

The disadvantages are related to the naturalness of the material - wood can be deformed, because in cold weather it decreases somewhat in volume, and in summer, on the contrary, it expands. Due to the naturalness and high cost of the material.

How to choose the right flooring for your room: professional advice

When choosing a floor covering for a living room, it is necessary to focus on the following criteria:

room humidity;
demanding for frequent cleaning;
frequency and type of mechanical impacts;
temperature difference;
environmental friendliness.

Video tips for choosing an environmentally friendly floor covering:

Based on these parameters, rooms will be especially demanding for coverage:

hallway;
kitchen;
bathroom;
children's;
loggia.

For these rooms, flooring should be selected with great care. So, in the living room (bedroom, living room) you can put a laminate of class 21-23, and in the hallway and in the kitchen - more durable, class 31-33.

The bathroom and kitchen should be equipped with moisture-resistant floor coverings, such as linoleum, tile or self-leveling floor.

In the nursery, they usually choose the most eco-friendly materials. From floor coverings it can be a cork floor, parquet, carpet.

Different styles of interiors are demanding on the choice of flooring. Hi-tech style successful options there will be tiles, parquet or laminate (more details -), and in a room designed for shabby chic - wooden parquet (on our website).

Remember that a properly selected floor in the room will not only be strong and durable, but will also give warmth, comfort, and a complete look to the entire interior.

Flooring is one of the last stages renovation in an apartment or a private house. It can be carried out using various materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on the purpose of the room, there are certain requirements for materials:

Hallway. A room with a high pedestrian load in which accumulates a large number of dust and dirt. The flooring should be as durable and non-marking as possible.
Bathroom. In this room, the floor covering is constantly in contact with water, so the material must be moisture resistant and easy to clean.
Kitchen. It also needs a material that is not exposed to moisture and does not absorb fat.
Balcony. The conditions in such a room are close to outdoor ones, so the products must be resistant to low temperatures and humidity.
Living room. This is a room with a high foot load, so the main characteristic of the material is mechanical strength.
Bedroom. In this case, the floor covering must be environmentally friendly.
Children's. The material should combine the characteristics of products for the two previous rooms.

This material is used for laying floor coverings in rooms of any purpose. Linoleum was especially popular at the time Soviet Union, it's not as common now, but it still holds certain positions.

Linoleum - availability and ease of care

Advantages:

Wide range of. The material for the floor is made in various colors and may have patterns and ornaments on the front. Modern roll materials imitate the surface of stone, wood, parquet and so on.
Moisture resistance.
Mechanical strength.
High rates of sound and heat insulation.
Easy installation and aftercare.

Of the shortcomings, too high plasticity should be noted; dents remain on the linoleum after furniture and other heavy objects. Some models emit harmful substances, this can be determined by a strong chemical smell.

Another classic flooring option. Most often, the material is used for arranging floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms.

Ceramic tiles - environmental friendliness and durability

The positive aspects of the tile include:

Resistant to chemicals, water, UV and abrasion.
A wide range of colors and sizes of products. Materials are also produced that imitate the color and texture of natural wood, stone and others.
Ease of maintenance.
Health safety.

Tiles are considered practically ideal option for floors in the house, but the material is cold, which makes it unpleasant to walk barefoot on it. Some types become slippery when wet, and the tile is also quite fragile and easily breaks when hit or dropped by an object.

Wood is now experiencing a new wave of popularity. With its help, floors are laid in rooms for any purpose, including kitchens.

Plank floor - nobility and a sense of comfort

Advantages:

Noble appearance.
Environmental friendliness.
Feeling of comfort and coziness.
Can be used in almost any interior and combined with other materials.

Of the disadvantages, exposure to water should be noted, therefore, measures must be taken to protect the coatings. Because of this, finishing floors requires more time and money. The ability to absorb moisture makes wood very brand, spilled juice, tea or coffee will leave a mark on the coating.

Also, the tree requires regular cycling, because over time, burrs appear on the surface. In addition, high-quality natural materials are quite expensive. If they are not processed correctly, they can swell or dry out, which will lead to deformation. Do not forget about rodents and insects that prefer to settle in such an environment.

Cork floor - naturalness and warmth

Such floor materials allow you to create a truly original coating. Products are made from cork tree bark, so they are completely natural and environmentally friendly.

Comfort when walking barefoot.
The coating is non-slip and non-marking.
Cork is well protected from moisture.
The material is easy to care for.
Wide range of colors and textures.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out low mechanical strength and a short service life. In addition, the cork needs subsequent varnishing, so such floors cannot be called budgetary.

Laminate - a wealth of choice and ease of care

These products were invented to replace natural wood. Some of its characteristics are much higher than those of wood:

The laminate is issued in very rich assortment. It can imitate the shades of almost all types of wood, natural stone, fabric, leather and so on.
The material is warm, in addition, under it you can lay the "warm floor" system.
Ease of care.
Moisture resistance.
Relatively low cost.
Ease of installation (products are equipped with locking systems, thanks to which they are easy to stack).

Despite the fact that there are models with a moisture-proof coating, it is better not to use laminate for the kitchen or bathroom. You will also need to lay a layer of waterproofing. It should be noted that the laminate is quite fragile: prolonged contact with water and mechanical stress leave traces on it. In addition, during installation there is a risk of damaging the locking joints, so products must be purchased with a margin.

Porcelain stoneware - strength and practicality

This material is very similar to ceramic tiles, but is produced using a slightly different technology. At the same time, it resembles a natural stone. AT modern world Porcelain tile products are popular due to the following advantages:

The strength of porcelain stoneware is rated 9 points out of 10.
Surfaces can last up to 50 years.
Does not emit harmful substances when heated and wet.
Ease of maintenance.
Resistant to sunlight and water.
Does not burn and does not support combustion.
Wide range of.

The main disadvantage is the high cost, and this applies to the prices of both materials and installation work. Polished porcelain tiles are too slippery for use in kitchens and bathrooms. In addition, it is cold, so it needs to be heated. In some cases, it is impossible to cover the floor with such material due to the large weight.

Self-leveling floors

Self-leveling floor - aesthetics and uniqueness

This type is considered relatively new, it has not yet gained popularity among users, but it has a number of undeniable advantages:

The presence of polymer compounds in the composition provides high moisture resistance, so it is easy to wash.
Self-leveling floors can last about 20 years.
Seams are not formed on the surface, so it looks aesthetically pleasing. The same feature protects the coating from the appearance of fungus.
Attractive appearance.

Among the shortcomings, it should be noted the high cost of the material and the need for serious preparatory processes. In addition, the coating cannot be repaired locally. That is, if the floor crumbles in some place, you will have to completely remove the coating and fill in a new one.

Concrete

Previously, concrete was used only for arranging floor coverings in utility rooms, garages, and so on. Now concrete screed very often it is the basis for other products: parquet, laminate, tile and others. But modern ways pouring and grinding allow you to create a perfectly even, visually attractive (as you can see in the photo) and absolutely inert to water coating. In addition, the floors are strong and durable.

Concrete floor - strength and durability

Among the shortcomings, a large weight of the material can be distinguished, so it cannot be used in wooden houses. Also, to obtain a perfectly even coating, a specialized construction equipment and qualified operators to service it. Another disadvantage is the complexity of the work.

On a note! If the floor is finished with concrete, then it is subject to mechanical stress. Despite the strength, the material can crumble when an object falls on it from a height.

Once this material was the main product for construction, but now it is considered a sign of wealth and luxury. The fact is that the stone itself is cheap, but its processing requires high-tech, and therefore very expensive, equipment and consumables.

Natural stone - presentability and practicality

Among the advantages it should be noted:

High mechanical strength.
Resistance to almost any influence (precipitation, sun, impacts).
Almost unlimited service life.

But natural stone there are also disadvantages:

Significant weight, which makes it difficult to work with, it is not suitable for all floors.
The stone is cold, so you will have to install a "warm floor" system.
The installation process is quite expensive.
The material requires special care.

Another material for arranging floors, which has been known to mankind since antiquity. It is also considered expensive because it is quite difficult to install. It is made of glass or natural stone.

Mosaic - elegance and originality

The main advantage of the mosaic is that it turns out to finish even curved surfaces, while you can create any patterns and patterns using multi-colored elements. For ease of installation, manufacturers pre-attach mosaic fragments to the grid, forming a pattern. The master can only stick it on the floor. In terms of performance, the mosaic resembles a tile.

Of the shortcomings, the high price of the material itself and the work on its installation should be noted. In addition, the mosaic coating will not work. modern interiors, it looks better in a classic or antique style. It should also be noted that only an artist or a person with a developed taste and imagination can cope with laying mosaics on their own.

PVC

Products from this material are produced in the form of tiles with an adhesive base or interlocking. There are also cheaper varieties that need to be laid on a layer of tile adhesive. Modern PVC coatings are produced in a wide range of color scheme. Previously, tiles made from this material were also used for laying flooring, many remember these blue and green squares, now the products look more aesthetically pleasing.

PVC tiles - a wealth of choice and resistance to moisture

Among the advantages it should be noted:

Easy and fast installation.
Ease of care.
High soundproof characteristics.
A wide range of colors, shapes and sizes.
Long service life.

Despite these advantages, there are also disadvantages:

High requirements for the preparation of the base. The rough coating must be perfectly even, otherwise all defects will eventually be reflected on the tile. It is also important to take into account that the moisture content of the base cannot be higher than 5%.
Before laying the floor with such material, it is necessary to hold the tile in the room for several days so that it adapts to the conditions. In addition, each manufacturer indicates the temperature and humidity conditions that must be observed during installation.
Changes color and breaks down when exposed to sunlight.
PVC is a synthetic material, so it releases harmful substances when burned. As for fire safety, it also leaves much to be desired.

This fairly popular finish floor surfaces. It is a soft and warm material with a long or short pile, which is laid on a prepared base and covered with a plinth. The result is a coating that resembles an ordinary carpet, but which is covered over the entire area of the room.

Carpeting - comfort and sound insulation

Advantages:

Relatively low cost.
Comfort and coziness.
A wide range of design solutions.
Long service life and resistance to various kinds of influences.
High level of sound insulation.

From negative qualities can be distinguished:

Cheap product options are not protected from negative impact ultraviolet.
High hygroscopicity and susceptibility to water.
Accumulate debris and dust.
Difficulty in care.
Light products are very easily soiled.
Foundation preparation requirements. Under the carpet must be a layer of reliable waterproofing.

Last on the list, but not least, flooring option. Represents high-quality and at the same time elite covering. Performance indicators directly depend on the type of wood used in the manufacture, as well as production and processing methods.

Parquet - durability and warmth

If we talk about the positive aspects of parquet, it should be noted:

Attractive appearance. Like other natural wood products, parquet boards look noble.
Long service life. Given that proper styling and regular sanding, the coating can last about 30–40 years.
High thermal insulation qualities. In warm regions, there is no need to lay insulation under the parquet.

Minuses:

Susceptibility to various deformations. Wood expands in summer and contracts in winter, so expansion joints must be left when laying.
High price. Parquet is significantly superior to laminate or linoleum in this indicator.
The need for regular repair and replacement of the protective varnish layer.

Parquet is one of the best views floor coverings, but due to the high cost of material and work, it has not gained much popularity

There are many different materials available for flooring. Craftsmen even use coins or cardboard to decorate the floors. Most products can be laid by yourself to save some money on hiring specialists. But there are those that require qualifications and the use of a professional tool.

Modern flooring for the home

The floor is not only an indispensable part of the design of any building, but also one of the most important elements of interior design, and therefore the choice of the only right option for flooring should be taken with all responsibility. The design of the room, the atmosphere that reigns in it, to a large extent will depend on what material you prefer, as well as on the structure of the flooring, color, pattern, its compatibility with other decor elements.

Market finishing materials today it is replete with a variety of floor coverings, which, of course, allows you to choose the option that suits you specifically, but at the same time, the richness of the assortment can be confusing: how to decide what exactly is required? You need to know at least a little about each of the offered flooring options and study the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of flooring.

Parquet and laminate flooring have been improved so much that they can now be installed almost directly in front of the shower. PVC, always considered unreliable, was quietly renamed CV (cushioned vinyl - soft vinyl). However, this did not help him in the fierce competition with polyurethane (PU or PUR). Being more hygienic and completely safe for health, this artificial material is gaining more and more square meters our dwellings.

So let's start short overview of the flooring market and some guidelines for their use. Consider what criteria should be followed when choosing a gender, as well as evaluate the advantages and disadvantages various kinds coatings.

What should be considered when choosing flooring?

Worth it in the first place take into account the purpose of the room for which you are going to purchase flooring. If we are talking about an apartment, there are no such strict requirements for the strength of the floor as in the case of industrial or commercial space.

The floor must be safe for everyone who live in the premises, complying with sanitary and hygienic standards. For example, synthetic materials(and maybe natural) can cause allergic reactions, as well as adversely affect the health of people from the "risk group", especially the elderly and children.

If there are animals in the house, it is worth abandoning carpet, cork or other soft materials in favor of stone, tiles, laminate. On parquet made from hardwood, pet claw marks, as a rule, do not remain, but the varnish layer still suffers, which must also be taken into account.

The floor covering, if there are animals in the apartment, should be with a durable surface layer, but not slippery

Depending on the specifics of operation, it is worth evaluating the degree of moisture resistance of your future floor. For example, when choosing a material for a bathroom, it is inappropriate to consider options such as parquet or carpet. Although some options for modern parquet and even some types of laminate are quite suitable for the bathroom.

Coating aesthetics plays one of the main roles in the overall design of the space. Imagine how organically the option you like will fit into the decor of the room, whether it will fit the furniture and walls.

No less important are aspects such as access to communications that lie under its surface, as well as the temperature that the coating will have to withstand. The latter refers to, for which it is recommended to choose a specially designed laminate that transmits heat better than usual.

Parquet or parquet board

Natural and ecological parquet today is synonymous with quality. It creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort even in a high-tech room. New technologies expand the artistic possibilities of this material, offering new wood species, original ways styling. with proper care, it will serve for a long time, keeping the heat in the house qualitatively and serving as an obstacle to the noise coming from the neighbors below.

However, parquet is tricky to handle, requires regular maintenance, and also suffers from solid particles brought from the street, studs and animal claws. In order for the parquet floor to last longer, a flooring should be made at the entrance to the room, which would hold back small stones and sand that can scratch it. However, the combination of aspects such as moisture-resistant woods (eg merbau), installation method by full adhesion to the surface of the substrate, allows it to be used even in splash areas.

Ceramic tile

The main characteristics of ceramic tiles are durability and reliability, so it can be used in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms. . Thanks to this, such ceramic tiles, firstly, are laid in a floating way; secondly, it can be easily removed and replaced if necessary.

This material is much cheaper than parquet and has excellent functionality, thanks to which it has become widespread. Laminate is able to resist abrasion, impact-resistant, resistant to household chemicals, moisture, high temperatures, easy to install and hygienic.

In order for the laminate to last longer, it is recommended to choose those types that belong to the increased strength class (34 or 33), since only these classes can boast good wear resistance and load resistance. Laminate should be laid on a perfectly flat surface, otherwise it is quickly deformed, gaps form between the joints, into which moisture can get.

It is the appearance and reasonable price that makes such materials the clear favorites of residential premises that you want to make cozy and comfortable. Good laminate outwardly no different from a real tree. At the same time, it is stronger and more durable than a floor made of real wood. But there are also disadvantages: instability to scratches and the practical impossibility of grinding.

Among the disadvantages of the laminate and its low soundproofing. The weak point of all multilayer materials is poor resistance to moisture. That is why until now it was not possible to use laminate and parquet boards in bathrooms. But time passes and everything changes. differs in that this material is protected from all sides by plastic, due to which it is moisture resistant.

Vinyl laminate or laminate with polyurethane surface

When it comes to artificial flooring materials, many people think of PVC roll materials, but not necessarily. Vinyl flooring is durable, water-resistant and comfortable to walk on, but it is also unhealthy due to the chlorine content. PVC is used in areas where the floor needs to be waterproof and easy to clean, such as the kitchen or bathroom.

A fairly new floor covering meets these requirements perfectly - polyurethane floor. It has the same positive characteristics as a PVC floor: it is pleasant to walk on it, it has high wear resistance, and we are talking not about the bulk field, as you might think. In fact, this laminate with polyurethane face or as it is also called vinyl laminate. But also a polyurethane floor can be self-leveling, but more on that below.

Here, in order not to confuse anyone, it is immediately worth clarifying. There are three options for vinyl laminate:

Elastic moisture resistant laminate, also known as flexible vinyl (PVC) tile. Therefore, although it is called a laminate for a very similar appearance, it would be more correct to attribute it to plastic tiles (section below). Examples include Contesse Floor products;
- a full-fledged, familiar and understandable laminate, a panel 5-10 mm thick, based on high-density fiberboard (HDF - High Density Fiberboard), with a variety of vinyl coating and cork backing. A striking example of HDF vinyl laminate can be products from Floover (Switzerland);
Vinyl moisture resistant laminate- outwardly conventional stove standard laminate, but based on a composite plastic panel with a vinyl outer coating. For example, Floover products;

In particular, Floover's laminate flooring comes in several fundamentally different designs: the laminate flooring can be made from an HDF panel or a composite plastic panel and can have many different skin layers. It could be Genuine Leather or varnished cork, or a digital photo print decorating layer, or a woven vinyl layer, or a layer of natural linoleum.

A few examples of the use of modern laminate from the Floover collection:

This material is distinguished by the widest variety of colors, the absence of difficulties in laying and an affordable price. In addition, it is a dielectric, does not rot, is practical, does not require special care and can be used in any type of premises.

The choice of linoleum is now simply huge.

Modern linoleum can be divided into five main types: natural linoleum (marmoleum), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) linoleum, glyptal (alkyd) linoleum, colloxylin (nitrocellulose) and rubber (relin) linoleum.

Linoleum is a synthetic material, consisting entirely of artificial components, and although under normal conditions this does not affect its environmental safety in any way, the floor still does not breathe. At low temperatures it can break and crack, and is also unstable to fire, acetone, and other solvents.

Marmoleum or natural linoleum

This modern version floor covering environmentally friendly, as it includes jute fiber, linseed oil, natural dyes, tree resins and other components of natural origin. Due to its antibacterial properties, it is perfect for use in hospitals and kindergartens. Such material does not accumulate dust and dirt, and its wear resistance only increases over the years.

Marmoleum - natural linoleum

It is produced, like ordinary linoleum - in rolls, but there are also marmoleum tiles with locking joints, which are laid similarly to laminate - Marmoleum Click. Unlike ordinary linoleum, marmoleum tiles have a very large variety of colors.

However, during transportation, natural linoleum must not be bent, otherwise it may break. It is recommended to lay marmoleum on a perfectly flat surface, and in the first week after laying point loads on the floor should be avoided (for example, heavy furniture and high heels should not be placed).

cork floor

Cork is a fairly young, but already widespread type of flooring. In addition to its environmental safety, it is resistant to moisture, does not rot, retains heat and noise well, and is easy to clean. It is pleasant to the touch, soft, slightly springy underfoot. Cork is not eaten by rodents and insects, does not destroy microorganisms.

Over time, the protective layer covering the cork wears out, traces of furniture may remain on the surface, and in those places where the movement is especially intense, a path is formed. Among the disadvantages of cork coating and its high cost.

Cork flooring elements can be equipped with click connections. As a result, this material has the same features as laminate and parquet board: without additional external processing, it is not advisable to use cork in rooms with a high level of humidity, such as bathrooms, but, nevertheless, as in all rules and there are also exceptions here - the cork can be used in the bathroom and in the toilet room. After all, the cork itself is moisture resistant, very warm, elastic, environmentally friendly and antistatic.

Cork is an ideal material for the bedroom, it can also be used in the kitchen. Cork is not recommended for the hallway, because in this area it will wear out very quickly. However, in the bathroom it can still be used if it is completely glued to the surface of the base, and coated on top with a protective composition - varnish. When laying a completely new material, such as mosaic cork, all joints and edges must be carefully sealed with a special elastic mortar.

This material creates a feeling of warmth and comfort, is easy to clean and maintain, durable, has sound and heat insulation. The carpet is environmentally friendly, does not wrinkle, does not attract dust, is resistant to ignition, and also has a wide range of colors and a variety of patterns.

Sometimes modern carpet looks no different from natural carpets.

Such a coating is relatively short-lived: from 5 to 8 years, and can also quickly lose its appearance. Before laying requires careful leveling of the floor. Carpet made from natural ingredients can scare away with its high price.

Vinyl flooring

This coating is a mixture of vinyl with natural fine stone. Vinyl flooring is affordable, durable, moisture resistant, easy to clean, resilient, available in a wide range of colors and easy to install. It can also be used to decorate walls.

Such a coating can become a luxurious and very original element of the interior. It is not necessary to install it on the entire surface: it is allowed to highlight some sections of the floor with glass.

Durable glass, from which the coating is made, is durable, moisture resistant, has a presentable appearance. The glass floor is difficult to install, needs constant cleaning, scratches, and is also expensive.

Polymer floor or self-leveling decorative 3D floor

This seamless coating is poured directly onto concrete, mixed with quartz sand of various colors, making it possible to create a variety of flooring options. The polymer surface is durable, hygienic, does not burn and does not pass moisture, and is resistant to acids.

Wood-polymer composite or WPC

WPC is used not only as a floor covering, but also for other types of work. For example, today this composition is used for the manufacture of window and door profiles, siding, balustrades, roofing, and many different floorings. In addition to construction, WPC is used in formwork for concrete work, in the production of railway parts, railings, piers, sidewalks, sea piles, noise barriers. This material can also be found in garden structures, as well as in furniture, pallets and even in equipment for children's and sports fields.

How to choose floor color?

Bright hues

In order for the room to visually expand, it is necessary to bring more light into it and. Light shades of flooring are perfect for cramped rooms, creating the illusion of space and perfect order. The light floor can be combined with the most different colors in the interior, harmonizes with cool tones in the decoration of the walls, and wood flooring, made in such shades, creates interesting effects next to dark furniture.

However, in combination with light walls, a light floor can create an atmosphere of cold, facelessness in a room. If the tone of the walls is much darker, the horizontal lines of the interior will be highlighted. If you want to decorate the floor with a carpet, choose light or neutral tones to emphasize the texture of the material.

Dark tones

A room completely made in may seem shapeless. Such shades are able to expand the room, while making it visually lower. A combination of dark and warm colors brings a sense of comfort to the room. If the walls and floor are decorated in dark colors, in combination with a light ceiling, they can cause a well effect (light at the top). With the help of a dark floor, you can play on contrasts, alternating dark and light shades in decor elements.

We'll probably end here. Some flooring options had not even been mentioned in this article (for example,), otherwise it would become truly gigantic. Having become acquainted with the main selection criteria and the range of floor coverings, you will be able to take into account all the nuances in order to purchase exactly the option that best suits your taste and requirements of the room.

Not only the aesthetic side of the interior, but also the ecological and sanitary conditions depend on which floors will be chosen for residential premises. To know which floors are best for an apartment, you need to consider their basic technical and operational characteristics. Each of the rooms requires a different approach to the choice of flooring, and this should be taken seriously, as the material laid on the floors can positively or negatively affect the health of family members.

As a rule, the floors in the apartment have a concrete, fairly even base, and this fact is already a help for the installation of any of the existing types of coatings. Depending on what effect you want to get from the floor being arranged, its desired type and the material necessary for it are selected.

Concrete floors are strong and durable, but they have two significant drawbacks that all owners are trying to deal with. modern apartments- it is cold and high sound conductivity. To eradicate these shortcomings, you can resort to one of several methods of insulation and soundproofing. Since floor slabs are designed for a certain maximum weight, heavy loads on them are prohibited, and therefore light material should be chosen for these purposes.

Ways of heat and sound insulation

There are several ways to make heat and sound insulation in an apartment using the following materials:

1. The first, most well-known and used method is the laying of thin polyethylene foam under the decorative coating. But this method will not fully give the desired effect, it will only drown out the noise from below a little and make the floor a little warmer. Therefore, it is better to use polyethylene in combination with other materials that have the characteristics necessary to create comfort in an apartment.

2. Another, more effective way - with fixing wooden logs to the bedded thin polyethylene, between which foam plastic 50 ÷ 100 mm thick, expanded clay or mineral wool. Then, such a heat and sound insulating "fur coat" is closed from above with a floorboard or plywood, which, in turn, is covered with one of the decorative coatings.

3. The third way can be called a floor made from a dry screed. This type of thermal and sound insulation will perform well the tasks assigned to it. It is easy to install and perfectly protects the room from noise and cold.

4. Little known, but very effective way Insulation has recently been considered pleasant and light materials - ecowool, made on the basis of cellulose, and noise plastic, consisting of polystyrene foam, rubber and acrylic additives.

Video: sound and thermal insulation with noise plastic

5. Quite famous and in a simple way to achieve silence and warmth in the apartment is the laying of extruded foam directly on the concrete. If necessary, and the ceiling height is sufficient, the material can be laid in several layers, and a hard decorative coating, such as parquet board or laminate, is laid on top of it.

Flooring

Having decided on insulation or making a risky decision to leave the floor cold, you can move on to the next step - choosing and laying the finish flooring. It must be remembered that for each room it is necessary to choose its own material that will meet the requirements of staying in this room. In addition, much will depend on the base of the floor, which will be covered or filled with a decorative coating.

In construction stores today there is huge selection floor coverings to choose from suitable option for this or that room

So, you can choose from the following list:

ceramic tile;
laminate;
carpet;
linoleum;
cork coating;
batten.

Ceramic tile

This material can be laid on a concrete or wooden floor lined with plywood or moisture resistant drywall. The tile is intended mainly for flooring in bathrooms, hallways, kitchens or corridors, but if a warm floor is installed in the rooms, then it is suitable for any of them.

Ceramic tiles are available in various shades and patterns. So, for example, you can choose:

For a large room with a heated floor, an elegant floor panel will come in handy, which will give the room the look of a palace hall.
For the hallway and corridor, rich dark tones of the material are suitable, which can hide the dirt and dust brought from the street. In these rooms, it is better to lay unglazed tiles with a corrugated surface, in order to avoid the possibility of slipping and injury.
The floor in the bathroom and bathroom also needs to be laid out with corrugated or matte tiles, for better adhesion of bare feet to it when exiting from the shower. The color scheme can be chosen for every taste, and with its selection to the wall decoration.
The tile is also the best design floor in the kitchen, as it is easy to clean and does not absorb grease and oil that accidentally gets on its surface. The material is strong and durable, which is very important for flooring in the kitchen.
If the balcony is not insulated and is used only in summer time, the tile will be an excellent protection for concrete pavement from moisture. In this case, when choosing a tile, you need to pay attention to the frost resistance of the material.

Linoleum

Linoleum is one of the most popular coatings today, and largely due to the fact that it has affordable price, easy to install and varied in color and pattern.

1. This material can be made from natural materials and polymers. The first of them is used very rarely, since it has a rather high cost, and the second coating option is mainly purchased.

2. In addition to the first criterion, linoleum is divided into commercial and non-commercial types.

the first of them is more durable, and is laid in public buildings with a high intensity of human flow, but it is categorically not suitable for residential premises, as it has harmful impurities;
for an apartment, you need to choose only a non-commercial type of flooring. Its strength for home conditions is quite enough, and it will last for many years, provided correct installation and careful operation.

3. Linoleum is produced without a base or on a warm and thick substrate, as well as on a medium-thick foam base.

The disadvantages of linoleum include the following points: unnaturalness, deformation during temperature changes and when heavy objects are installed on it.

Linoleum is laid on a concrete, plywood coating, most often using a polyethylene foam substrate. It is suitable for flooring in any of the rooms. The only place where it is not recommended to lay it is the bathroom, due to the fact that this room has high humidity, and ceramic tiles are more suitable for it.

The choice of linoleum design in color and pattern depends entirely on the tastes and preferences of the apartment owners.

Cork

Cork flooring is quite expensive, but it's worth it if you look at its characteristics. Cork is an environmentally friendly material, an excellent heat and sound insulator, has elasticity and resilience, is pleasant to walk in, and has the ability to create a cozy, favorable atmosphere in the room.

Cork is suitable for any of the rooms, except for the bathroom - because of its humidity. It can only be laid on a flat and hard surface, such as plywood. If you plan to lay directly on concrete, then you must definitely lay a substrate under it, otherwise, solid fragments will even small size may damage the material.

Cork flooring is available in three types:

Floor decorative option, which is produced in the form of rolls and plates. Such material has a special impregnation of the top layer, which protects it from moderate moisture. In addition, often such a tile has an adhesive applied, which makes it easy to arrange it on the floor.
For a substrate under another floor covering, for example, linoleum or laminate, a technical version of the coating is used, which is of lower quality. It is used for thermal insulation and sound insulation of the floor. The substrate is produced in the form of rolled and tiled material.
In addition, MDF is covered with cork, which serves as the basis for it. Such a coating is produced in the form of panels measuring 18.5 × 90.0 cm, which have special locks for assembly into a common coating.

The material almost does not deform from temperature changes, withstands heavy loads, does not squeeze when heavy pieces of furniture are installed on it.

Laminate

AT last years In apartments and houses, flooring, called laminate, is increasingly appearing. It successfully imitates a parquet or natural board, but is much more affordable. Laminated panels are produced in standard sizes, most often - 25 × 150 cm, at the edges they have locks of various designs, with the help of which they are connected into a common plane.

Structurally, the laminate consists of four layers, each of which plays its role, and in the complex, a fairly reliable, durable and aesthetic material is obtained.

The upper transparent layer not only emphasizes the decorative effect of the laminate, but also plays a protective role for the underlying ones, guaranteeing them moisture resistance and protecting them from mechanical damage and abrasion. This part of the laminate is made of acrylic or melamine resins, which contribute to the protective functions.
The second layer is precisely the decorative layer that imitates a particular pattern - it can be not only the texture of wood, but even various types of stone or sand.
Pressed wood fiber makes up the third layer, which is the basis of the entire panel, as it has the largest thickness - from 4 to 8 mm. It is at the level of this layer that the locking elements that fasten the panels together are located - a spike and a groove.
The bottom layer consists of a special resin-impregnated paper, which is designed to protect the material from moisture that can damage the material from below. Some types of laminate are also equipped with a heat and sound insulating waterproof underlay.

This flooring is divided into operational classes, and for laying in residential premises, 21-23 laminate classes are mainly used.

Laminate cannot be called an environmentally friendly material at 100%, since phenol-formaldehyde resins are used in its production. But each manufacturer can use them in different proportions, and it is considered the norm when the formaldehyde content does not exceed 0.01 mg, and phenol 0.003 mg - these data can be found on the packaging of the flooring.

Laminate is well suited for laying in the living room, hallway and kitchen, but it is better to refuse from the flooring of its children's room or bedroom for the reasons described above.

carpet

Carpet is a floor covering made of synthetic or natural fibres. It can be long-haired or even not have a pile at all. This coating is made on a rubber, felt or jute basis.

Carpet is good only when it is new, but it gets old very quickly.

The material is pleasant to walk on and aesthetically pleasing, but only when he's new. Quite quickly, he loses these attractive qualities of his - the pile is crumpled in places and becomes not so soft and beautiful. In addition, a lot of dust collects in the carpet, so when buying this coating, you immediately need to purchase a powerful vacuum cleaner.
It is tempting to lay carpet in the bedroom or nursery, especially since the range of such options is rich. But you need to remember that in addition to heat and sound insulation, this coating can also bring allergies, which will be difficult to get rid of. Therefore, in these rooms it is better to choose a coating that can be subjected to regular wet cleaning.
It is not recommended to lay carpet in the hallway and corridor, as it will look beautiful for a very short time and will quickly become clogged with street dust brought on shoes.
If there is a great desire to have carpet in at least one of the rooms, then the living room is best suited for it. But you need to remember - you will have to clean it very often.

Wooden floor

The wooden floor will be the most comfortable of all the presented coatings if it is laid on logs and insulated with mineral or eco cotton. Due to its structure, wood is a warm material, and when laid in combination with insulation, it will make the floors absolutely comfortable.

Video - Wooden flooring with insulation

Video - Wooden flooring. step by step

The environmental friendliness of such a coating allows you to lay it in the nursery and bedroom. Its soundproofing properties will make the rooms calm and conducive to relaxation.

Wooden floors should not be laid in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway.

A lot of smells “hover” in the kitchen, which tend to be absorbed into the floor and wall coverings, and the tree is predisposed to the perception of various aromas. But their mixture over time can lead to the fact that the smell will be very unpleasant and indestructible. Therefore, in the kitchen, it is best to use a neutral material for the floor - ceramic tiles, laminate or epoxy self-leveling floors.
Because of high humidity you should not arrange floors from boards and plywood in bathrooms. The tree absorbs well not only odors, but also moisture, from which it swells and deforms, so it is better to refuse this idea.
The floors in the hallway are on the same level as the floors in the entryway. If you install logs and a floorboard, then they will rise at least five centimeters, and you get an uncomfortable step, and if the door opens inward, then it will have to be reinstalled or replaced. So the best option will cover the hallway with laminate, tile or linoleum.

In addition to the floor coverings described above, there are others, such as epoxy 3D floors, parquet boards, polymer tiles and, of course, the well-known parquet.

For more information on how to make self-leveling floors with a 3d effect, read the publication.

Video: unfamiliar to many quartz-vinyl flooring

The material from which the floor is made depends on how warm it will be in the rooms. In addition, the flooring has a special influence on the design of its entire interior. Therefore, it is very important to approach this issue with all seriousness, to calculate all the pros and cons in order for the floor covering to last long time, and also did not harm the tenants of the apartment.