Easy Marmo - types of flooring material

Regardless of home or office, temple or church, everything seems incomplete without the floor. Having a nice floor is a very important aspect in any interior project.  The flooring plays a major role in any place where humans live.  The first thing the person feels is the floor.  

Here we will be discussing the different available option in types of flooring in construction :

  • HARD FLOORING – Is the normal floor made of concrete, cement or different stone and tile items (includes; Marble, Granite, Sandstone, Slate, Ceramic, Vitrified, Mosaic etc.) which we will discuss further. The hard floors are the floors which take more time to be installed and once installed cannot be easily removed. These floors are strongly recommended in heavy traffic area and places of rough and rugged use.  These floors are easy to maintain and has very long wear life.
  • RESILIENT FLOORING – are made of minerals, resilient flooring is made of materials that have some elasticity. Resilient flooring includes many different manufactured products including Wood parquet, Ply wood, Wood mosaic, Asphalt tiles, and Linoleum, Rubber, Cork, Sheet Vinyl, Vinyl Composition etc. (which also comes inside the SEMI HARD FLOORING). Resilient flooring products, such as PVC and Polypropylene are becoming more popular in specialty applications such as trailer flooring and garage flooring.
  • SOFT FLOORING – is typically used indoors and can be used in both high and low traffic areas. It typically lasts for fifteen to eighteen years before it needs to be replaced. Carpet is a soft floor covering made of bound carpet fibres or stapled fibres. Carpeting refers to wall-to-wall coverage, whereas a rug is simply used to cover a space. Carpets come in a variety of materials including Wool, Nylon, Ole-fin and Polyester.

The different types of Hard Flooring

Hard flooring includes a wide variety of surfaces from both man-made and natural origins. Concrete is probably the most commonly used hardened floor surface. Hard flooring a family of flooring materials that includes –

MARBLE FLOORING

MARBLE is a natural stone and it is easily stainable by chemicals and even waters. Marble has to be sealed for prevent water seeping inside which makes is slippery. In this scenario marble floor tile comes in, they not only prevent slippery and staining; even also available in plenty of designs. By using marble floor tiles you can get marvelous and luxury floor as well as excellent laying patterns.

GRANITE FLOORING

GRANITE is a range of natural stone that is made from cooling molten rock in the ground. Granite is a bit expensive and weighty, so experts must install it. Being a natural stone product, it is Eco-friendly. It is not too porous like marble, and sealing is not essential if used in the moisture-proof area. It is harder and stains resistant than any other flooring material such as marble.

SLATE FLOORING

SLATE is one of the most affordable types of stone flooring, making this timeless classic a suitable choice if on a budget. Slate tiles are the best choice in areas like entryways and kitchen where the floor is more exposed, instead of installing in areas like a bedroom or spaces covered with rugs or carpets. The initial installation of the slate tile requires two coatings of sealant to close the tiny pores present in the stores. Reapply the sealant depending upon the traffic and load on the floor.

SANDSTONE FLOORING

SANDSTONE is a beautiful natural floor covering that is popular for its distinctive style. It has proven itself as a reliable flooring option since ancient times. Sandstone tiles are available in a range of colors and textures, making it ideal for a broad scope of residential landscape design projects and commercial flooring applications. It’s mostly preferred for exterior flooring, water absorption, heat resistance and easy installation & maintenance.

TERRAZZO FLOORING

TERRAZZO is a composite material either poured in place or precast or hydraulically pressed as tiles. It is composed of a mixture of aggregate chips like stone or marble and either epoxy resin or concrete. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and can be poured as concrete or laid in tiles. Installation – Epoxy resin terrazzo is most commonly poured in a layer that is about 3/8” thick over a concrete substrate. In more industrial settings, a cement base is laid first, and then a layer of sand and a cement-based terrazzo mixture is finally laid on top. Another way terrazzo can be installed is in the form of tiles using a grout system and adhesive, similar to the way porcelain tiles are laid.

MOSAIC FLOORING

MOSAIC is very old types of flooring. Floor mosaics are made from small round pieces of stones. They form design pattern and give a beautiful look to the room, most mosaics are made of small, flat, roughly square, pieces of stone or glass of different colors. It is often used in decorative art or as interior decoration. Most mosaics are made of small, flat, roughly square, pieces of stone or glass of different colors. Some, especially floor mosaics, are made of small rounded pieces of stone.

PAVER BLOCK FLOORING

PAVER BLOCK is a paving stone, tile, brick or brick-like piece of concrete commonly used as exterior flooring. In a factory, concrete pavers are made by pouring a mixture of concrete and some type of coloring agent into a mold of some shape and allowing setting. In addition to being economical, interlocking concrete pavers are also widely available in water-permeable designs, which have added ecological benefits.

TERACOTTA FLOORING

TERRACOTTA can be very easily defined as “baked earth”, and has a history dating back centuries. These handmade tiles are truly an artisan creation in which no two pieces are exactly alike. It has been used in many parts of the buildings since the dawn of humanity. Especially in Anatolia, terracotta was the number one construction material. It is basically produced by firing clay-containing substances that are readily available in nature under high temperatures and bringing a new perspective to the floor covering.

QUARRY TILE FLOORING

QUARRY TILE is extensively used for floors where a very durable material is required. It can be used either indoors or outdoors, although freeze-resistant grades of tile should be used outdoors in climates where freeze-thaw action occurs. Quarry tile is used less often as a wall finish and is occasionally used for countertops, although the wide grout joints can make cleaning of countertops difficult. Most commercial kitchens require a quarry tile to be used because of its slip resistant and non-porous properties.

CONCRETE FLOORING

CONCRETE FLAG is a common structural element of modern buildings, consisting of a flat, horizontal surface made of cast concrete. In many domestic and industrial buildings, a thick concrete slab supported on foundations or directly on the subsoil, is used to construct the ground floor. These slabs are generally classified as ground-bearing or suspended. A slab is ground-bearing if it rests directly on the foundation, otherwise the slab is suspended.

QUARTZITE FLOORING

QUARTZITE is a very hard metamorphic rock that originated as sandstone. Quartzite tiles often have a wondrous sparkling texture as individual quartz pieces recrystallize in high heat. It is not yet as popular as other natural stones, but it offers the beautiful look of marble and the resistance and durability of granite. This is why quartzite has been increasing appreciation among interior designers. In fact, quartzite has an elegant look that adds natural charm and high aesthetic appeal to any kind of project.

LIMESTONE FLOORING

LIMESTONE is a natural stone that is made from sedimentary rocks. It’s naturally dense and hard-wearing, making a perfect choice for kitchens, ground floors and busy family homes. Limestone is one of the most popular natural stones used in flooring, as tiles, vanity tops in kitchen, offices and wall claddings. Choose from a beautiful range of colors, styles and finishes to transform your interior space.

GLAZED CERAMIC FLOORING

GLAZED CERAMIC can be a matt or glossy finish. There are many tiles that are available in both finishes – plain white tiles, for example. They’d be described as either matt white tiles or glossy white tiles, with both of them being glazed. Tiles are made of clay which has been fired in a kiln. If glaze is to be applied, it’s done before the tile enters the kiln. The glaze then fuses to the top surface of the clay body of the tile during the firing process. In the event that no glaze had been applied, the resultant tile is deemed to be “unglazed”. This is the simple difference between glazed and unglazed tiles.

BRICK FLOORING

BRICK is one of the oldest and most common building materials in the world, first developed as a substitute for natural stone. Aesthetically, brick flooring fits best with rustic home styles, such as cottage- or farm-style residences, and in rooms where an informal look is desired, such as sun porches or entryways. As a bold design element, brick is hard to beat. It adds visual warmth, texture, color and eye-catching pattern all at once.

RESIN FLOORING

RESIN is a hard wearing plastic surface, created by mixing together a selection of ingredients to initiate a fast and controlled chemical reaction. Resin flooring provides an incredibly durable, safe and lasting floor solution for all industrial applications, from food production and pharmaceuticals to retail markets, automotive factories and more. The three main types of resin flooring are PMMA, polyurethane (PU) and epoxy. While all resin floors are more hygienic and durable than other flooring surfaces, the differences between each type can provide significant advantages or disadvantages depending on their use.

The different types of Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring, also called vinyl flooring is a flooring created from carefully selected natural and synthetic materials. Resilient flooring system is denser and non-absorbent in nature. They assure a pliant surface which makes comfortable walking. These flooring also assure guarantee in having lesser maintenance. Different Types of Resilient Flooring used in Buildings –

WOOD PARQUET FLOORING

WOOD PARQUET created by arranging small pieces of hardwood in repeating patterns. Wood parquet floors are a timeless option that brings warmth and character to any space in your home. Stunning parquet wood tile designs range from simple to complex geometric patterns. Wooden floor tiles offer a level of visual appeal that cannot be achieved with traditional strip flooring boards.

PLYWOOD FLOORING

PLYWOOD floors are suitable for any room where you’d otherwise install hardwood, though kitchens and bathrooms are less desirable since frequent water spills are likely. Basements are not recommended for plywood flooring because they’re typically a bit damp, and a concrete floor can transfer moisture from the soil to the plywood, which could cause it to de-laminate and swell over time.

WOOD MOSAIC FLOORING

WOOD MOSAIC is designed to create the modern flooring that matches the style and borrows the benefits of traditional palace flooring. Mosaic flooring patterns can be adapted for rigorous reception halls flooring, authentic restoration projects, country houses and modern city apartments. The flooring is notable for its superior reliability and stability. Each pattern can be used with a wide range of baseboards and reducers.

ASPHALT FLOORING

ASPHALT TILES are the true pioneers of the resilient tile field, and are the most economical of the different flooring types. Asphalt tile flooring was mainly used commercially and in many family basements primarily because it was inexpensive. Smooth-surfaced floor covering made from a mixture of asphalts or synthetic resins, asbestos fibres, pigments, and mineral fillers.

The different types of Semi-Hard Flooring

LINOLEUM FLOORING

LINOLEUM commonly abbreviated to lino, is a floor covering made from materials such as solidified linseed oil, pine resin, ground cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing. The finest linoleum floors, known as “inlaid”, are extremely durable, and are made by joining and inlaying solid pieces of linoleum. Cheaper patterned linoleum comes in different grades or gauges, and is printed with thinner layers which are more prone to wear and tear.

RUBBER FLOORING

RUBBER FLOORING tiles are best suited for informal areas of your home devoted to recreation or utility functions. Its soft resilience makes it especially well-suited for exercise rooms and spaces where you work on your feet, such as workshops and laundry rooms. Rubber flooring tiles may themselves be water-resistant, but the installed flooring is loaded with seams that can let water through to the sub floor below

PVC FLOORING

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) tiles are a commonly used floor finish made from polyvinyl chloride. Due to the small size of the tiles, usually 150 mm, 225 mm and 305 mm, any damage can soon be repaired by replacing individual tiles (as long as some spares are kept). The tiles are made of a composite of PVC and fibre, producing a thin and fairly hard tile. The main advantages of PVC tiles are low cost, ease of replacing individual tiles, and the fact that the tiles can be laid with only brief periods available.

CORK FLOORING

CORK FLOORING is a very durable choice. It’s been popular for use in public buildings such as court houses, churches, banks and libraries. Cork flooring is a type of wood floor that’s made from the bark of cork oak trees. One of the characteristics of cork flooring is its resilience to pressure and impact. Because of its cellular nature that features millions of microscopic air pockets, cork flooring has “memory” that allows it to withstand foot traffic and the pressure of furniture legs (best if the legs have felt protectors), taking its original shape after impact.

THERMOPLASTIC FLOORING

THERMOPLASTIC FLOORING tiles are considered one of the least risky asbestos-containing materials to remove. The fibres are often very well fixed in the matrix of the materials and the asbestos content is often less than 1%. It has to be skillfully removed from the surface of a solid floor, sometimes called “scrabbling”. With timber flooring it is often easier to simply replace the floorboards than to try to remove the adhesive.

VINYL ASBESTOS FLOORING

VINYL ASBESTOS TILES can release toxic dust while working. Lack of awareness in the past has led to many workers suffering from terrible diseases today such as mesothelioma and asbestos’s. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Old vinyl products that contain asbestos remain in many buildings across the U.S., creating a hazard for contractors and diy renovators.

VCT FLOORING

VINYL COMPOSITION TILES (VCT) is a finished flooring material used primarily in commercial and institutional applications. Modern vinyl floor tile is frequently chosen for high-traffic areas because of its low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance. Vinyl tiles have high resilience to abrasion and impact damage and can be repeatedly refinished with chemical strippers and mechanical buffing equipment. If properly installed, tiles can be easily removed and replaced when damaged.

HOMOGENEOUS FLOORING

HOMOGENEOUS FLEXIBLE VINYL floors are very popular because of their durability, low maintenance and versatility. Homogeneous vinyl is made of 1 single layer that offers vibrancy and depth of colour. It is incredibly durable and stain resistant which makes it a great flooring choice for heavy traffic areas. Today in the market attractive high performance and high quality homogeneous flooring available in a non-directional or marbleized decoration and featuring an enhanced maintenance protection for optimum appearance retention.

The different types of Soft Flooring

A soft floor covering is manufactured as a roll or as flexible tiles, its flexibility distinguishing it from hard floors such as stone or ceramic tile. Soft flooring is a popular option for many people because of its comfort and wide range of colors and textures.

CARPET FLOORING

CARPET is a soft floor covering made of bound carpet fibers or stapled fibers. Carpeting refers to wall-to-wall coverage, whereas a rug is simply used to cover a space. This type of flooring is typically used indoors and can be used in both high and low traffic areas. It typically lasts for 15-18 years before it needs to be replaced. The quality of a carpet is usually measured in face weight, or how many fibers there are per square inch. The higher the face weight the more plush a carpet will feel.

Carpets come in a variety of materials including Wool, Nylon, Ole-fin and Polyester.

Well that’s all for the types of flooring for homes and building constructions.

Share your thoughts in the comments below! Thank You.

Disclaimer: Portion of blog was gathered from multiple sources including, manufactures, fellow creators and various other sources. Easy Marmo cannot be held responsible for these claims, guarantees or specifications.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

X