What is the best floor in the apartment. The floors in the apartment are modern materials and coatings in interior design (125 photo ideas). Polymer coatings or self-leveling floors

The owners of new urban apartments with a rough finish and real estate in which major repairs are to be done will not be able to get away from laying the flooring. The interior design of the premises and the conditions of their operation, the comfort in the house depend on it. An analysis of the operational and technical characteristics of the proposed materials will help to determine which floor is better to make in the apartment.

The main types of flooring

When considering modern flooring for an apartment, property owners choose between the following materials:

• linoleum;
• ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware;
• laminate;
• piece or artistic parquet;
• cork floor;

All materials for the floor in the apartment are distinguished by a variety of designs, long service life, and simple maintenance. The differences are in the methods of installation, the complexity of the preparatory work, cost and practical characteristics.

Laminate or linoleum?

With a limited budget, the choice of the best flooring for an apartment is traditionally made between linoleum and. Linoleum is a classic solution, this material is characterized by ease of installation, long service life and a variety of assortments. Manufacturers offer flooring for a room with any traffic intensity. The design of the collections impresses with its variety: the pattern of linoleum can be any - abstract, wood or tile, metal or parquet, natural stone or pebbles. The main advantage of the material is ease of installation, the work can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists.


Laminate is a trend of the last decade, this material is presented in different price categories, can be used in "warm floor" systems and is distinguished by a variety of collections. Manufacturers offer waterproof PVC laminate for the bathroom and kitchen. Laying the flooring is done with a simple tool, but requires a level base and care during work. It is imperative to use a substrate that compensates for small flaws in the base and improves sound insulation.
Choosing from what to make the floor - from linoleum or laminate, it is necessary to assess the quality of the base.

An uneven screed will cause the laminate locks to break, cracks will appear, into which water will enter. An ideal base and a competent choice of laminate according to the abrasion class is the best solution for budget repairs. Linoleum is irreplaceable when there is no way to improve the quality of the screed. The foam backing of this flooring is able to compensate for minor imperfections in the subfloor.

Which floor is better for the apartment: parquet, parquet board or cork?

When deciding what to put on the floor in an apartment, fans of environmentally friendly materials choose between block parquet, cork floor and parquet board. For elite city apartments, artistic parquet, which is distinguished by its exquisite design and high cost, can compete with these floor coverings.


Parquet and cork panels are an expensive floor covering in a room, the choice of which should be taken with special attention. Block parquet is made from the best varieties of hardwood. Its service life exceeds 50 years, the material is not afraid of high loads, and scraping can restore its ideal appearance during scheduled repairs. The disadvantages of the material include its cost and the need to involve specialists in the installation.

Cork is available in two types - tiles and panels with a lock. For self-installation, the question: which flooring is better is rhetorical. Cork veneer tiles must be glued to an ideal surface and then varnished like parquet. The locking cork covering is laid according to the principle of a laminate and this work can be done without the involvement of craftsmen.

Parquet boards compete with parquet and cork - a compromise solution not only in price, but also in quality. Panels of this material resemble laminate, have a lock connection and are easy to install. Unlike parquet or solid wood, the thickness of an expensive wood species is only 4-6 mm, which reduces the cost of the material. The basis of the parquet board is a coniferous timber glued perpendicularly to a thin pine veneer. This design guarantees the strength, durability of the floor covering, meets strict environmental standards.


When deciding what is better to lay on the floor - parquet or parquet board, tiles or cork panels, you need to be guided by your budget. All materials are environmentally friendly, with an individual texture and a long service life. Cork parquet and tiles are suitable for exclusive interiors, parquet boards and cork panels are the best solution in a classic style.

Moisture-resistant floor in a city apartment

When analyzing which flooring to choose for a kitchen or bathroom, it is necessary to take into account the likelihood of puddles on the floor. A spilled saucepan, a defective dishwasher, or a disconnected water heater hose can cause puddles on the floor. Water is the main enemy of wood, laminate, cork. It is for this reason that there are reliable moisture-resistant floor materials - ceramic and clinker tiles, porcelain stoneware, self-leveling floors.

Ceramic tiles are distinguished by a variety of assortments and an affordable price. It is the best choice for small rooms with high humidity. Clinker tiles and porcelain stoneware compete with this material. They are distinguished by high abrasion resistance, strength, frost resistance. When deciding what is best for covering the floor in the garage, the choice is stopped on clinker tiles, since they do not absorb engine oil. In a city apartment, you can use any option, thanks to the impressive variety of collections.

The tiled material is competing with a self-leveling floor, which is distinguished by its durability, strength, and water resistance. Material suppliers offer exclusive solutions for any interior. The only drawback of self-leveling floors is the high cost and the need to attract qualified specialists.

Choosing a floor for different rooms

When choosing flooring in an apartment, it is difficult to determine what is best for all rooms. All premises differ in traffic intensity, air humidity, environmental requirements. To a rather simple question - for covering the floor in the kitchen, which is better than ceramic tiles or parquet - the answer is not difficult to give, but it is problematic to choose between linoleum and laminate in the living room. It is necessary to take into account the quality of the subfloor and the qualifications of the master.

Depending on the purpose of the rooms, it is worth choosing between the following materials:

• entrance hall - semi-commercial linoleum, 23 or 31 class laminate, 23 class cork, ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware;
• bathroom and toilet - ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, PVC-based laminate, self-leveling floors;
• kitchen - ceramic or clinker tiles, porcelain stoneware, PVC-based laminate;
• living room - laminate of 22 or 23 class, cork, parquet, parquet board, linoleum;
• children's room - 23 class cork, parquet board, parquet;
• bedroom - laminate, thin parquet board, parquet;
• balcony or loggia - linoleum, ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware.

For bedrooms and children's rooms, the environmental friendliness of the materials used is important, the bathroom and kitchen are demanding on the moisture resistance of the coating. Abrasion-resistant materials are used in the hallway of a city apartment.

Often, property owners ask themselves the question: what is better to use to cover a warm floor? These heating systems are popular, the best choice for them would be ceramic tiles, clinker or laminate. When using parquet or parquet boards, in rooms with underfloor heating, it is worth abandoning collections of hornbeam, cedar or maple and giving preference to teak or merbau. In this case, the floor covering will last as long as possible, and its exterior will remain flawless.

Vinyl flooring: features and benefits

If someone finds parquet as an expensive pleasure, then, for sure, vinyl flooring will see a worthy alternative. He is credited with many of the positive features that characterize wood flooring and linoleum. At the same time, it is recognized that there are no bad sides of competitors. The owners of an apartment or a private house have the opportunity to decorate any interior, choosing the best solution with the help of vinyl covering.

The structure of vinyl flooring and its benefits

The production technology provides for the inclusion of polyvinyl chloride, chemically inactive fillers, crushed quartz and some other components into the composition of the material. A decent appearance and proper shape are given by pressing at high temperatures. Synthetic components should not cause concern, as if during operation they can serve as a source of toxic substances, thereby posing a potential threat to the health of the inhabitants.

If you look at the cross-sectional plane of the vinyl flooring, you can distinguish the following layers:

1. At the very bottom there is a layer of polyvinyl chloride. It adjoins the base of the floor. Polymer reinforces vinyl flooring.
2. Above is a fiber reinforcement layer of woven glass strands. Thanks to him, any kind of factors acting from the inside and outside are not able to change the shape of the product.
3. The so-called interlayer, which consists of quartz and sand, also reinforces the structure.
4. Decorative film. The uppermost layer is also represented by a polymer - polyurethane. First of all, it is entrusted with the task: to prevent the destruction of the product in case of moisture, mechanical stress or ultraviolet rays. Sometimes there are modules with a convex surface or a surface on which the sole does not slip. On the other hand, the decorative film is designed to create the impression that the floor is covered with stone, wood, leather, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring

Advantages of vinyl flooring:

1. From all the huge variegated variety, you can choose the color or pattern of the coating in accordance with your design tastes.
2. Many of those who have a vinyl floor for a long time, probably convinced of its practicality. The original appearance almost does not change, the surface is not scratched, and dents are not formed when light objects fall on the floor.
3. Vinyl is comfortable in a humid environment. Therefore, they can safely lay the floor in the bathroom or kitchen without fear.
4. There is no need to use chemicals to restore a well-groomed look. It is enough to wipe it with a cloth soaked in plain water.
5. The structure outwardly seems monolithic, the seams are almost invisible on the floor - the elements fit so tightly to each other.
6. Almost every owner will cope with the installation of vinyl, as well as with this repair, with minimal professional skills.
7. Even walking barefoot on vinyl in winter won't feel cold to your feet.
8. Vinyl flooring is cheaper than some of the other options.

Disadvantages of vinyl flooring:

1. High requirements for the base of the floor - it must be flat and clean. Otherwise, the vinyl covering will wear out or deteriorate before the manufacturer's specified operating time.
2. Toxins spread only when the material ignites due to the carelessness of the owners.
3. The old vinyl covering taken to the landfill after dismantling will lie there for more than a decade, without decomposing into simple components.
4. If, for example, in a bathroom, a rubber mat is put on a vinyl floor, then after a while a stain will form under it - prolonged contact with rubber the polymer reacts with discoloration or pallor.

Sizes of vinyl flooring

Rectangular tiles 600 mm long and 300 mm wide. In addition to ordinary vinyl tiles, there is a quartz-vinyl version on sale. In the latter case, the floor covering is more resistant to chemicals and mechanical stress, an excellent insulator in relation to electricity. Quartz vinyl tiles have worked well in areas that will be frequently visited by people.

Roll coating. In each such roll, a canvas with a length of 15 to 20 meters, and a width of 2 meters. It is advisable to use it in large rooms.

Laminated modules, each of which is a plate elongated up to 920 mm in length and 100 mm or 180 mm in width. A ball of fiberglass or felt, in direct contact with the base of the floor, acts as a shock-absorbing substrate, softens sudden mechanical stress when walking. The smallest thickness is 1.5 mm. The pattern of the front side gives the vinyl flooring a woody texture or makes it visually difficult to distinguish from real bamboo.

Methods for installing vinyl flooring on the floor

Actually from the name "glue" the essence of installation is clear - with the help of glue, which is usually applied with a spatula. It is convenient to press against the base of the floor with a roller.

Locking modules assume the orientation of the two slabs to be connected in such a way that the tenon of the first of them fits into the groove of the other. The end result is a really secure connection, like a lock. This method is good in that additional fixing means are not required during installation.

Self-adhesive vinyl tiles have an adhesive layer on the back under the easy-to-remove foil. The film is needed to prevent the adhesive from drying out. It is removed just before the tiles are laid on the subfloor. Press down the laid tiles by rolling with a rubber roller.

It is rather difficult to answer the question "which floor is better"? After all, floor coverings differ from each other, at least in appearance. If we take the decorative factor outside the brackets, we can compare the price, service life, advantages and disadvantages of each material. We will try to find the best floor covering in this way.

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What coverage to prefer if the choice is so great?

Floor coverings can be roughly divided into three large groups: wood (parquet, board, solid board, cork), elastic (carpets, rubber flooring), ceramic and stone. Which floors are better - decide for yourself!

1. Block parquet

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Most people mean by the word "parquet" is block parquet.

2. Parquet board

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The parquet board forms a perfectly smooth, “seamless” floor surface.

3. Cork floor

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4. Massive board

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Solid wood flooring does not look "uniform": bevels on the board separate one block from another.

5. Artistic parquet

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Artistic parquet is a work of art: it is made in a single copy.

6. Laminate

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In appearance, a high-quality laminate is difficult to distinguish from a parquet floor.

7. Natural linoleum, marmoleum

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Natural linoleum is made according to old technology from "pure" materials.

8. Rubber floor covering

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A not too well-known floor covering for the house, in appearance, a rubber floor is a cross between linoleum and a self-leveling floor. But much more environmentally friendly.

9.PVC linoleum

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Modern technologies make it possible to imitate almost any material with linoleum: natural board or tile, as in the picture.

10. Carpet

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For those who like to walk barefoot, there is no better floor covering for your home than a tufted carpet.

11. Modular carpet tiles

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Modular carpet tiles are an alternative to carpet.

12. Ceramic tiles

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Beautiful, bright, but not too warm. In our climate, you can walk on a ceramic tile floor only in warm socks or slippers.

13. Porcelain stoneware

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In the Russian climate, it is advisable to use floor porcelain stoneware together with the "warm floor" system.

14. Stone floor

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The floor made of natural stone is perfect for hallways and atriums in the house - it will remind you of the cobblestone pavement of medieval squares.

15. Self-leveling floor

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There is no other way to create a white glossy floor without a single seam - only the "self-leveling floor" technology is used.

16. Cement floor

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Cement flooring is a godsend for loft-style designer interiors.

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Linoleum and rubber-based coatings

The type of coatings with which it is better to cover the floors in wet rooms: kitchen, walk-through corridors, bathrooms. There are three types of material:

• Commercial. The densest type, ideal for high traffic areas. Price from $ 40;
• Household is designed for installation in apartments, it is thin and flexible. Price from $ 20;
• Semi-commercial... More durable linoleum, ideal for low traffic offices and homes. The price from $ 30 is slightly higher than that of the household one, but the quality is also different for the better.

The advantages of the material are the following factors:

1. Waterproof;
2. Ease of cleaning;
3. Affordable cost;
4. Not susceptible to rotting, decay;
5. Easy to install;
6. Absorbs noise;
7. Resistance to mechanical stress;
8. Huge term of use. Natural linoleum can withstand up to 50-60 years of operation.

It is also worth noting the maintainability of the coating. The material is easy to cut, so you can always replace the leaky piece with a new one, cutting it exactly to size. In addition, often linoleum already comes with a substrate and does not require a sub-floor covering, the roll is glued to any base with an adhesive composition and does not move during operation.

But the best in its line of coverage has disadvantages:

• Perfect evenness of the base is required. Any debris, chip or bump will lead to the fact that it is in this place that the coating will wear out, thin out and break through.
• The material of artificial origin is inferior in environmental friendliness to wooden coatings. However, it surpasses the latter in many quality and aesthetic features.
• With prolonged stationary heavy point loads, it is pushed through.
• Linoleum of low price and reduced quality is sensitive to high and low temperatures: it melts from heat, cracks from cold. Therefore, when choosing options for covering the floor of an apartment, it is better to give preference to more expensive and high-quality goods, in the end the "wastefulness" will pay off with a long service life and beauty of the finish.

The cheaper products in the lineup look unpresentable, while expensive floor coverings are presented in a huge variety of colors, textures and imitations of natural and artificial materials.

PVC coatings

These are soft elastic flooring materials with an average lifespan of at least 30 years. With a variety of colors, textures and designs, PVC cladding is ideal for all areas of an apartment, not only for floor space, but also for wall panels. The price of the products starts at $ 15, which means that each user can choose what and how to decorate the rooms in the house, apartment or on the balcony.

Positive qualities of PVC coatings:

Inexpensive price, multi-layer, non-susceptibility to point loads, fire safety, variability of the assortment - the user can choose the types of floor finishes for different rooms;
• Small thickness (no more than 3-7 mm) does not increase the height of the floor in the apartment, however, the floor cladding is reliable, surpassing all types of linoleum;
• Ease of transportation and stacking;
• The tile has body and sound insulating qualities;
• Pleasant tactile sensations and additional floor insulation;
• Large assortment of textures, imitations, colors;
• The softness and plasticity of the material eliminates the risk of damage from breaking or cracking;
• Simplicity of care;
• High-quality PVC cladding options are not susceptible to chemicals and fine abrasive pastes.

It would seem, what more could you want? But PVC cladding has some disadvantages:

1. You need a perfectly flat base, adhesive, some styling skills;
2. With improper care, there is a risk of drying out the seams;
3. High-quality types of PVC products with the desired characteristics are high in cost;
4. Improper storage threatens deformation of the elements, which will complicate the installation.

When choosing a PVC coating, it makes sense to pay attention to the packaging, it is even better to open the pack and carefully examine the tiles for defects. Remember that if one element has unpainted, scratch, bend or other imperfections, then there will definitely be a couple of such tiles in the pack. Therefore, you need to take the cladding with a margin.

Floor cork

What kind of coverage can last and not get bored? Cork, of course. Soft to the touch, retaining its aesthetic and practical qualities, breathable and does not need additional decorations, it perfectly hides noise and heats up regardless of the layer thickness. The elements produced in rolls or tiles are an environmentally friendly product and are indicated for installation in rooms where there are increased requirements for cleanliness and hypoallergenicity.

Advantages:

1. Extremely low heat output by a coefficient of 0.03-0.04;
2. Maximum sound absorption, with a coefficient of 0.85, cork is the best floor covering for prefabricated houses, famous for their sound permeability;
3. Cladding withstands point loads, deformation resistant;
4. Springy qualities (shock absorption) have a beneficial effect on the human support system;
5. There is no danger of slipping.

Pleasant color, warmth of natural material, ideal atmosphere in the apartment - all this is a cork, however, the cladding has significant disadvantages and these are:

• Difficulty in leaving. Natural cork is demanding on cleaning and detergents, but it is not afraid of abrasives and household chemicals, with the exception of alkali;
• Very high price (from $ 150);
• Low tensile strength. You will have to give up thin heels, sharp furniture legs, all this can scratch the flooring, like the claws of pets;
• The cork will not let heat through if you want to make a system of underfloor heating;
• The moisture absorption will not allow you to cover the bathroom with a cork.

In fact, there are many advantages of cork, but the disadvantages can be minimized if you opt for artificial turf, while having a protective film. Manufacturers offer cladding starting at $ 70, which will help save money. However, the level of hygroscopicity, breathability and environmental friendliness will be reduced.

Laminate

One of the most popular floor coverings in the apartment. Choosing a laminate flooring means buying the best flooring suitable for covering floors throughout the room. The main thing is to decide on the type and types of material, to take into account the practical and aesthetic characteristics.

Advantages:

1. Resistance to any external influences, from chips and scratches to point physical impacts;
2. Does not wear out, does not become thinner from time to time;
3. Easy to clean;
4. Perfectly tolerates high and low temperatures, fire resistant;
5. Practical types of expensive laminates are environmentally friendly, since no chemical compounds are used in the production. Moreover, it is possible to cover the floors with laminate in the nursery, since the product is hypoallergenic;
6. Ease of installation and affordability of the price (from $ 40) make the material extremely democratic;
7. The durability of the coating while maintaining quality and aesthetic characteristics is the best that you can wish for from the cladding, and the service life of the laminate is from 10 years.

Separately, it should be noted that the assortment of goods is sufficient to make a choice not only in terms of practical indicators, but also textural ones, as well as to choose a color, determining which shades of the palette are suitable for a particular interior. Moreover, laminate collections ideally imitate parquet, natural solid wood planks, other natural and artificial materials. If you lay laminate floors in the apartment, you can make a heating system without any problems, however, it is important to know which product to choose, given a number of disadvantages of the cladding:

• High requirements for installation: evenness of the base, the presence of a substrate and much more, which can be avoided by choosing another product;
• The need for a very careful choice.

The minimum of cons still makes users think about buying a product. Laminate prices start at $ 40, making the product line affordable. However, you need to know the class of the cladding, be able to lay it correctly and understand which laminate is suitable for the kitchen and which for the bedroom. With laminate flooring as with parquet, there are no cheap high-quality products, so if the choice fell on this particular product, you need to carefully read the characteristics and it is better to buy a collection from the manufacturer, so as not to get a fake in return for a high-quality product. But the color, texture and imitation can be selected in any assortment, both at an affordable price and in the segment of expensive goods.

Ceramic tiles

The product is indispensable for flooring in rooms with high humidity and high traffic. Differing in size, color, shape, texture and other indicators,

The choice of goods is obligatory with familiarization with such indicators as: water absorption, slip, hygroscopicity and strength. Modern manufacturers make it possible to carefully select the cladding not only in the bathroom or toilet, but also in the kitchen, it depends on which nuances to prioritize and what can be discarded. For example, for showers, the non-slip indicator is important, but texture tiles for wood or a certain color of room decoration are suitable for the bedroom. By the way, the elements fit well on the underfloor heating system, so there will be no problems with the installation of heating. Price from $ 18.

Advantages:

• A wide range of color solutions that allow you to decorate the surface of not only floors, but also wall panels in an original way;
• Practicality, resistance to stress, ease of maintenance and transportation;
• Resistance to deformation, fading, abrasion and temperature fluctuations;
• Water resistance, incombustibility.

You can make a whole composition out of tiles, which will give the house individuality, while saving good money, for example, by purchasing scattered elements of the collections. But it is important to remember some of the disadvantages:

1. The product belongs to the "cold" type, so it is important to take care of heating;
2. Incorrect laying of the cladding threatens with difficulties during renovation and repair;
3. Installation requires skill, otherwise the seams will be uneven.

And, most importantly, good tiles cannot be cheap (from $ 5-7). Such a low cost means that the product was produced in violation of the technology, the drawing will wear out, lose color, and the elements themselves will not withstand even the minimum load.

Carpet coverings

Quite popular coatings, affordable (from $ 18), color, texture and other practical characteristics. When choosing a facing, you need to decide on the basis of the product, today manufacturers offer carpets made of nylon, wool, silk, polypropylene and other materials that can satisfy not only aesthetic, but also high-quality user requests. The main advantage is ease of installation. Roll or sheet elements are flexible, they are easy to cut and, by the way, the same factor is responsible for the maintainability of the cladding: in case of damage to a piece of carpet, it can be easily replaced by cutting and pasting a piece.

Advantages:

• Abrasion resistance (except for carpets with high pile);
• Large assortment of products;
• High noise absorption capacity;
• Nice touch.

There are few shortcomings of the product:

1. Dust accumulation;
2. Sensitivity to UV rays, moisture;
3. The need for frequent cleaning.

Parquet and solid wood

The most traditional coatings, distinguished not only by their beauty and environmental friendliness, but also by their price. When choosing which flooring will be the best, you should pay attention to the cost: good wooden boards cannot be cheap, so the price is below $ 70, this is not natural wood, but its derivatives.

Advantages:

• Long service life;
• Aesthetics;
• Practicality and reliability;
• Low thermal conductivity;
• Environmental friendliness.

Minus one - some deformation of the elements. Since wood "breathes", parquet and board will shrink slightly at low temperatures, and expand at high temperatures. But this is an insignificant fact despite the fact that wood fills the house with a unique atmosphere and cleanliness.

Important! Wood flooring requires careful selection. Protective impregnation from moisture, fire, exposure to UV rays and mechanical stress is important.

Polymer materials

Such floors are called self-leveling. Dividing into groups (epoxy, methyl methacrylate, polyurethane, cement-acrylic), the cladding is diverse in application and aesthetic characteristics, while practical qualities always remain at their best. The cost of the formulations is from $ 150, which makes the products quite expensive, but the long service life without the slightest loss of quality characteristics pays for the costs in full.

This article on the site is dedicated to the different types of floors in the apartment. You will find out what kind of floors are best done in the apartment, depending on the purpose of the room.

Today new apartments are rented mostly unfinished. There is a reasonable grain in this - why overpay for poor finishes and standard building materials, if you can independently make a choice from a wide range of proposals or use the services of a professional designer who will help you create a concept for finishing a room based on the wishes of the customer.

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Floors in the apartment

The floors in the apartment always attract close attention. And it’s not in vain.

The first thing that should be considered when choosing a decorative floor covering in an apartment is its durability. There is a special load on the floor, for example, in the form of high-heeled shoes, furniture, the fall of various (including heavy) objects, etc.

In addition, the floors in the apartment should be easy to clean.

The choice of a certain finish will give a special style to the entire apartment, since the floors also bear a large decorative load throughout the interior.

In this regard, special attention should be paid to the correct selection of the color scheme of the floor in the apartment. It should be in harmony with the color of the ceiling, walls, furniture, etc.

Material selection

One of the cheapest materials, which is very often used for covering the floor in an apartment, is linoleum. However, it should be noted that this is an artificial material.

Now the trends are such that for any repair and construction work, they mainly choose natural and environmentally friendly materials.

Ceramic tiles are chosen for floors in the bathroom and kitchen, as well as corridors and hallways. This material, of course, has a long service life, is easy to clean and can withstand any stress.

For floors in an apartment, special tiles made of vinyl, linoleum or cork are very often used. Preference is given to such inexpensive materials, primarily because of their price, sound and heat insulation.

Carpets also remain popular. Today there is a large assortment of both natural and artificial carpets of various colors.

Wood floor coverings, namely parquet tiles and overhead floorboards, are also used in the apartment. Their particular value lies in the naturalness of the material.

What kind of floor coverings for the home are more rationally suitable for different rooms? In fact, the area of ​​any apartment can be divided into three functional areas:

• living room or recreation room;
• work premises;
• passage zones.

Hallway flooring

The hallway is the hallmark of your home. The first impression of the owner and his dwelling among the guests is formed precisely in the hallway, therefore - here the floor should be quite beautiful.

But it cannot be disregarded that it is here that all the dirt brought from the street settles, here the floor comes into contact with a large number of rough soles of street shoes, therefore, the material for the floor in the hallway should be easily washable and resistant to mechanical damage.

An excellent way out of the situation would be laminated parquet (or laminate) - one of the most reliable finishing materials for the floor: it is not afraid of blows, falling heavy objects, heat and moisture.

Environmental friendliness and a variety of colors make this material a good option for finishing rooms with high traffic and floor loads.

Floor in kitchen and bathroom

For kitchens where the floor is occasionally exposed to drops of kitchen utensils and occasional moisture, laminate is the ideal finishing material.

Also, ceramic tiles are perfect as a floor covering for the kitchen. The variety of her designs and shades provides a lot of room for the decorator's imagination.

The tile has one drawback - fragility. If, nevertheless, the choice is made in favor of tiles, then take with a rough surface.

The same requirement is true for the selection of tiles in the bathroom. Moreover, in the bathroom there will be no excess water or electric warm.

Living room floor

The living room is the face of your home, where guests are received, family celebrations are held here. And here, like in no other room, block parquet or solid board will be appropriate.

Artistic parquet of various species will give your floor a unique design, from ash to wenge, and modern methods of production of mosaic parquet will complement the quality of the overall design of the floor covering.

You can use a parquet board instead of block parquet, here the advantage will be the varnish coating applied in advance by the manufacturer.

The carpet on the living room floor has already become an anachronism. Previously, the carpet was most likely laid to cover the wretchedness of the floor with a beautiful pattern, now this is not necessary. There is absolutely no need to hide the luxury and beauty of the flooring of the room.

Floor in the bedroom and children's room

The flooring in rest rooms (bedrooms, children's rooms) should be comfortable and warm, for this, of course, you can use all kinds of carpets.

They harmoniously fit into any interior and muffle the sound, which is important for the bedroom. But this is in the event that you are not too lazy to vacuum often or you have a servant.

Natural wood flooring is a great alternative to carpet. Calm colors and texture of natural parquet boards will create the necessary comfort for bare feet.

Laminated parquet with a water or electrical insulation system is well suited for a children's room.

A huge plus of the laminate in this case is its durability, the child can spill paints on the floor, roll cars and ride them himself, various blows and scratches are also not scary. Laminate will stand up to everything.

For joining different types of floor coverings in an apartment, special sills in the shape of the letter "T" are used. Instead, you can use cork expansion joints tinted in the color of the coating, in which case the joint can even be curved.

To make the final decision: “which flooring to choose for the apartment,” consult with knowledgeable people, designers or architects. Only professionally selected materials will provide you with the comfort and harmony of your home.

What is Quartz Vinyl Coating:

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Not only the aesthetic side of the interior, but also the ecological and sanitary situation depends on which floors are 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 special approach to the choice of flooring, and this must be taken seriously, since 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 flat base, and this fact is already an aid for the installation of any of the existing types of coatings. Depending on what effect needs to be obtained from the floor being arranged, the desired type and material necessary for it are selected.

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

Heat and sound insulation methods

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

1. The first, the most well-known and used method is the laying of thin polyethylene foam under the decorative coating. But this method will not give the desired effect to the full extent, it will only slightly drown out the noise from below 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 on the laid thin polyethylene, between which it is possible to lay polystyrene with a thickness of 50 ÷ 100 mm, 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 is a floor made of dry screed. This type of thermal and sound insulation will do the job well. It is easy to install and perfectly protects the room from noise and cold.

4. Pleasant and lightweight materials - ecowool made on the basis of cellulose and noise-absorbing plastic consisting of expanded polystyrene, rubber and acrylic additives - have recently been considered a little-known, but very effective method of insulation.

Video: sound and thermal insulation using shumoplast

5. A fairly well-known and simple way to achieve silence and warmth in an apartment is to lay the extruded foam immediately on the concrete. If necessary and with sufficient ceiling height, the material can be laid in several layers, and on top of it a hard decorative coating, for example, parquet board or laminate, is laid.

Flooring

Having decided on the insulation or having made a risky decision to leave the floor cold, you can proceed to the next stage - the choice and flooring of the finishing floor covering. 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 hardware stores today there is a huge selection of floor coverings, from which you can choose the right option for a particular room.

So, you can make a choice from the following list:

• ceramic tile;
• laminate;
• carpet;
• linoleum;
• cork covering;
• batten.

Ceramic tile

This material can be laid on a concrete or wood floor, lined with plywood or moisture resistant plasterboard. The tile is intended mainly for cladding floors 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 a variety of shades and patterns. So, for example, you can choose:

1. For a large room with a heated floor, an elegant floor panel will come in handy, which will give the room the appearance of a palace hall.
2. For the hallway and corridor, the 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 getting injured.
3. The floor in the bathroom and the bathroom also needs to be laid out with corrugated or matte tiles, for better grip with bare feet when leaving the shower. The color scheme can be chosen for every taste, and with its selection to the wall decoration.
4. Tiles are also the best flooring in the kitchen, as they are easy to clean and will not absorb grease and oil accidentally on its surface. The material is strong and durable, which is very important for the flooring in the kitchen.
5. If the balcony is not insulated and is used only in the summer, the tiles will be an excellent protection for the concrete covering 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 an affordable price, is easy to install and is varied in color and pattern.

1. This material can be made using natural materials and based on polymers. The first of them is used very rarely, since it has a rather high cost, and basically the second coating option is 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 installed in public buildings with a high intensity of traffic, but it is categorically unsuitable for residential premises, as it has harmful impurities;
• for an apartment, you need to choose only a non-commercial type of flooring. Its strength is quite enough for home conditions, and it will last for many years, provided it is properly installed and used carefully.

3. Linoleum is produced without a base or on a warm and thick substrate, as well as on an average thickness of a foamed base.

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

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

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

Cork covering

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

The cork is suitable for any room except the bathroom - because of its moisture. It can only be laid on an even and hard surface such as plywood. If you plan to lay directly on concrete, then it is imperative to lay a substrate under it, otherwise, even small solid fragments can damage the material.

Cork is available in three types:

1. Floor decorative option, which is produced in the form of rolls and slabs. This material has a special impregnation of the top layer, which protects it from moderate moisture. In addition, often such a tile has an applied adhesive that allows you to easily arrange it on the floor.
2. For a substrate under another floor covering, for example, linoleum or laminate, a technical version of the coating is used, which has a lower quality. It is used for thermal insulation and soundproofing of the floor. The substrate is produced in the form of roll and tile material.
3. In addition, the cork is covered with MDF, which serves as a base for it. Such a covering is produced in the form of panels measuring 18.5 × 90.0 cm, which have special locks for assembly into a general covering.

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

Laminate

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

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

1. 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 its protective function.
2. The second layer is 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.
3. Pressed wood fiber forms the third layer, which forms 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 fastening to each other are located - a spike and a groove.
4. The lowest layer consists of a special paper impregnated with resin, which is designed to protect the material from moisture that can damage the material from below. In addition, some types of laminate are equipped with a heat and sound insulating water-resistant backing.

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

Laminate cannot be called 100% environmentally friendly material, 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 content of formaldehyde does not exceed 0.01 mg, and phenol does not exceed 0.003 mg - these data can be found on the packaging of the floor covering.

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

Carpet

Carpet is a floor covering made of synthetic or natural fibers. It can be long-haired or even have no nap at all. This coating is made on a rubber, felt or jute base.

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

1. The material is pleasant to walk and aesthetically pleasing, but only when he's new. Quite quickly, he loses these attractive qualities - 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 covering, you immediately need to purchase a powerful vacuum cleaner.
2. It is tempting to lay a carpet in the bedroom or nursery, especially since the assortment for 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.
3. 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.
4. If there is a great desire to have a 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

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

Video - Insulated wooden flooring

Video - Wood flooring. Step by step

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

Do not install wooden floors in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway.

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

In addition to the above-described floor coverings, 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 on your own, read the publication

Video: unfamiliar quartz-vinyl floor covering so far

The material from which the floor is made determines how warm the rooms will be. In addition, the floor covering has a particular influence on the design of the 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 a long time, and also not to harm the tenants of the apartment.