Difference between revisions of "Floorcoverings"
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| − | + | This lists and compares floorcoverings as an aid to choice. | |
| − | ===Ceramic Tiles=== | + | |
| − | + | =Characteristics= | |
| − | === | + | |
| − | ====Carpet Tiles==== | + | ==Ceramic Tiles== |
| − | ==== | + | * Cold, unless UFH fitted |
| − | === | + | * Hard |
| − | === | + | * Slippery when wet, can be dangerous |
| − | ==== | + | * Very tough wearing |
| − | ==== | + | * Easy clean |
| − | ==== | + | |
| − | === | + | ===Quarry Tiles=== |
| − | === | + | One of the longest lasting floorcoverings, with life expectancy over a century |
| − | === | + | |
| + | ===Mosaic=== | ||
| + | * Can be a visual treat | ||
| + | * Can be made from broken tiles | ||
| + | * Less slipppery than ceramic tiled floors | ||
| + | * Less easy to clean | ||
| + | * Laying mosaics is laborious | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Stone Tiles=== | ||
| + | One of the longest lasting floorcoverings, with life expectancy over a century | ||
| + | * Higher breakage than ceramic tiles during fitting, due to greater fragility | ||
| + | * Some stone is slippery when wet (eg polished granite, marble), some is not (eg limestone, riven slate) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Carpet== | ||
| + | * Very soft | ||
| + | * Very warm | ||
| + | * Most comfortable floorcovering of all | ||
| + | * Particularly difficult to clean properly | ||
| + | * Harbours dirt, dead skin & dust mites | ||
| + | * Carpets sometimes smell bad after a while | ||
| + | * Unhygienic in bathrooms | ||
| + | ** captures the urine aerosol created by flushing. | ||
| + | ** captures dirty feet residues | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Carpet Tiles=== | ||
| + | * very tough wearing | ||
| + | * often washable | ||
| + | * any damaged ones can be replaced | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Bathroom carpet=== | ||
| + | This is a waterproof carpet with a watertight backing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Lino & Vinyl== | ||
| + | * Soft | ||
| + | * Warm | ||
| + | * Easy clean | ||
| + | * Easily damaged by moving heavy items such as washing machines | ||
| + | ===Vinyl Tiles=== | ||
| + | * Hard | ||
| + | * Warm | ||
| + | * Easy clean (except heavily textured surfaces) | ||
| + | * Tile edges can come unstuck and get broken. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Wood== | ||
| + | ===Softwood=== | ||
| + | * Attractive | ||
| + | * Fairly hard | ||
| + | * Warm | ||
| + | * Damaged by dog claws | ||
| + | * Use wood with correct moisture content, otherwise it will shrink and create lots of gaps | ||
| + | * If varnishing, use a non-slip floor varnish, as some varnishes can be slipery when wet. | ||
| + | * Avoid all tinted varnishes, these chip over time exposing light areas. This looks awful. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Hardwood=== | ||
| + | * May be laid as boards or in tiled patterns, eg parquet | ||
| + | * Tougher than softwoods | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Hardwood laminate=== | ||
| + | * A thin layer of hardwood on chipboard | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Cork tiles== | ||
| + | * Semi-soft | ||
| + | * Warm | ||
| + | * Decays if it stays wet or damp | ||
| + | * Suitable sealers make it easier to clean | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Asphalt== | ||
| + | A shiny hardwearing dark waterproof surface often found in factories, institutions etc. | ||
| + | * Available in black, brown & dull red | ||
| + | * Warm | ||
| + | * Very tough wearing | ||
| + | * Made from hot rolled bitumen & clay | ||
| + | * Some antimicrobial effect | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Mats== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Concrete== | ||
| + | * Ugly | ||
| + | * Cold | ||
| + | * Hard | ||
| + | * Wear creates dust | ||
| + | * Difficult to clean | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Painted Concrete=== | ||
| + | * Visually unappealing, but a real improvement on bare concrete | ||
| + | * Wear and dusting are stopped | ||
| + | * Paint wears through in time | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Terrazzo== | ||
| + | ===Concrete Terrazzo=== | ||
| + | Traditional terrazzo is concrete with extra stones in the surface, and the result abraded down and polished. | ||
| + | * Beautiful | ||
| + | * Cold | ||
| + | * Hard | ||
| + | * Very long lasting | ||
| + | * Important to use correct cleaners | ||
| + | * Stains if mistreated and neglected | ||
| + | * Metal crack control strips are built in to control & conceal cracking | ||
| + | * Shallow depths can not be laid, so not so easy to retrofit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Resin Terrazzo=== | ||
| + | Resin based terrazzo is a lower cost modern version of terrazzo. It is typically a quarter of an inch thick, based in resin, and looks like concrete terrazzo. | ||
| + | * Beautiful | ||
| + | * Hard | ||
| + | * Important to use correct cleaners | ||
| + | * Not as tough as concrete terrazzo | ||
| + | * Easier to retrofit than concrete terrazzo | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | =See Also= | ||
| + | [[Special:Allpages|Wiki Contents]] | ||
Revision as of 15:30, 23 March 2007
This lists and compares floorcoverings as an aid to choice.
Characteristics
Ceramic Tiles
- Cold, unless UFH fitted
- Hard
- Slippery when wet, can be dangerous
- Very tough wearing
- Easy clean
Quarry Tiles
One of the longest lasting floorcoverings, with life expectancy over a century
Mosaic
- Can be a visual treat
- Can be made from broken tiles
- Less slipppery than ceramic tiled floors
- Less easy to clean
- Laying mosaics is laborious
Stone Tiles
One of the longest lasting floorcoverings, with life expectancy over a century
- Higher breakage than ceramic tiles during fitting, due to greater fragility
- Some stone is slippery when wet (eg polished granite, marble), some is not (eg limestone, riven slate)
Carpet
- Very soft
- Very warm
- Most comfortable floorcovering of all
- Particularly difficult to clean properly
- Harbours dirt, dead skin & dust mites
- Carpets sometimes smell bad after a while
- Unhygienic in bathrooms
- captures the urine aerosol created by flushing.
- captures dirty feet residues
Carpet Tiles
- very tough wearing
- often washable
- any damaged ones can be replaced
Bathroom carpet
This is a waterproof carpet with a watertight backing.
Lino & Vinyl
- Soft
- Warm
- Easy clean
- Easily damaged by moving heavy items such as washing machines
Vinyl Tiles
- Hard
- Warm
- Easy clean (except heavily textured surfaces)
- Tile edges can come unstuck and get broken.
Wood
Softwood
- Attractive
- Fairly hard
- Warm
- Damaged by dog claws
- Use wood with correct moisture content, otherwise it will shrink and create lots of gaps
- If varnishing, use a non-slip floor varnish, as some varnishes can be slipery when wet.
- Avoid all tinted varnishes, these chip over time exposing light areas. This looks awful.
Hardwood
- May be laid as boards or in tiled patterns, eg parquet
- Tougher than softwoods
Hardwood laminate
- A thin layer of hardwood on chipboard
Cork tiles
- Semi-soft
- Warm
- Decays if it stays wet or damp
- Suitable sealers make it easier to clean
Asphalt
A shiny hardwearing dark waterproof surface often found in factories, institutions etc.
- Available in black, brown & dull red
- Warm
- Very tough wearing
- Made from hot rolled bitumen & clay
- Some antimicrobial effect
Mats
Concrete
- Ugly
- Cold
- Hard
- Wear creates dust
- Difficult to clean
Painted Concrete
- Visually unappealing, but a real improvement on bare concrete
- Wear and dusting are stopped
- Paint wears through in time
Terrazzo
Concrete Terrazzo
Traditional terrazzo is concrete with extra stones in the surface, and the result abraded down and polished.
- Beautiful
- Cold
- Hard
- Very long lasting
- Important to use correct cleaners
- Stains if mistreated and neglected
- Metal crack control strips are built in to control & conceal cracking
- Shallow depths can not be laid, so not so easy to retrofit.
Resin Terrazzo
Resin based terrazzo is a lower cost modern version of terrazzo. It is typically a quarter of an inch thick, based in resin, and looks like concrete terrazzo.
- Beautiful
- Hard
- Important to use correct cleaners
- Not as tough as concrete terrazzo
- Easier to retrofit than concrete terrazzo