Choosing a floor covering for an apartment

The floors and walls in the apartment play an important role. But it is the floor coverings that set the stylistic design and perform the function of sound insulation, as well as help to retain heat. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose the right flooring.

From the choice of floor material will depend on the temperature in the room, as well as some characteristics of the room. In addition, the flooring greatly affects the stylistic design of the room. Therefore, when choosing, it is necessary to weigh both the pros and cons of each floor covering and choose the most suitable for each specific zone.

Flooring allows you to set the basics for aesthetic design of the premises.In addition, it makes the room more cozy and comfortable for residents. The choice of floors varies depending on the purpose of the premises, since the individual functional areas of the apartment imply different loads and impacts on the floor. That is why it is better to consider all the options, and only then make a choice in favor of one or another option.

The specificity of the floors for an apartment may vary depending on the floor. For the first it is better to choose a moisture resistant coating. For high floors need floors with a light texture. If you install the flooring in the panel house, then pay attention to the models with the characteristics of thermal insulation and noise insulation.

An important feature of laying floors is the presence of an additional basis. Some materials require a special leveling base or even a sub-floor, while others can be laid on simple concrete floors.

Floor coverings are hard or resilient. Separately allocate a group of wooden flooring.Different manufacturers represent various types of flooring, which differ in their functionality, quality and design. For wood include:

• parquet;
• floorboard;

• laminate;
• tree massif;
• bung.

Elastic coatings include:

• linoleum;
• carpet

Hard coatings include:

• ceramic tile;
• stone floors;

• ceramic granite;
• expanded clay;
• bulk floor.

Each type of flooring should be described separately, since they all have important features and properties.

This is the classic version, which is traditional and is very popular. Such a classic never goes out of fashion. This coating will highlight the high social status of apartment owners. Parquet is made only of valuable tree species.

As a rule, parquet elements have a natural woody pattern. You can find small in size options for parquet. They allow you to lay out an interesting composition.

Parquet is made from durable and reliable wood, whose wood is characterized by high density. For its manufacture using oak, beech, maple, ash, larch. This flooring is considered the most durable. It can serve about 50 years, if you will provide him with proper care.

Any parquet is completely eco-friendly and completely safe. A feature of the installation of such a floor is the fact that it is necessary to install subfloor floors under it. Only after that it will be possible to put block parquet.

Not all apartments can put parquet. An important requirement is compliance with a certain temperature and humidity levels.

This is another version of the floor of natural wood. The parquet board differs from the previous type in that it is rather large in size. The difference is the composition of these plates. So, the lamellas of the floorboard consist of three layers, securely connected to each other. They have convenient locking fasteners and are easier to install.Their size means easy installation and easy disassembly.

Manufacturers represent a variety of color and design models, some of them have a ready-made pattern. It is easier to care for the floorboard than for the piece models. Such coverage is quite expensive, but more budgetary than parquet. Slats can serve more than 20 yearsbesides they are not so whimsical in leaving.

Such floors involve the installation of conventional boards on logs. It looks rustic, but natural. It is used in apartments infrequently, because it is quite heavy. But the big advantage of the boardwalk is that it is 100% environmentally friendly and very practical. With it, you can create interesting stylistic decisions of the premises.

The floor is pleasant to the touch and comfortable to walk on barefoot. Boardwalk is more affordable. At the same time, according to the external characteristics, it is not inferior to other versions of wooden floors.

Cork floors are elite flooring. They are suitable for installation in almost any room, except for rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom, if there is no good ventilation. But the cork can be laid only on a hard and flat surface.Most often under it establish plywood. Do not lay it on bare concrete floors., otherwise even small particles can ruin the floor covering.

Cork can be decorative. It is presented in the form of rolls or plates. The top layer is impregnated with a special composition that has moisture-proof properties. Cork floor in the form of slabs manufacturers complement the already applied adhesive, which simplifies the installation of this flooring.

Cork is also used as an option for subfloor. It is placed under linoleum or laminate. In this case, it has a slightly different composition and significantly reduced quality. As a rule, the cork provides the necessary level of heat and noise insulation. Such a substrate can be presented in the form of rolls, it is convenient to spread it on the floor.

Cork floor can be presented in the form of MDF panels. As a rule, these are rather large lamellas, which include in their composition and other materials, including synthetic. Each panel has a size of about 19 to 90 cm. It is convenient and easy to put them yourself. Mounting facilitates locking attachments.

In addition, it can withstand high physical exertion and exposure. You can put even the heaviest furniture on it. Cork can be quite interesting in design due to modern production technologies. Manufacturers are models of different shades. In addition, it is not a static material that does not accumulate dust and hair.

This is a high-quality and reliable floor covering that can imitate any other types of floors. It can be an imitation of parquet, natural wood and other wood, tiles, marble, natural stone and even bricks. Lamels can be of a different size, but standard boards are 25 by 150 cm. Lamels have a lock fastening, which, as a rule, is located either on two or on all four sides of each plank.

These slats are easy to install and maintain. Laminate board itself includes four layers. Each of them has a specific functional purpose. In the complex, they all make up a quality and reliable version of the flooring.

The bottom layer is a paper soaked in resin, which performs a waterproof function. Due to this, during the flood the laminate board will not be damaged. The lower substrates of some models can also perform a heat or sound insulating function. No coating required for coatings.

The penultimate layer is the most basic and thick, on average, its thickness is from 5 to 9 mm. It is a compressed wood, as well as locks embedded at this level, which are based on spikes and grooves.

The next layer is decorative. It is a patterned coating that mimics wood and other materials. From above it is covered with a transparent layer, which makes the coating more beautiful and decorative. In addition, it performs protective functions and prevents quick rubbing and damage to the laminate. As a rule, the transparent layer is made of acrylic or melamine.

It perfectly conveys the texture of many materials and looks very aesthetically pleasing. Marble look elegantly.

Laying this option under the floor even a novice in the field of installation.Laminate can be divided into classes depending on its strength. The higher the grade, the higher is its strength and thickness. Most often for domestic purposes use options from 21 to 33 class.

In Russia, this is the most popular flooring. It is very easy to install and at the same time affordable. Almost no need to care for him, it is enough to periodically carry out wet cleaning. The material is completely moisture resistant and not subject to external influences. Such coatings can look very beautiful.

Manufacturers present a variety of options, differing in their pattern and shades. As a rule, these floor coverings are sold in rolls. It is enough to roll them on the floor. There is also an option in the form of plates.

Linoleum is mounted using a special adhesive, and it can be installed on almost any floor. In the manufacture of linoleum are used as natural materials and polymers. Models with natural substances in the composition of the more expensive, therefore less popular. The life of linoleum is about 10 years, but it is most often used in apartments for much longer.

Linoleum can be thin, and can be warmed with a substrate.Also popular are foamed base options. But this coating has several disadvantages. So, it can shrink and change its external qualities when exposed to elevated temperatures. In addition, the heavy furniture on it are traces and damage.

Outwardly, this is a carpet-related coating that differs from other floor coverings by a number of features. Models can be soft or rather stiff to the touch. They are often put in children's rooms, as they are not at all traumatic. In their manufacture, manufacturers use both natural and artificial materials.

The coating can be presented in the form of rolls or tiles. Leaf models are easy to install by yourself without assistance. Only glue is required for installation. The material looks very presentable. Manufacturers are options that differ in their texture, pile length, color and pattern.

But this coating with external presentability has a number of negative properties. So, it has short term operation. In addition, it is considered the most waterproof of all flooring. Behind him requires special care and systematic cleaning, otherwise the coating will lose its former gloss. The basis of the carpet is jute, felt or rubber.

This coating is absolutely not suitable for floors in the hallway or bathroom. You may not be able to get rid of some stains.

This is a very dense and solid option, which involves flooring only in some areas of the apartment. So, it is put in the bathroom, toilet, hallway, in the kitchen, in the corridors. This coating is cold, therefore not suitable for other rooms. But if you plan to install a heated floor, then in other rooms you can make the flooring in the form of tiles.

Ceramic tile is a versatile option that has several advantages. It can be put on any floor, including on concrete, wood, plywood, drywall, primer. Ceramic tiles can have a different design and pattern.

The tile can be matte or glossy. Due to its texture, this material is able to hide dust and dirt. In addition, it is quite easy to care for her. It is moisture resistant and practical.

Manufacturers represent corrugated tiles that can be stepped on with wet feet. That is why This cover is perfect for the bathroom. You can not worry about slipping.

The color range of this material for finishing can be absolutely any. The tile itself is very strong and durable. These are high-quality vapor barrier and non-combustible floors. The tile fastens on glue and serves very long. But the coating is hard, therefore traumatic. It is not comfortable to walk barefoot on a cold tile.

This coating used to be most often used as a subfloor, the new self-leveling floors - excellent decorative coatings. The design assumes the presence of three-dimensional patterns and patterns that are covered with a polymer layer. Self-leveling floors can be polyurethane or epoxy. By themselves, they are high quality and eco-friendly.

The life of such floors is quite long.They can look very presentable, especially for glossy models with patterns. These are moisture resistant and easy to clean models. Their disadvantage is that before laying it is necessary to perfectly level the surface and dry itotherwise irregularities may appear.

The choice of flooring is a very important component of any repair. At the same time, it should be taken into account in which functional area or in which room it will be located. For each of the zones, you need to select materials based on what qualities they have and what loads they can withstand. In addition, the composition of the family should influence the choice of gender.

Some coatings are completely unacceptable for children. If you have small children, the floors should be less traumatic and completely environmentally friendly. In addition, such floors should be easy to maintain. If you have pets at home, the coating must withstand mechanical stress, such as scratches.

When choosing, you should also evaluate your financial condition, since some flooring options are very expensive and require special care.If your apartment is on the first floor, then you should purchase the most moisture-resistant materials. This is because the closer to the apartment basement, the higher the level of humidity in it.

Not all apartments can be installed some types of coatings. So, in panel apartments it is not always possible to warm the floor, since an unacceptable level of load on interfloor partitions may occur, it is permissible only in good new buildings or private houses. Thus, you will have to choose models that do not imply a concrete screed.

As for the individual rooms and functional areas, there are a number of requirements. So, the entrance hall and the dirtiest is always the entrance hall. It involves a large load on the floor and a lot of external influences in the form of moisture, dust and dirt. If you have children, then you will put there strollers and children's sledges that can damage the cover.

That is why only the most solid and high quality option will do. And it should look presentable and complement the interior of the apartment as a whole. Ceramic tile will be the most suitable for such premises.It serves a very long time and carries all the above effects.

Linoleum is also often put in the hallway, but at the same time they acquire the most solid models with an additional substrate. Another option for the hallway is laying laminate. But in this area of ​​the apartment is better to choose durable models of class 31-33.

For the bedroom, you can choose other flooring. Considering that it is in this room that you will most often go barefoot, therefore the covering should be warm and pleasant to the touch. For this perfect parquet flooring.

Very soft and aesthetic is the carpet, so it is ideal for the sleeping area. At the same time it performs well the function of sound insulation, which is so necessary for sleeping rooms. In this area, you can lay the laminate, but around the bed will have to put rugs, because without the substrate in the form of warm floors laminate is cold.

The floor of the apartment has two layers - intermediate and directly floor covering. In the thinnest panel houses there is no intermediate layer, and the flooring is placed on a bare surface.For this option, when laying your own hands, you need to smooth the DSP before installing the grout. To do this, it is better to use the thinnest layer of cement screed - the so-called "pie". So you can increase the level of noise and heat insulation.

When repairing the floor and use wooden joist floors as the base. So you can make heat and sound insulation. From above they can be covered with a layer of insulation from moisture. An intermediate layer is placed on the floor. It may consist of log, subfloor, additional insulation and waterproofing substrates, thin concrete screed. And already on top of these layers can be laid flooring.

When repairing the cement screed method is often used. This is one of the easiest types of installation. At the same time make a special cement mortar. Initially, cleaning of the surface of the ceiling from the old concrete. After that, the floor is cleaned of dust and dirt. Then it is important to measure the slope and calculate the desired volume of cement mortar.You can buy the mixture ready or make it yourself.

After you get the finished solution, you need to mix it well. Then you can put the beacons and guides that will allow you to fill the floors well and smoothly. Cement should be evenly distributed over the entire surface and ironed to the desired level. The preparation of the base must be carried out while it is still wet and not hardened. This is necessary to ensure that the floors last longer and do not crack. The screed dries out in about 30 days.

Another option is to lay a semi-dry screed. This option dries much faster and at the same time better protects against moisture and does not release heat. It has much less water and there are special fibers that prevent cracking. The technology of its installation is about the same as in the previous version.

You can use the method of dry screed. On such a floor you can put the floor immediately after installation. On the ceiling you need to put plastic sheets, and then cover them with sand and level. The layer must be sealed and covered with a metal profile. This method is suitable for laying on a tape foundation.Plaster plates are laid on top and fixed to the profile. You can immediately install any floor covering on such a screed.

Floor insulation involves fixing wooden logs on polyethylene. Foam or mineral wool is laid there. The thickness of such a layer can vary from 5 to 10 cm. From above, this heat-insulating level is covered with plywood or board, and a decorative coating is applied over it.

The substrate is also quite a popular method of insulation. It involves laying sheets of polyethylene foam under a decorative coating. This is not the most efficient, but very easy installation method. Since the substrate is quite thin, it allows you to save air and does not allow it to pass between the plates or lamellae that make up the decorative coating. She assumes a small noise isolation and warming. As a rule, such a substrate is used in combination with other protective measures.

As a substrate, special cotton wool or other materials are often used. They do well with the function of heat and noise insulation.These insulants can include cellulose, shumoplast, rubber, acrylic elements and polystyrene foam.

Another option substrate - laying extruded foam. It can even be laid on concrete. To achieve the best effect, the substrate is placed in several layers. From above it is possible to use a flooring from any decorative covering. It is better if it is of high quality and durable.

In the modern interior you can make a bright floor of parquet or laminate. It is perfect for Provence and classic styles. The shade is a bleached oak. You can add it to the rug in the form of animal skins.

For apartments in the style of classic or modern perfect parquet brown floor under wenge or oak. This coating looks noble and elegant.

Cheap and angry looks metal floor. It is suitable for modern loft-style apartments.

For the nursery, you can choose a colored carpet, which will be decorated with fields for games or drawings of cartoon characters. This is an interesting solution that will delight your child.

How to choose a soft flooring, see below.