Many of our readers ask us the question: what is the best way to make floors in the hallway? At first it seemed to us that the answer to this question seemed to be unambiguous: linoleum or tile! Durable, washable, enough for a long time, we reasoned. But it turned out we were wrong. After talking with experts, we realized: what only in our time do not make the floor in the hallway!
The choice is great: linoleum of all kinds, quartz vinyl tiles, ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, carpet, mats, laminate and even "golden" tiles. In addition, a combination of all these materials is possible (this, by the way, is the most fashionable option). But how do you choose the right coverage?
Here's what we found out from people in the know. Firstly, most buyers have similar requirements for hallway flooring: it must be wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, resist pressure and impact well, and also not be too susceptible to stains and dirt. And, of course, I want the floors in the hallway to be easy (and painless to cover) to wash. And secondly, taste, habits, wealth and even, as it turned out, education of the consumer decide a lot.
We asked experts, manufacturers and sellers of various floor coverings to help our readers understand this issue. (Moreover, everyone was asked the question: what gender do they themselves have in the hallway?) And this is what we learned.
Parquet and parquet board
Block parquet- flooring made of solid wooden blocks of natural wood. After laying on a prepared (levelled) floor, parquet is usually varnished. At good care parquet will serve several generations of tenants.
parquet board- flooring made of boards (lamellas) 2–2.5 m long, 20 cm wide, 14–20 mm high. The slats consist of three layers: the top one is fine wood veneer, the middle and bottom layers are bars of conifers. Factory varnish lasts 10-15 years.
Experts warn: the parquet suffers from dirty shoes and boots, bald patches and scratches appear on it. And it is especially impossible to wash it, especially with "chemistry".
How much will the parquet floor in the hallway cost? For example, take a 10-meter hallway:
Block parquet (in combination with leveling the base and laying special moisture-resistant plywood on it) - approximately $ 100 / sq.m.
Total: 1000$
The parquet board has its advantages: the relative ease of installation and moderate requirements for the "black floor". Thanks to this, our entrance hall will cost about half the price of a floor laid with piece parquet. Although the prices for the parquet board itself ($30-50/sq.m.) and good piece parquet are quite comparable. On average, we get $500.
Expert opinion
Leonid Lagunov, head training center"Parquet Hall" company (Russia):
– Unfortunately, for the hallway, all wooden lacquered materials are not the best The best decision- from dirt and sand, they will wear out and deform. If you put a carpet on the parquet without a backing, then the varnish layer may rub off or even the coating itself will darken. It is better to protect the parquet with a special polyacrylic mat from the Swedish company Tarkett. But he has a fixed size, and in a large hallway he may be small.
Laminate in terms of resistance to abrasion, as well as to marks from shoes, dirt, winter salt, etc. - a good material, but the "sore spot" of the laminated floor is the joints. They tend to be "open" to moisture. There is, however, special composition for moisture-resistant grouting of laminate and parquet board joints - "Bonacare", which is produced by the Swedish company Bona. But it contains oily substances, so after applying it, you need to carefully remove all residues from the floor surface.
True, in expensive varieties of laminate, the joints have moisture-resistant impregnation (for example, in Pergo laminate). But such a laminate costs almost like a parquet board. For example, I’d rather buy an oak parquet board for the same money - at worst, I’ll change it once again. Why put synthetic material! But this, of course, is my personal opinion. If someone else likes laminate - well, please. Just do not forget about the protection of the joints from moisture.
That is why, in my opinion, the most the best way- make the so-called "dedicated" entrance hall: that is, lay out the shoe-un-shoe zone (immediately in front of the front door), for example, with stone or good ceramic tiles. And then in the same level you can stack wood flooring in the hallway, dividing these zones with compensating cork inserts - so that the tree, in case of possible deformations, does not run into the tile and does not squeeze it out. By the way, in my house in the hallway - parquet. But it has been lying for 35 years, we moved into the apartment in those days when good oak parquet was laid everywhere for free. To protect it from dirt and moisture, we laid a dense carpet on top.
Laminate
Laminated parquet or laminate– multi-layer flooring with a high-density fibreboard core. On top of the base - a paper layer with a pattern and a transparent protective layer. According to the degree of wear resistance, the laminate is divided into 6 classes (21, 22, 23 - "home" classes, 31, 32, 33 - "commercial"). The service life of the cheapest laminate is 5-7 years, there are collections with a warranty period of 10-15 years.
According to knowledgeable people, the laminate, it would seem, is an ideal covering for the hallway: it is durable, resistant to abrasion and stress. Especially laminate 31-33 grades.
And it is not difficult to lay it - on the end sides of the laminate plates there are "grooves" and "spikes" with which the plates are connected. Or they snap it in with a special latch (wooden or metal), and then the single canvas is fixed with skirting boards. And then tiles damaged, for example, by water, are easy to replace. In addition, today there are waterproof collections.
This laminate can even be placed in the bathroom: it is not afraid of water
How much does a laminate floor cost?
Adhesive laminate of the 23rd class - 13-17 $ / sq.m, 31st class - 15-20 $ / sq.m.
Waterproof collections - $25/sq.m.
Prefabricated laminate - 20-26 $ / sq.m.
In addition to laminate, you need: soundproofing and leveling substrate ($1-2/sq.m; for the entire area - an average of $15); plinth ($2–4/m linear, for the entire perimeter - $45); fasteners ("clips") to the plinth ($0.3 per piece, 30 pieces are needed, only $9); glue (for adhesive laminates) - $ 5 per pack (enough for 10-12 sq.m).
Total: ordinary floor adhesive laminate 23/31 grades will cost $215-275, from waterproof glue - $325, from the combined of the same classes - $269-329.
Expert opinion
Alexey Glyadkov, export manager, Witex (Germany):
– We recommend our hallway laminate, but you should use special rubber-based mats with a textile surface – they trap dirt and moisture. With these and other care measures, our laminate can last 15-20 years or more.
Witex laminate is glueless. We believe that glue is the enemy of wood: when it hardens in the groove, it begins to expand, the edges rise, and this affects the service life.
How to take care of him? With the help of a vacuum cleaner, special detergents for washing. Can be wiped with a well wrung out cloth. Our laminate is not afraid of moisture, because the grooves are impregnated with a water-repellent composition. So you can put it even in the bathroom.
Our laminate has a high degree of noise reduction, which is also important for the hallway. Noise is reduced by a special coating of high-density environmentally friendly materials on the back of the panel.
You can laminate and "repair". Imagine that on the laminate, which lies in the hallway for 7-10 years, a "path" has been trodden. Then you can replace the "trodden" panels with new ones. By the way, this cannot be done with glued laminate.
Personally, I have a laminate at home so far only on the second floor. But new technologies make it possible to lay Witex products in the hallway, in the kitchen, and even in the bathroom... I think it's time for me to make repairs.
And here is what Andrey Knysh, a specialist at Carpet House, told us:
- Laminate is more suitable for the hallway high class(not less than the 31st class - that is, one that is designed for public spaces with a minimum load on the floor). He is not so afraid of sand, dirt and moisture. It is, of course, more expensive. But after all, the hallway, as a rule, is a small room, and therefore the cost of laminate flooring is not ruinous. Moreover, the company Kaindl, whose products we sell, gives a guarantee for 12 years of laminate service.
So, in the hallway, we recommend laying adhesive-free Austrian laminate Kaindl on the latch (self-attractive snap system). The joints will turn out to be very strong and will not react to moisture, since not only the grooves, but the entire carrier panel of this laminate is impregnated with a water-repellent composition. Although it is usually not recommended to lay laminate in those hallways where there are temperature changes and high humidity.
In general, laminate flooring is a matter of taste. It is warmer than tile (you can put an additional heat-insulating substrate under it, however, it increases the cost of the laminate, and buyers are not yet ready to pay for it).
I'm currently renovating my hallway. But we have already decided that we will install high-class Kaindl laminate, in fashionable colors - an imitation of old wood.
Carpets: artificial and natural
carpet– carpet roll coating. There is natural and artificial.
Natural carpet made of wool or its mixture with other fibers. Natural jute is used as a base.
artificial carpet made of synthetic fibers: nylon (polyamide), acrylic, polyester, polypropylene (olefin). The base is synthetic jute. Service life - 5-15 years.
Carpets (carpet) are also suitable for the hallway. Another thing is which carpet to choose.
Natural carpet is not suitable for the hallway: wool and jute easily absorb and retain water well - which means that the wetted coating will begin to deteriorate from below. And then - natural carpeting is easily crumpled and keeps dents for a long time. Price - from 40 to 100 $/sq.m (the lowest grade - 15-20 $/sq.m).
If you decide to lay carpet in the hallway, experts advise you to buy artificial carpet: it is easy to clean, does not wrinkle, and insects do not start in it. The most resilient and durable, but at the same time the most expensive carpet is made of nylon. In addition, you can buy carpet made of acrylic, polyester and polypropylene.
According to the manufacturing method, the most reliable is woven (others are needle-stitched, it is also tufted, and needle-punched are less durable). In a woven carpet, the threads are intertwined with a jute warp. But, as it turned out, most of the artificial carpets we have for sale are needle-stitched (tufted). In them, the threads are fixed with glue. But such a coating is not afraid of water and dirt.
Needle-punched carpet is made as follows: the synthetic mass is rolled out on the surface of the base and “driven” into it with needles. Outwardly, it resembles felt. According to experts, it is usually more durable than tufted. And one more thing: for the hallway, you need to choose a carpet with a high density and with a minimum pile or loop in height, or better without them at all.
How much will the floor in the hallway, laid with carpet:
The types of carpet we need are $ 7-13 / sq.m (that is, $ 70-130 for a 10-meter hallway). 0.5 cm thick felt or foamed rubber underlay, on which the carpet is laid - $ 5 / sq.m (respectively, we pay $ 50). Carpeting on an area of less than 20 square meters is easy to lay by yourself, gluing to the floor around the perimeter (and in the seam area, if any) using double-sided adhesive tape - $ 3 for a 10-meter roll, of which we need two - that is, in total 6$.
Total: 126–186$.
Carpets also include mats that are now fashionable. Here's what an expert has to say about them.
Expert opinion
Konstantin Davydenko, Sales Department Specialist at Carpet House:
– mats- Pretty durable material. The raw materials for them are made from sisal (these are the leaves of a tropical shrub). Its special strength is evidenced by the fact that in ancient times ship ropes were made from it. The base of the mat is natural latex.
You can cover the entire floor with a mat, pressing it with skirting boards, or you can lay it like a rug, treating it with tape.
The main way to care for the mats is with a vacuum cleaner. But if there is heavy pollution, then cleaning products for the care of woolen carpets will help. But still, we recommend this coating for rooms that do not border directly with the street, because the mat absorbs moisture well, and if it is not dried immediately, it can become deformed. And you can dry it with a hair dryer or blotting with a rag. In addition, the mat can be laid on top of the "warm floors".
We offer Belgian mats from $44 per sq.m. The color spectrum is the widest.
Sergey Gavrilenko, designer of Carpet House company (Belgian and French coatings):
- AT good store you will always be prompted which carpet is designed for rooms with high traffic. For example, for a hallway it is better to buy an artificial loop carpet. As a designer, I say that carpet can be matched to any interior. And this is very important for some clients. For 4 years now, I myself have had parquet in the hallway, and on it is a mat treated with tape. It's fashionable, beautiful, and not lost original form. And my clients often order carpets in the hallway.
Natural linoleum or PVC flooring
artificial linoleum– multilayer PVC coating. Wear resistance is determined by the thickness of the working layer (from 0.15 to 0.7 mm). Depending on this, all PVC coatings are divided into household (for residential premises, shelf life - 5 years), semi-commercial (tolerate the loads of public premises with low traffic, service life - from 5 to 10 years) and commercial (for public premises, serve up to 25 years old).
Linoleum is perhaps the most familiar and traditional material in our hallways. Although, wait, what kind of linoleum are we talking about? Real linoleum is a natural material: made from a mixture of wood flour, resin, cork, chalk and linseed oil. Natural linoleum will last for decades without visible signs of wear, is not afraid of water, dirt, dents and scratches. True, he also has disadvantages - a not very rich choice of colors and patterns, in addition, it must be periodically wiped with special mastic. And still he could be perfect coverage for the hallway, if not for one "but" - they sell it, as a rule, wholesale parties, "under the order". The price of 1 sq.m of coverage is $16–20. Therefore, in our stores, the so-called " artificial linoleum", or rather PVC flooring.
How to distinguish them? Household linoleum is soft, bends easily. Price – 5–9 $/sq.m. The semi-commercial is denser and stiffer, it also bends easily, but almost no dents form with moderate pressure. Price - 10–14 $/sq.m. Household and semi-commercial coatings have a pattern only on top layer. Well, you can immediately distinguish a commercial one from the rest: it is a homogeneous (that is, homogeneous) coating, it has a pattern that persists in thickness until the material is completely abraded. Price – 7–30 $/sq.m.
It is clear that semi-commercial and commercial versions of PVC coating are more suitable for the hallway.
How much will a PVC linoleum floor cost:
A good semi-commercial linoleum costs $10-14/sq.m. No glue needed. Like carpet, a 10 sq.m. semi-commercial flooring is placed on adhesive tape (two rolls of tape - $ 6). So, there is no need to invite specialists. But you will have to level the floor under the linoleum - another $ 70.
Total: semi-commercial PVC flooring will cost $176-216.
Expert opinion
Alexander Gvozdik, Regional Sales Manager, Upofloor (Finland):
- Homogeneous commercial linoleum is perfect for the hallway. It is mottled, with dark patches, and this makes the scratches invisible. The color range is wide, so you can fit it into the design of the room. The covering is made on the basis of PVC, from above it is processed by polyurethane. The drawing is made to the full depth and will not disappear until the linoleum is completely abraded. If the coating is laid on a well-leveled base, then at home it will last at least 20 years.
This coating is absolutely not afraid of moisture, does not rot. In addition, it makes sense to rub it with polishes, special mastics for linoleum, about once every six months. But before applying a layer of mastic, the floor must be thoroughly washed and cleaned of old polish. For this, there are also special tools with increased level pH. Although it is quite possible to wash with ordinary cleaning powder.
The prices for our linoleum in Moscow are from $7 to $25. This is comparable to ceramic tiles. In general, the choice is a matter of taste. By the way, you can make logos or simple drawings directly on the floor from our linoleum - for example, a profile starfish or beloved dog.
But, in my opinion, even more interesting option for the hallway - our quartz vinyl tiles. It contains less PVC, the mineral component is 60%, that is, we can say that this material is 90% natural and harmless. The main component is quartz sand (it surpasses granite in strength). No one else in the world makes such tiles.
The range of its application is from children's rooms to warehouses. Wear resistance is very high. The design of the tile is calm - natural range. In addition, special borders and other design elements are on sale. It is glued to ordinary glue, to sanded plywood or to a leveled screed. Serves at least 30-40 years. But I want to warn you, if the coating is flooded with water, then in some places it can peel off, especially if it is placed on a wooden base. Although, on the other hand, in the event of a forced repair, linoleum will have to be completely changed, and tiles - only damaged elements. The price in Moscow is $10–15/sq.m., borders and design elements are slightly more expensive.
At home, in the hallway, there is still a parquet board ... made in Kaluga. But I think that I will soon replace it with something more modern, for example, with the materials that I just told you about.
Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles
Ceramic tile- a group of products of various shapes, types and sizes made of molded clay. There are wall and floor. Moreover, wall tiles cannot be used as floor tiles, as they have different characteristics.
Porcelain stoneware- ceramic plates of different sizes, outwardly resembling natural stone. It is frost-resistant, resistant to chemistry, has a high density and low water absorption. Good quality porcelain stoneware must have a density of at least 18 kg/sq.m. Porcelain stoneware can be polished, unpolished, matte, anti-slip (embossed surface).
Wear resistance is good floor tiles- above all praise. That is why for rooms with an intense human flow, experts willingly recommend floor ceramic tiles. Water tiles do not care, as well as dirt, household chemicals. And then, you can choose a tile for every taste! Glazed floor tiles can be matte, can imitate the texture of a stone. In addition, she has many decorative elements(borders, inserts). There is a special floor tile with a relief surface, it is safe to walk on it even with wet shoes. There is an anti-slip tile with corundum coating, it can even be laid on an inclined surface. But, as always, there are disadvantages: ceramic tiles - the material, alas, is cold.
The price of imported floor tiles is an average of $20/sq.m. There is also a domestic one, it is cheaper than the Italian one, it costs about $10/sq.m.
How much will it cost:
For high-quality ceramic floor tiles, you will have to pay at least $ 100-200. In addition, you need: adhesive mixture for laying tiles (2 bags of 25 kg) - $ 7, work - $ 60. Leveling the floor - $ 70.
Total: 10 meters of floor at least $240-340.
They make it using porcelain technology, with the addition of feldspars and quartz. And at very high temperatures and pressures. Pigments are mixed with raw materials, so the products are dyed to the full depth. Cool thing! You can't take it with anything: neither by friction, nor by water, nor by the most poisonous chemistry, nor by frost. And when it is already laid on the floor, then you can hit it with a hammer - nothing will be done to it.
How much will the floor in the hallway of porcelain stoneware cost:
The price of matte porcelain tiles - from 8 $ / sq.m (Belarusian), 13 $ / sq.m (Italian), polished - from 30 $ / sq.m. By the way, there is porcelain stoneware for $500/sq.m. Porcelain stoneware installation is more expensive than ceramic tile installation – $15–20/sq.m.
Total:$300 for a 10-meter hallway.
Expert opinion
Dmitry Kolenko, head of the Moscow department of the firm "Kerama Center" (Russia), considers the following:
- Whatever you say, nothing can replace ceramic tiles in the hallway today - in terms of hygiene, warmth ... design. When a person has money, the first thing he wants to invest it in is in home improvement. So, in my opinion, in a modern apartment, linoleum does not need to be laid even in the hallway. Porcelain stoneware? Why is he in the apartment? Do you have hundreds of people walking there? It is not advisable to lay expensive porcelain stoneware in residential premises.
I would not put laminate in the hallway. I have parquet at home, I inherited it. He has many years. And I have already decided to replace it with ceramic tiles. I chose the "Kerama-Techno" tile. It combines strength, Beautiful design, in no way inferior to Italian, and an affordable price - $ 10 / sq.m.
Vladimir Tarasenko, engineer of the Casalgrande Padana factory (Italy):
- I am convinced that in that part of the hallway that is in contact with the street, there should be relief porcelain tiles - if the ice on the soles has not yet melted, then you can slip on a smooth tile. It would be nice to put a mat on the entrance: woven rubber threads impregnated with resin. The rest of the hallway or hallway is polished clean porcelain tiles. Believe me, this floor looks perfect.
But there is one very important point here - proper styling. The correct gear tool must be used here, right glue. If someone put tile on cement, saving two dollars, then porcelain tile will bounce back very soon. Before gluing the tile, it must be smeared the right glue, attach to the place, tap, and then tear off and look at the reverse side: if it is moistened with glue all the way to a millimeter, then everything is correct. And if it is wetted only in some places, be sure: the water will fall into the void, then it will freeze, and the tile will be “opened”.
In Italy, the combination of parquet with porcelain stoneware is now popular. Including in the hallway. This solution is beautiful, expensive, but not entirely competent in terms of operation. Because porcelain stoneware cannot be rubbed with any waxes, like, for example, parquet. If wax accidentally gets on porcelain stoneware, it will roll off, and you won’t peel it off with anything, you will have to scrape it off with a razor. But there is a good option for parquet lovers - porcelain stoneware with the texture and color of a living tree.
Specialist of the "Integraf" plant Mikhail Sorochkin (Russia):
- As it turned out recently, and this is now being actively discussed among specialists, PVC coating contains fillers that release toxic tin compounds for many years. This applies to both domestic and commercial linoleum. Natural linoleum does not have such problems, but for the hallway it is less wear-resistant.
I believe that natural or artificial stone should be laid in the hallway (to which I also include ceramic tiles). Especially right next to the front door. And let there be shoes with which autumn mud and winter salt flows onto the floor. It's very practical. Moreover, porcelain stoneware is stronger than ceramic tiles.
"Gold" under your feet
But, perhaps, the most exotic and little-known material for the hallway in our country is the so-called "golden" tile. By the way, it is produced only in South Korea.
"Golden" tile- flooring in the form of plates of crushed natural stone and polymers. There are 6 layers in the tile structure. The lower, balancing layer (balance) is made of compacted PVC. The base is made of crushed natural stone mixed with natural resin. The central layer is made of a special type of fiberglass. There is transparent layer, the so-called wear layer (there may be two of them) and the top one - a UV protective film.
Tiles can be used in all types of residential and public buildings. Its service life is almost the same as that of commercial PVC coatings. It is not afraid of water, resistant to fire and household chemicals, does not slip, is not slippery, and is easy to clean with conventional means.
By the way, the Koreans very peculiarly express the degree of resistance of the product to wear: the number of steps that must be taken before the first signs of abrasion appear. In this case, it is 10,000,000 steps. Someone was not too lazy to calculate that the average family (in any case, a Korean one) must move along it 24 hours a day for 10 years in order to "go out" so many steps. In addition, experts believe that this is one of the most environmentally friendly flooring.
How much will this wonderful exotic:
Tiles $17–20/sq.m ($170–200 for a ten meter hallway). Special adhesive - $13 per pack (sold with tiles). One package is enough for 6 sq.m. For 10 sq. meters, you need two packs of glue, which means $ 26. Mandatory leveling of the floor - another $ 70.
Total:$266–296 for 10 meters of floor.
How much, why and why?
So what do we understand? And here's what. All of the above floor coverings, in principle, have the right to lie in the hallway. But it is still better for allergy sufferers not to lay artificial floor coverings (especially linoleum). On this score, by the way, there is another competent opinion.
Those are the different points of view. Of course, each of us, buyers, always proceeds from personal needs, requirements and considerations. And yet, going to the store, do not forget that ...
First. For the floor in the hallway are suitable:
Second. Ceramic and Korean "golden" tiles are designed for a service life of more than 10 years, for other types of recommended coatings, the warranty period is from 5 to 10 years.
Some 30-40 years ago the main flooring in the hallway in long-awaited apartments were: PVC tiles, glued by the builders somehow on a terrible-looking cement screed, linoleum or unglazed ceramic tiles, which were used to line the floors in the entrance hall, hallway and bathrooms. Only the owners of apartments in "Stalinist" houses could enjoy piece parquet, which was considered the height of luxury and respectability. Then, high-quality ceramic tiles or linoleum with original drawing and acceptable durability, which were easy to clean and did not cause much trouble to the owners.
A huge variety of materials and technological solutions have appeared massively in the last 10-15 years. As flooring, unexpected materials began to be used after appropriate preparation, and bold design solutions, allowing you to create interiors of unique beauty with durable wear-resistant coatings.
Looking at the photo of the interiors of the hallways, you can find linoleum and carpet, laminate and ceramics, natural stone and exotic wood planks, high-strength environmentally friendly polymers and all sorts of combinations of seemingly incompatible materials. What to lay on the hallway floor in order to combine beauty and practicality, without going beyond the planned budget.
Requirements for the floor in the hallway
No one will argue that the entrance hall is one of the most difficult places in the apartment to use. It is in the hallway that the main amount of dirt remains with a high content of abrasive particles that enter the room on outwardly clean shoes. It is in the hallway that the highest throughput load is compared to other rooms. Therefore, the hallway floor should have, in addition to aesthetic appeal, some specific properties:
- High wear resistance to resist intense abrasives for a long time;
- Moisture resistance to withstand possible direct and prolonged contact with water;
- Chemical inertness, allowing the use of various cleaning and detergents;
- The ability to repel dirt, which facilitates care;
- High surface strength to prevent damage from impact loads;
- Environmental friendliness, ensuring low emission of harmful substances into the environment;
- Acceptable aesthetic characteristics to please the eye and realize overall design Ersky idea of the premises.
What kind of coating is better to choose for the floor in the hallway? The main thing is that it is not just beautiful, but meets the requirements listed above as much as possible.
Linoleum
One of the most popular types of coatings used for finishing a corridor or hallway in an apartment has been and remains natural linoleum and its synthetic relative, made from high-quality polyvinyl chloride.
Natural linoleum is made on the basis of linseed oil applied to a jute base with the addition of cork flour and several other natural ingredients. The resulting fabric has excellent water resistance and environmental friendliness. The strength and wear resistance of natural linoleum is enough to ensure a service life of up to 50 years. However natural material has two significant drawbacks. One of them is a monotonous color palette due to the use of natural dyes, and the second is a very high price.
It was possible to level these shortcomings in the manufacture of synthetic linoleum made from PVC. Yes, PVC at first emits a large amount of harmful substances that give an unpleasant pungent odor. But they erode during operation at room temperature and can be released only with significant heating. But its price is several times lower than that of a natural relative, which makes the material affordable even for budget repair in the apartment.
Synthetic linoleum is divided into several classes according to the method of applying the pattern, the thickness of the protective layer, the presence or absence of a base. For the corridor and hallway, commercial homogeneous linoleum is best suited, painted throughout the thickness of the material and having high strength and a rough anti-slip surface. In some photos there are interiors where household heterogeneous linoleum is used, with a smooth surface and beautiful pattern. Such a coating will last at best 5 years and, having lost its appearance, will definitely require replacement. It should be noted that such a floor becomes very slippery when even a small amount of water gets on it. This may lead to undesirable consequences.
Quartz vinyl tiles
This is one of the new finishing materials used for finishing the corridor and hallway in the apartment and public premises. The material consists of 60-80% of specially prepared quartz sand with the addition of a vinyl binder and several polymer additives that improve its consumer properties. The tile is designed for use in places of maximum through traffic and will do its job best on the floor in the hallway.
The material very accurately imitates a variety of natural and artificial surfaces, wood various breeds, granite and marble, which gives a wide field of activity in stylistic design interior. The only feature that should be taken into account when installing quartz vinyl tile floors is the thickness of the finished coating, which is 8-12 mm with a material thickness of no more than 3 mm.
Ceramic tile
One of the most used materials for finishing floors in the hallway in an apartment, which resists high operational loads better than others. What collections of tiles, diverse in size and color, are presented in retail chains! On every second photo of the interiors of the hallway or corridor, you can see exactly ceramic tiles, choosing which you need to know that, with all the external similarity, different tile models can differ significantly in performance properties.
In order to choose the right tile for the hallway, it is necessary that it is intended specifically for the floor, that it corresponds to the III-IV strength class (PEI). Particular attention should be paid to the properties of the front surface of the tile. It is best if the surface is matte with corundum coating and anti-slip effect.
Some builders offer to lay tiles in the apartment designed for outdoor use. But the porous rough surface serves as an excellent dirt collector. It is good if the entrance hall is small and another floor covering is laid in the next room. And if the corridor is long, then the smallest trouble from such a coating will be dirty feet, and the hostess will have to wash the floor surface with a brush using special detergents. A simple wet cleaning will not work.
Sometimes a relative of ceramic tiles - porcelain stoneware - is used for laying in the hallway. The material has high strength, is evenly colored throughout its thickness and is intended for use mainly outdoors. Porcelain stoneware does not differ in a variety of colors, but some collections can be used for flooring in a hallway or corridor.
The reasons for the widespread use of tile floors are the affordable price of the material, a wide range in most retail chains and ease of installation, which with minimal skills can be done independently. The tile has standardized dimensions, which facilitates the solution of design problems. You can put tiles of different colors and textures, mark elements diagonally and use many other tricks.
The disadvantage of ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware is high thermal conductivity. Such a floor is always cold to the touch and can create some discomfort, which is easily eliminated if you make a floor heating system.
A natural stone
Natural natural stone can sometimes be used for flooring in an apartment, with a special stylistic design of interiors, when the floor in the corridor should be in harmony with wall decor elements made of natural stone.
Natural stone coating has contradictory properties and requires special care. Do not lay marble on the floor, consisting of a large amount of calcium carbonate. Acid and salt, which is poured over the roads, brought to the apartment on shoes, will make the coating unusable in a short time. Polished granite is also not suitable, becoming very slippery when wet. It remains only to use matte granite tiles or choose another finishing material.
laminated board
Very often, a laminated board is laid on the floor of the corridor. This is a versatile material with high strength and sufficient moisture resistance. For the hallway, a laminate of 32-33 classes, which has sufficient wear resistance, is best suited. A wide variety of colors allows you to choose the material suitable for decorating any interior. Basically, these are models that imitate valuable breeds wood, but you can choose collections that practically do not differ in appearance from ceramic tiles.
The service life of laminate flooring under conditions of intensive traffic in the hallway is approximately 15 years. Many will say that this is not enough, but the high maintainability of laminated coatings allows you to replace any damaged area.
To reduce costs, you can put laminate flooring in the apartment and yourself. To do this, a hacksaw is enough for wood, a little patience and accuracy.
Parquet or parquet board
It often happens that parquet is laid in the hallway or corridor - a beautiful floor covering made from individual wooden elements and glued on a special mastic on a flat base. Parquet lasts a long time, but requires special care during operation. A natural board does not tolerate prolonged contact with water, it is strongly erased under the influence of an abrasive and requires constant renewal of the protective layer of varnish or special mastic.
The parquet board is different from block parquet the fact that the base of cheaper wood species is covered with a layer of high-quality precious wood, and the coating is laid like a laminate, using special interlocks.
What material to choose for parquet? It is better if it is oak, beech, birch, ash and some exotic breeds wood with a dense structure.
carpet
Sometimes carpet is used as a covering in the hallway. This is a carpet material on a natural or artificial basis with different properties. Can not be used in the hallway material on natural basis excellent absorbency of dirt and water. Only artificial carpet made of polyamide yarns can withstand 5-10 years of operation until it is completely worn out.
As practice shows, carpet, which requires careful and frequent care, is not the best floor covering for the hallway.
Each of the listed coatings can, under certain conditions, be used in a hallway or corridor. When choosing which of them will appear in your home, you should focus not only on beauty or durability, but in a balanced assessment of all the requirements for coverage in specific operating conditions.
The floors in the hallway experience increased mechanical stress every day, and in wet or snowy weather, temperature changes and moisture are added to this. For this reason, floor coverings in the hallway are subject to special requirements. The material must have increased wear resistance, the ability to withstand chemicals, strength, durability, ease of installation and ease of maintenance. Given that the flooring in the hallway is the first thing that falls on the eye when entering the house, the material should also be aesthetic, fitting into the overall interior design. Which coating meets all these requirements? How to choose the right one? The answers to these questions are in our article.
LINOLEUM
The most popular hallway flooring long years was linoleum, it does not lose its relevance today.
There are many types of this coating, which have different characteristics. Let's pay attention to some of them.
According to the material, linoleum is divided into natural, PVC linoleum, alkyd, colloxin and relin. PVC linoleum is well known to all of us and is the most common, so let's take a closer look at it.
By wear resistance, linoleum is divided into household, semi-commercial and commercial. Usually for the hallway, the choice is between domestic and semi-commercial. In favor of the second is its increased wear resistance due to a thicker protective layer. However, household linoleum in some cases may be preferable, as it is quite capable of withstanding the loads that the flooring in the hallway usually experiences, while it is easy to install and has a lower cost. Life time household linoleum- 5 years, semi-commercial - 10 years.
Linoleum can be single-layer or multi-layer. If the condition of the floor base in the hallway is close to ideal, you can safely choose a single-layer coating. If there are defects and irregularities, foam-based linoleum is preferable: it will help hide flaws, and it will last longer.
Advantages: it is easy to clean, there are a large number of colors and textures, it is easy to install, it has low thermal conductivity, it does not slip and, most importantly, it is inexpensive!
Disadvantages: linoleum under constant mechanical stress can be deformed or cracked. Over time, it loses its original appearance, which means again - repairs and expenses.
FLOOR TILES
At least in the hallways there are floor tiles made of ceramics and porcelain stoneware.
There is also a tile made of natural stone, but its use in apartments is impractical: you can appreciate the luxury of natural stone only in large areas, for example, in the hall country house. And the cost of natural stone is very high.
If we talk about ceramic tiles, this is a very good solution for decorating the floor in the hallway - the tiles are durable, moisture resistant, resistant to mechanical stress and easy to clean. Among ceramic tiles, you can find options with a glazed, matte, embossed surface. We recommend that you do not use smooth glossy tiles in the hallway, as it is easy to slip on such a floor.
Porcelain stoneware is even more resistant to mechanical stress. In addition, it is dyed evenly over the entire thickness, so it will not lose color, no matter how many years it is used. However, porcelain stoneware is more expensive than ceramic tiles, while its strength may be excessive for the conditions of your corridor, as well as its service life, which is 50 years: most likely, you will want to make a new renovation in the hallway a little earlier.
Advantages: The coating is durable and resistant to mechanical impact, durable, practical, aesthetic, safe and just looks great in any interior. Tile floors are easy to care for. Additionally, you can install a floor heating system, then the surface will always be perfectly dry. This is especially true if there are children in the house.
Flaw, perhaps only one: laying floor tiles can only be done perfectly flat surface.
LAMINATE
Laminate occupies a leading position in the use in living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms. With success, the laminate can be used in the corridor. For rooms with high traffic, such as a hallway, a moisture-resistant laminate of class 33 is optimal.
Advantages: the material is aesthetic, resistant to various kinds of influences, easy to clean and quickly mounted without the involvement of specialists. If any panels lock laminate fail, they can be easily replaced without completely dismantling the coating. Laminate costs more than linoleum, but is about the same price as porcelain stoneware. The most inexpensive laminate will last 5-7 years.
Disadvantages: one of the weak points of the laminate is the joints between the panels, into which moisture can seep, but they can be treated with a special mastic, which is based on wax. Do not forget that you need to lay the laminate on a special shock-absorbing substrate in order to extend the life of the flooring.
COMBINATION OF MATERIALS
One possible solution is to use floor tiles, preferably with underfloor heating, in the area immediately in front of the front door: this is where most of the dirt and moisture collects from outdoor shoes and clothes. And in the rest of the hallway area, you can use laminate or linoleum. This combination of materials is not only practical and budgetary, but also allows you to create an interesting interior.
FINDINGS
As you can see modern market building materials offers a wide range of floor coverings, quality characteristics which year after year change for the better. It is worth choosing the most suitable one based on personal preferences and financial capabilities, since both laminate, and linoleum, and tiles meet all the requirements for flooring in the hallway.
Modern flooring is like art. It is important to choose the right material, based on practical considerations. At the same time, aesthetic perception is no less significant: the floor covering should be outwardly attractive, appropriately fitting into the style of the interior.
Extraordinary design techniques are in fashion, for example, a combination of tiles and laminate. This solution is especially relevant for the hallway - the place where the floor is most exposed to moisture and dirt.
Pros and cons of the combination
Today, the approach to floor design is more demanding than before. The flooring must be attractive, durable, easy to clean and beautifully preserved. appearance. Tiles and laminate look good together, and it's hard to match best view material for the hallway: this room of the house requires particularly durable floor coverings.
After all, parquet or parquet boards are rather weak types of finishes: they cannot be wiped with a damp cloth, they are afraid of exposure to detergents, and quickly lose their attractiveness during daily cleaning of the floor.
The combination of tiles and laminate can be called the golden mean in the design of the floor.
This cladding performs several functions:
- it allows you to zone the space of the hallway, contributing to the organization of each site;
- through it you can beat the disadvantage usable area, visually increasing the space;
- the cladding method allows for areas with greater traffic to choose a more durable material that is resistant to abrasion and weight load;
- she can make the flooring fashionable, pleasant and homely, imitating a different type of surface (including creating the appearance of carpets that make the atmosphere of the room cozy);
- bring your own zest to the interior by bringing together disparate objects of the existing furnishings.
At first glance, it seems that the two materials are quite different and have markedly different performance characteristics.
However, practice proves: the combination of tiles and laminate is a combination of reliability, quality and durability.
Both materials used are quality finish gender. Their combination is a bold and fashionable design technique.
This cladding has a lot of advantages, since it:
- appropriate in rooms of various types (residential apartments, country houses, dachas, offices, studios, industrial premises);
- harmoniously fits into a different style of interior, regardless of direction, be it classic, modern or ethnic;
- can tie together different types finishing all rooms of the dwelling (for example, when floor tiles are used in the kitchen and laminate in the bedroom);
- often saves money family budget: if the area of \u200b\u200bthe hallway is small, you can use the remnants of the material after facing other rooms for work;
- is an excellent solution for the design of flooring in any interior, allowing you to extend the operation of the floor and simplify its repair, if necessary;
- allows you to correctly calculate the level of load on the floor surface, using in places of greatest load a material that is resistant to moisture, water and abrasive substances;
- brings style to boring interiors, made in a single color scheme, paying attention to the sophistication of the design solution;
- is a hygienic lining, harmless to users;
- allows the purchase of the correct quantity without overspending and adding material to the marriage, allowing, if necessary, to change the design of the flooring.
Both materials are convenient in that they make it possible to complete the cladding without problems. design features rooms (protrusions). If you wish, you can always buy raw materials, taking into account the available budget and your own preferences, because often you don’t need a lot of material. By the way, this factor facilitates transportation.
In addition, it is worth noting the quality of the finished cladding: laying tiles and laminate provides a flat surface, so the look of the floor is always flawless.
This combination also has some disadvantages.
The choice of materials must be considered. Not every mix is worthy of attention and admiration. Sometimes the problem lies in the selection of raw materials. For example, the laminate is more limited in color, the tiles are selected for it, taking into account the texture and the correct thickness. If you approach the choice based on external characteristics, the flooring may differ in level of location, which may detract from its attractiveness.
Thoughtful design matters. The process of decorating the floor is quite laborious: the calculation of each tile fragment, its location relative to the intended pattern is important.
If you make a design “at random”, the room runs the risk of becoming not just asymmetric: it can “leave” to the side, having a bias. Long preparation is, though small, but a minus. Not everyone will like the execution of the drawing with the application of each fragment of the pattern, its fitting, taking into account the seams.
Joints are a sore subject of repair. They are the weak point of the flooring. In addition to gluing base materials and pre-training surfaces, you will have to take care of high-quality raw materials for docking. Frequent cleaning can gradually wash out the grout, and the connecting structures often break out under constant mechanical stress.
What materials to choose?
It is worth bearing in mind that not every type of material is suitable for the job. This is especially true of the laminate, which is classified according to the degree of relevance in a particular type of room. For example, for living rooms, manufacturers offer 21, 22, 23 material classes, for commercial premises 31, 32, 33 classes are provided. The first varieties are simpler, not so durable, their structure is less dense, so this finish will last no more than 5 years. The second varieties are more expensive, although their operational characteristics are higher: such material is designed for 15 years of intensive service.
It is worth choosing a moisture-resistant laminate, made using a special production technology. It is resistant to moisture and contact with water.
Such material can be used in rooms with high humidity. It is important that its class is at least 31: this way it will correspond to the strength level of the tile and will not be erased before it.
The choice of tiles is equally important. It should be floor-standing: such material is much stronger than tile, the manufacturing technology of the ceramic version differs from the usual analogue for the kitchen. Porcelain stoneware is created by molding and pressing under high pressure. You can choose both varieties: they are hygienic, wear-resistant, strong and durable. Masters believe that porcelain stoneware is even better than tiles.
The only drawback of both materials is the cold, although today technology allows some materials to be combined with a warm floor system.
Combination options
The entrance hall is somewhat limited in terms of combination, which is explained by a clear distribution of the degree of shock load on the floor covering. The patchwork technique is excluded: this way the space will be divided into parts, bringing a sense of disorder into the corridor.
The transition can be made from the room to the corridor, connecting the junction of materials with a molding that overlaps the joint, securely holds the two materials and gives the flooring a monolithic look.
In order not to doubt how to properly lay (along or across), it is worth considering the features of the hallway.
The design of combining textures depends on the skill of the master: if there is no experience, it is better to combine materials using clear straight lines. Laying can look like a tile or laminate backsplash, framed in contrast. If skill allows, laying lines can be with a bend or turn, moving into another room or narrow corridor. Certainly, this finish more difficult to make than laying linoleum, but it eliminates the need for additional rugs that mask the surface of the floor covering or protect it from abrasion.
Color combinations
It is important to keep in mind: you should not choose the perfect shade of tiles and laminate. Firstly, this will not work, since the slightest discrepancies will in any case be two or three tones. Secondly, this technique makes the flooring boring, devoid of attractiveness. Thirdly, the texture, which is different in any case, will be lost against the background of a common color spot.
In order not to puzzle over how best to choose a shade and make a stylish design technique for floor cladding, it is worth considering three main ways to combine tiles and linoleum:
Neutral reception
A mix of shades of the same color scheme is an inconspicuous flooring option with an emphasis solely on functionality, excluding accentuation of space.
These can be approximately the same light or dark tones that do not contrast with each other:
- universal (light wood + gray, beige + coffee with milk, sand + caramel);
- bleached with gray and beige (white + arctic, light gray, gray marble + bleached, pale sand + diluted khaki);
- honey and chocolate tones(golden + beige, chocolate + dark beige, brown gray + gray).
The success of the choice is the simultaneous purchase of two materials: this way you can better see how they fit together.
If the question of choice is open, and the laying of tiles no longer tolerates, it is better to buy a finish in the color of coffee with milk in one tone or with a stone-like texture. Any type of laminate is suitable for this tile.
Game of contrast
A technique in which one shade is much lighter than the other is the most popular. This makes it easier to pick up two tones, especially if they are both neutral. This will allow you to furnish the hallway with any furniture and accessories in the future. In this case, it makes no sense to go to extremes, stopping the choice on the “black and white” solution, which has a festering effect.
It is better to choose such contrasts:
- textured with light (brown + pale gray, cream, vanilla, beige) or rich with khaki or marble gray;
- dark wenge with vanilla, zebrano with beige, bright brown with sand or gold;
- mocha + honey, light gray woody + swamp granite, white laminate and sandstone.
Imitation and drawing
In this case, the combination implies a bright tile pattern and a muted tone of the laminate. The technique is divided into two groups: the use of a pattern and wood, marble texture, as well as a combination of texture and plain tiles.
Most interesting color solutions are combinations:
- terracotta and sand, dark beige and red-brick (great solution for dark rooms);
- bleached beige with coral, powdery, peach;
- cold beige with diluted turquoise, lilac.
For harmony, you can use a pattern in which one of the shades matches the color of the laminate. However, it is important to consider: there should not be much support for one tone: this way the shade can merge into a single spot.
Styles
There are no limits when a creative designer takes over. He knows how to combine the incongruous so that the combination of materials looks appropriate, demonstrating a commitment to any style.
If you take the ideas of professionals as a basis, you can perform this cladding in the style:
- classic;
- modern;
- minimalism;
- high tech;
- avant-garde;
- English;
- empire;
- Arab;
- art deco;
- loft;
- African;
- Biedermeier;
- bionics.
The main thing for good decision- take into account the furnishings: sometimes they complete the interior composition in the right way.
When choosing a style, color and texture are important: in some cases, the interior needs dullness and nobility, some modern trends breathe simplicity, ethnic styles I need a touch of vintage.
Since laminate tends to swell when the backside is in contact with water for a long time, it is important to ensure that moisture does not get into the laying seams. To protect the designer coating from water, you need to process the seams with a layer of mastic with protective wax.
In addition, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- when buying a laminate, choose material with locks: it is more practical than the glue option; if necessary, it is easy to disassemble and redo it;
- pay attention to the thickness of the laminate: 12 mm is preferable (it is more expensive, but the locking system will be more reliable);
- do not take smooth glossy material: it is slippery, easily soiled and shows any contamination (matte surfaces are more practical);
- to combine two materials without a difference in floor level, you can use special thresholds made of metal, plastic or cork substrate;
- bending contrasts is appropriate if such lines are present in the design of walls or ceilings.
When choosing a tile, make sure that all the fragments are from the same batch: this will save the flooring from different shades and make the finish monolithic. In addition, calibration and checking for chips is important: material defects can cause a difference in the level of two surfaces.
hallway floor design
To understand what a combination of tiles and laminate is in the interior of the hallway, you can look at the zoning of experienced designers:
- the combination of solar tiles and brown laminate with a board texture looks original, decorated with a rounded line and complemented by a rug at the threshold in the same shade as the laminate;
- interior in brown-beige colors will sparkle in a new way if you make a soft beige tile rug at the threshold small size, decorated floral ornament;
- you can accentuate the ethnic interior with the help of bright color contrasts: you can zone the space with a clear straight line, decorate the threshold with ornamental tiles, combining it with a dark-colored laminate;
- if there is no experience, and the experiment is simply addictive, you can put a tile at the threshold with a ladder: it’s easier to do the work by connecting two neutral shades through molding or sills;
- the transition of materials can extend to other rooms: tile paths look original on a beige laminate background;
- the combined method of smoothing the interior environment is interesting: the contrast of white and beige finishes dilutes the dark spots of the room, making it softer by means of a curved line.
This issue should be addressed for each dwelling separately. So, for example, if you have big family, or there are pets that rejoice at your arrival and jump towards you, scratching the flooring in the corridor with their claws, then tiles, especially porcelain stoneware, will right decision for flooring. Porcelain stoneware has increased resistance to abrasion and will serve you for a very long time, even if the mechanical effects on the floor are very active.
The main advantages of floor tiles
Ceramic tiles are resistant to negative impacts moisture and dirt.
We enter the hallway from the street into dirty shoes, and floors are damaged by friction. The tile is resistant to various mechanical damage, including the effects of abrasive substances, and can retain its original appearance for a long time.
Ceramic tile flooring in the corridor is durable and reliable. In addition, tiles are possible. You can buy ceramic tiles of different textures, sizes, colors. You can choose models imitating natural wood, marble or stone.
What else can you make a floor in the corridor: less durable materials
But if you live alone in an apartment or with a small family, and no one runs and jumps along the corridor, then the flooring in it can also be made from less durable material.
In order for the flooring to last longer, you need to carefully prepare the base for it. The floor should be perfectly flat, especially in the hallway. If there are slopes and depressions, then a screed should be made so that the coating does not push through and does not diverge at the joints.
Parquet
A good material for the floor in the corridor is parquet, especially oak. Oak refers to hard rock wood and, like all of them, is strong and durable, as well as resistant to abrasion. The parquet floor looks amazing. But parquet is a rather expensive material, not for everyone it is suitable for financial reasons. Therefore, as an option, you can choose its imitation from a laminate.
Laminate
Now the laminate is produced in a wide variety of colors and shades, there are options for valuable wood species. It looks good, in terms of aesthetic indicators it is not much inferior to a natural board, it has excellent performance characteristics, is resistant to abrasion, strong and durable. There are different categories of laminate. Its resistance to mechanical stress is greater, the higher the class of the material. Therefore, laminate is an excellent alternative to both tiles and parquet floors in the hallway.
Unsuitable covers
Linoleum is not well suited for the floor in the corridor, and even more so. These materials do not have sufficient strength and are intended for flooring in living rooms.
What else is worth knowing about the design of the hallway?
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Discussion:
Ludmila said:
I think that tiles should be laid in the hallway, it is both beautiful and practical, dirt and sand can be easily removed with a damp cloth, which is extremely important, especially in summer. Linoleum is yesterday, besides it is toxic and has an unpleasant smell, and the laminate will be scratched by grains of sand. Carpeting in general will only collect dust, which cannot be completely removed with a vacuum cleaner, and this is harmful to the lungs. Tile or porcelain stoneware is ideal for a hallway. And floor heating in the hallway, if you live in an apartment, and not in a private house, especially not on the first floors, in my opinion, is completely unnecessary.
Julia said:
And I really like linoleum, I laid it in the whole apartment. Of course, it is not as durable as tiles and as beautiful as parquet, but it is not very expensive and, if desired, it can be easily changed. Now there is a huge selection of its types and types, but I chose a semi-commercial one. In the corridor, I laid it without a base, and in the nursery and living room on the basis. It is warmer and softer.
Ivanmes said:
I believe that indoors front door tile should be. For example, in our apartment there is an entrance hall and a corridor. There is laminate flooring in the hallway, tiles in the hallway. Very practical and comfortable, especially in the wet season. We have a family of 4 people. Imagine what will happen to laminate flooring when people constantly walk on it in wet, sandy boots. And wiped the tile with a wet cloth - cleanliness and order.
Vasily said:
If there is a laminate in the whole apartment, let it be in the corridor. If you live in a private house, then you do not have an entrance as in apartment buildings, i.e. in winter there will be snow and mud in the corridor. The tile will be more resistant to such conditions.
Ermolaeva Elena said:
I've been wanting to renovate my hallway for a long time. At first I wanted to use tiles. Then, having decided that it is still not very pleasant and useful, walking on cold tiles. I catch cold easily. I also thought about making a warm floor, but when the warm floor is on the loggia, and in the kitchen, and in the bathroom, it seems to me to be wasteful to do it in the corridor as well. Having considered all this, I decided that I would lay a laminate in the hallway. And let it be short-lived, because health is more expensive. So now I am tormented by doubts: both options seem inappropriate. Perhaps there is a tile that is not cold and durable?
Alya said:
Hmm, I must admit, I didn’t know that linoleum is not the best solution for repairing the corridor, because I have it and the bed. Serves faithfully for 15 years, no complaints. True, when the neighbors flooded me, it swelled up, but this is its only minus ... for me), however, I'm thinking about laminate flooring, just for aesthetic reasons. Yes, and with walls made in pastel colors, it will be much better combined than semi-leopard-colored linoleum.
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