The best flooring ever. Hit parade of floor coverings. Floor covering in the apartment: what is better to do

In order to correctly choose the flooring in the apartment, you first need to find out what materials it is made from and consider all the pros and cons of different types.

Laminate

The laminate is based on MDF panels, carefully pressed with a paper layer and varnished.

Depending on the thickness of the panels, the quantity and quality of the primary material, the laminate can be of several strength classes. How to choose a substrate for a laminate -.

Benefits of this flooring:

• simple installation with or without glue (in the second case, it is always possible to replace damaged panels);
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• fire safety;
• easy care due to the antistatic layer applied on top;
• durability (provided that the wear resistance class is selected correctly);
• an extensive range;
• affordable price.

Of the shortcomings of the material note:

• fear of moisture;
• insufficient environmental friendliness due to the use of resins, varnishes, impregnating chemicals in the production.

An overview of the different floor coverings can be seen in the following video:

Linoleum

The coating intended for a residential apartment is a multilayer system. Heterogeneous linoleum, which is presented in stores, consists of the following layers:

1. Frame (fiberglass), impregnated with PVC paste.
2. Pigment, which determines the color and pattern of the final product.
3. Protective.

Linoleum can also be equipped with an additional layer - the substrate, which determines its sound and heat insulation properties, and also hides floor irregularities.

Linoleum is sold either in rolls 1–6 m wide and 1.5 to 5.0 mm thick, or in the form of tiles (another name is PVC tiles). The floor surface is carefully prepared, and then the linoleum is laid on a special glue.

The advantages of linoleum:

• ease of installation;
• ease of care;
• variety of design;
• excellent moisture resistance;
• wear resistance;
• low price;
• soundproofing.

Of the minuses - insufficient environmental friendliness, sensitivity to temperature extremes, a tendency to bursting under intense loads.

It is worth noting that there is another type of linoleum made from natural materials - flax oil, pigments, additives. The complexity of the production of such coatings makes their cost quite high, so they are not widely used.

carpet

In the context, this coating is represented by the following components:

1. Pile.
2. The base is the primary lining.
3. Secondary lining plus a fixing layer (most often it is latex).

The materials themselves can be artificial - nylon (polyamide), polypropylene, polyacryl, polyester, and natural - wool or a mixture of materials with 10-30% wool.

Laying is done on glue, like linoleum.

Benefits of carpeting:

• ease of installation;
• ergonomics;
• safety;
• a large selection of colors;
• long-term operation.

There are few disadvantages:

• rabies;
• the difficulty of cleaning.

The environmental friendliness of the product will depend on the materials underlying the carpet. Accordingly, the price category of natural and synthetic coatings is different.

Self-leveling (liquid) floors

Bulk floor - a novelty in the world of modern floor coverings.

The composition of the liquid floor may include different substances:

• polyurethane;
• epoxide;
• methyl methacrylate;
• cement and acrylic.

The last name is the most environmentally friendly option, and the most expensive self-leveling floor is methyl methacrylate.

Advantages of self-leveling floors in their:

• durability (perhaps one of the largest for flooring);
• environmental friendliness;
• strength;
• water resistance, as well as resistance to chemicals, oil, solvents, etc.;
• ease of maintenance.

Such floors are especially demanding on the surface for installation, and their laying is quite complicated. Of the negative aspects, the owners also note a tendency to burn out in the sun. For the price - the option is quite affordable.

Tile

The most popular are ceramics. They are durable, passable and water resistant. In appearance, ceramic tiles are very diverse, they can imitate wood or other natural materials.

From tiles, you can create a real work of art on the floor, it becomes possible to zone the room and visually optimize the size of the room. In this case, you do not have to worry about mechanical loads on the floor, exposure to sunlight, high humidity. Excellent wear resistance is another plus of ceramic tiles.

Of the shortcomings:

• complexity of installation and subsequent repair;
• the presence of seams;
• cold (this problem is solved by installing a warm floor under the tile).

cork floor

It is a plate measuring 90.0 by 18.5 cm and a thickness of 9 mm (sometimes it can also be found in the form of rolls), based on veneered or pressed chips of natural cork bark.

Other layers may include wood dust on resins (function - imparting strength and rigidity) and face finishing (increases wear resistance and provides an aesthetic appearance).

The cork floor has a lot of advantages over the above coatings, in particular, this material:

• environmentally friendly and natural;
• provides soundproofing in the room;
• has a variety of models;
• keep warm;
• pleasant to the touch;
• able to absorb mechanical pressure;
• has a long service life (warranty is not less than 10 years);
• water resistant;
• does not slip.

The negative point is the complexity of laying, because before that it is necessary to carefully level the base, and the price is quite high.

Another environmentally friendly option.

A parquet board is made from a wooden base, pasted over with a layer of valuable species (thickness 3–5 mm).

They are usually laid by gluing the panels to the base. The base is prepared in advance.

In addition to the fact that a natural wooden floor will create special comfort and coziness in the house, it has other merits:

• durability and reliability;
• ease of cleaning;
• ease of installation;
• low thermal conductivity.

The disadvantages are related to the naturalness of the material - wood can be deformed, because in cold weather it decreases somewhat in volume, and in summer, on the contrary, it expands. Due to the naturalness and high cost of the material.

How to choose the right flooring for your room: professional advice

When choosing a floor covering for a living room, it is necessary to focus on the following criteria:

• room humidity;
• demanding for frequent cleaning;
• frequency and type of mechanical impacts;
• temperature difference;
• environmental friendliness.

Video tips for choosing an environmentally friendly floor covering:

Based on these parameters, rooms will be especially demanding for coverage:

• hallway;
• kitchen;
• bathroom;
• children's;
• loggia.

For these rooms, flooring should be selected with great care. So, in the living room (bedroom, living room) you can put a laminate of class 21-23, and in the hallway and in the kitchen - more durable, class 31-33.

The bathroom and kitchen should be equipped with moisture-resistant floor coverings, such as linoleum, tile or self-leveling floor.

The most environmentally friendly materials are usually chosen for the nursery. From floor coverings it can be a cork floor, parquet, carpet.

Different styles of interiors are demanding on the choice of flooring. In high-tech style, tile, parquet or laminate will be good options (for more details -), and in a room decorated for shabby chic - wooden parquet (on our website).

Remember that a properly selected floor in the room will not only be strong and durable, but will also give warmth, comfort, and a complete look to the entire interior.

The choice of flooring is one of the most pressing issues for those who have started renovations in the house. What should be the floor to create comfort in the room and at the same time make the interior stylish and attractive? And so that in 2-3 years you don’t have to change it again or restore the worn surface. The price factor is no less important, because any repair involves high costs, which means that you need to use every opportunity to reduce these costs a little.

Consider how to choose flooring from the many options on the market.

Floor coverings are produced in a very wide range, for every taste and budget. Some of them are more in demand, others are less, there are even exotic options for connoisseurs of unusual interiors. Depending on the materials of manufacture, floor coverings are usually divided into two types - artificial and natural. The first group includes linoleum, laminate, carpet and similar products, the second - wood, cork, ceramic tiles, stone. To choose the best coverage option for your home, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each material, compare their minuses and pluses.

Laminate

Laminate is one of the best selling floorings. It is a multilayer panel based on dense wood boards, superior in strength and wear resistance to natural wood. Thanks to the decorative layer on the front surface, the laminate can imitate wooden flooring, parquet, natural stone or ceramic tiles. The coating is distinguished by a rich palette of colors and shades, a wide choice of patterns.

The whole laminate is divided into two types. The first is a household type, not designed for high loads, and used in residential buildings. Its service life usually does not exceed 6 years, and it is suitable only for dry rooms.

The second type is commercial, with improved characteristics. Such coatings are highly resistant to wear, moisture, temperature extremes, and their service life is many times longer - up to 20 years, depending on the class. Commercial laminate is equally widely used in both public and residential areas.

Tarkett laminate prices

Tarkett laminate

Coverage benefits:

• relatively low price;
• a large selection of models;
• good thermal insulation properties;
• light weight;
• ease of care;
• installation does not require special skills.

• laying requires the most even base (height differences should not exceed 3 mm);
• low soundproofing.

Laying features: the panels are connected to each other using a special lock - a special form of a spike and a groove along the perimeter of each plank. There are two types of lock - click and lock. The first type is considered simpler and more convenient and allows for small irregularities on the rough base. The lock allows you to lay the panels only on a perfectly even base, in addition, the laying process itself requires more skill and physical effort.

Between the laminate and the subfloor, a waterproofing film and a soundproofing PVC foam or cork underlay are laid.

Lock Quartz Laminate RefloorFargo

It is worth paying special attention to this flooring, it is not by chance that it is separated from the usual laminate. Due to its structure RefloorFargo is a 100% waterproof laminate suitable for installation in all heated areas, including public areas.

Absolutely waterproof quartz laminate - the best solution for rooms with high humidity

Four-layer quartz laminate dies.

1. The bottom layer (stone polymer composite) provides the physical stability of the coating - the strength of the stone throughout the entire service life. The content of crushed stone filler is 66%.
2. The next layer is decorative. In collection RefloorFargo 32 noble shades of natural stone and fine wood. Textures fit perfectly into any modern interiors. Synchro-embossing adds naturalism - the pattern on the photo print is combined with the surface relief of the quartz laminate.
3. The top layers perform protective functions. PVC and PU-lacquer provide high resistance of the floor covering not only to ultraviolet radiation, but also to mechanical damage.

Quartz laminate is a durable coating, the shades of which do not lose saturation even in sunny rooms.

Decorative micro-beveling on the quartz laminate slabs adds a touch of natural wood flooring. Room with laminate flooring Fargo seems more spacious.

Installing laminate flooring is very simple and can be done without much effort even in large areas. Fourth generation interlock ClickSystem guarantees a tight and even connection of the elements.

On a note! Non-threshold laying of quartz coating is possible in rooms up to two hundred square meters.

The main advantages of lock quartz laminate

Choosing a stylish floor covering with high performance, you can safely opt for a quartz laminate. Refloor Fargo is an advanced next-generation laminate that combines the aesthetics of natural wood, the strength of stone, and affordable price.

Advanced luxury flooring - the choice of those who value comfort and strive for excellence

Linoleum

Among the budget coatings, linoleum is considered the most popular. There are many varieties of it on the market that differ in the material of manufacture and performance characteristics, but PVC linoleum on a foam and felt basis is most in demand. The coating is highly decorative: manufacturers offer linoleum of various colors with patterns, ornaments, imitation of artificial and natural materials.

There are three types of linoleum, depending on the strength characteristics. The household type is designed for laying in rooms with low traffic and lasts up to 5 years. Semi-commercial is more resistant to wear, so it can be used in any domestic and public buildings. Its service life reaches 20 years.

The commercial type is the most wear-resistant and is suitable for industrial premises with heavy floor loads. The service life of such a coating reaches 25 years.

Tarkett linoleum prices

linoleum Tarkett

• affordable cost;
• ease of installation;
• a wide selection of patterns and colors;
• ease of care;
• good heat and sound insulating properties.

• the material becomes brittle in the cold, therefore it is not suitable for unheated rooms;
• in case of mechanical damage, it is not always possible to eliminate defects imperceptibly;
• linoleum of low quality for a long time after laying emits a sharp unpleasant odor.

Laying features: linoleum is laid in strips end-to-end. To avoid web shifts and the formation of air bubbles, it is recommended to glue the coating to the subfloor.

In small rooms, double-sided tape can be used for these purposes; in spacious rooms, special mastic or glue is used - bustilat for a felt base, acrylate for a synthetic one.

The rough floor under the linoleum should be smooth and even, since the coating has a small thickness and all the irregularities show through well on the surface. During operation, scuffs and tears appear very quickly in these places.

carpet

Carpet combines the characteristics of linoleum and carpet. It can be laid on a finished floor (laminate, tile, parquet) and on a concrete screed. Carpet is produced on a single-layer and two-layer basis, most often made of wool, polyamide or propylene. Natural wool covering is the most expensive, but wears out too quickly, unlike synthetic options. The basis is jute fabric, rubber, artificial fibers.

• the coating is warm and pleasant to the touch;
• muffles sounds well;
• easy to fit;
• wide range of colors;
• can be laid on any base.

• high price;
• tendency to dirt and dust accumulation;
• not suitable for allergy sufferers;
• should not be installed in rooms with high humidity.

Laying features: like other roll coverings, carpet is laid in a continuous sheet over the entire area of ​​​​the room. The coating strips are laid end-to-end. To avoid displacement, the carpet is fixed around the perimeter of the room with skirting boards.

Natural wooden floors have always been highly valued, so even now solid wood flooring is in high demand. Manufacturers offer a wide choice of material from oak, walnut, ash, larch, wenge and other species with an attractive texture pattern. A standard solid wood board has a thickness of 15-22 mm, a width of 125 to 190 mm and a length of 0.6 to 6 meters. The most popular option is boards 1.5-1.8 m long.

• environmental friendliness;
• attractive appearance;
• low thermal conductivity;
• durability;
• the possibility of restoration or replacement of individual elements.

• high price;
• sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity in the room;
• tendency to decay and damage by insects;
• drying out of wood and the appearance of cracks in the floor;
• the need for protective treatment after laying and periodically during operation.

Laying features: modern solid board is available with a tongue-and-groove or click-joint system, so it is laid like a laminate. The coating itself is mounted in two ways - on logs and on wooden flooring, where a layer of plywood acts as a base. The laying process requires at least basic construction skills and the ability to handle tools.

Video - Laying a massive board

Parquet

Natural parquet looks very solid and gives the interior a noble and at the same time cozy look. Parquet is made from wood of classic and exotic species - oak, ash, walnut, cherry, wenge, bamboo, merbau and others.

Standard parquet planks are 14-22 mm thick, 30-90 mm wide, and 15 cm to half a meter long. The smaller the elements, the more difficult it is to lay the coating.

There are several ways of laying, the most popular of which are deck, wicker, herringbone, Dutch.

• environmental friendliness;
• external attractiveness;
• durability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• good sound insulation;
• the possibility of restoration and replacement of individual slats.

• high cost of the material;
• complexity of installation;
• the tendency of the coating to dry out and deform;
• susceptibility to decay;
• the need for competent and regular care.

Laying features: for high-quality installation, a perfectly even base is required, therefore it is recommended to level the subfloor with a leveling mixture or make plywood flooring. Each plank is glued to the base according to the selected layout method. Without special skills, it is quite difficult to cope with this, so it is better to entrust such work to a professional. After the glue dries, the coating is sanded and treated with protective compounds - oil, waterproof impregnation, varnish, natural wax.

parquet board

In appearance, the parquet board almost does not differ from piece parquet, and in many respects it surpasses it in terms of performance. Its multi-layer structure provides high resistance to mechanical stress, and the protective layer retains an attractive appearance of the coating for a longer time. The front layer can consist of one or more dies, on the basis of which four types of parquet boards are distinguished - one-strip, two-strip, three-strip and multi-strip.

• aesthetic appearance;
• low thermal conductivity;
• unlike parquet, this material is less demanding on humidity and temperature conditions;
• long service life;
• good sound absorption;
• relative ease of installation;
• the material does not need additional processing after laying;
• carelessness.

• rather high price;
• poor resistance to scratches and impacts;
• the difficulty of restoration in case of damage.

Installation features: there are two ways to install such a coating - adhesive and floating. The first method is more laborious and is almost never used. With the floating method, the boards are connected using a tongue-and-groove system, and joints are glued for greater tightness of the coating. Between the subfloor and the parquet board, a layer of waterproofing film and a substrate of heat-insulating material must be laid.

Video - Laying parquet boards

Cork flooring is still gaining popularity, although in some respects it is superior to traditional wood floors in many respects. They are made by heat treatment and pressing of crushed cork oak bark. Cork flooring is available in the form of slabs and panels of various thicknesses.

Depending on the structure, the coating is divided into two types - lock and adhesive. The first is multilayer panels with a fibreboard core. The thickness of such panels is on average 10 mm, width - up to 30 cm, length 90-100 cm. Most lock-type modifications have a protective coating of vinyl film, acrylic or varnish. More budget options need to be treated with protective equipment on their own, after laying the floor. The adhesive type is most often produced in plates with a thickness of 4-6 mm and dimensions of 60x30 and 30x30 cm.

• light weight;
• environmental friendliness;
• antistatic properties;
• high heat capacity;
• moisture resistance;
• the floor looks very presentable;
• the material is hardly flammable;
• The cover is pleasant to the touch.

• high price;
• the need for special care.

Mounting features: the locking coating is laid on the substrate and connected like a laminate, using the tongue and groove system. The base must be dry and even, with a maximum height difference of up to 3 mm. For adhesive coating, the subfloor must be perfectly flat. Laying of plates is carried out from the center of the room, while the glue is applied not only to the back side of the tile, but also to the base.

Ceramic tiles and stone

Artificial and natural stone, tiles, porcelain stoneware are among the most durable and durable floor materials. Properly selected color and texture can completely change the interior, make it more solid or give an original look. The range of such coatings includes tiles of various sizes, colors and textures, including those with imitation of natural materials.

• wide price range;
• resistance to moisture, abrasion and temperature extremes;
• attractive appearance;
• ease of care;
• long service life.

• styling requires a certain skill;
• fragility;
• the material is cold to the touch;
• the complexity of the restoration and replacement of damaged elements.

Laying features: the tile is attached to the base with glue, which is applied with a notched trowel. In the process of work, it is necessary to strictly observe the width of the seams, using special plastic crosses. Laying is carried out in several ways: straight, staggered, checkerboard and others. Facing takes a lot of time and requires patience and accuracy in work.

In addition to the traditional options, many are interested in floor coverings that are unusual for the floor, which give the room a memorable and spectacular look.

Choosing a coating

So, having studied the characteristics of various floor coverings, we proceed directly to the choice. Here you need to take into account the cost of the material, appearance, compliance with operating conditions and the complexity of installation, if you plan to do the installation yourself.

Step 1. Determine the budget for laying the floor. First of all, you should evaluate your financial capabilities so that during the repair process you do not have to save on other materials or limit yourself to something else. The most practical options are semi-commercial linoleum and class 31-32 laminate. These are not the cheapest coatings, but they have excellent characteristics and a long service life. In addition, they can be matched to any room in the house.

Step 2 We choose the material according to the method of installation. Two criteria are important here - the complexity of laying and the duration of the workflow. If there is no building experience, it is best to choose roll coverings (linoleum, carpet), laminate, parquet board or cork. They are also suitable if you need to make repairs as soon as possible. Solid wood floors will require more time and skill, the same goes for parquet and ceramic tiles.

Step 3 We choose a design. The color and pattern of the floor should be in harmony with the overall decoration of the room. For classic interiors, discreet tones with a discreet texture are suitable, for rooms in a modern style, you can take a coating with a clearly defined pattern and contrasting shades. In any interior, a coating with imitation of parquet or a plank floor looks advantageous, an excellent option is a laminate with a chamfer.

Step 4 Having roughly decided on the main criteria, we select the coverage option separately for each room. In the bedroom, environmentally friendly material is most appropriate - a solid board, cork or parquet. But it is better not to lay carpet or linoleum in the bedroom: the first one collects a lot of dust, the second one can emit an unpleasant odor.

Parquet in the bedroom - photo

Step 5 Choosing a floor for the living room. Most of the coatings described above will fit here. To add coziness, you can lay carpet, parquet board and laminate will make the interior more solid, the most budget option is linoleum with a wood pattern or beautiful ornaments.

Step 6 We go to the children's room. This requires an environmentally friendly material with high wear resistance. The ideal option is cork floors, a parquet board or a laminate of class 31-32 is also well suited.

Step 7 Now we will select the coating for the kitchen and the corridor. In these rooms, the floor is subjected to increased loads, pollution, and moisture, so the coating should be as resistant to wear as possible, moisture resistant and easy to clean. To the greatest extent, these requirements are met by tiles and porcelain stoneware, linoleum on a foam base of class 33 or 34 is also suitable.

Step 8 Tiles are traditionally used in the toilet and bathroom. She is not afraid of high humidity, temperature changes, frequent cleaning with the use of chemicals. In addition, a large assortment allows you to choose a finish for every taste, even the most extraordinary.

Video - How to choose a floor covering

Owners of new urban apartments with rough finishes and properties that are about to undergo major repairs will not be able to get rid of laying flooring. The interior design of the premises and the conditions for their operation, comfort in the house depend on it. An analysis of the operational and technical characteristics of the proposed materials will help determine which floor is better to make in an apartment.

The main types of floor coverings

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

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

All materials for the floor in the apartment are distinguished by a variety of designs, a long service life, and easy maintenance. The differences are in the laying methods, 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 easy to install, has a long service life and a variety of assortment. 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 the 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 underfloor heating systems and is distinguished by a variety of collections. Manufacturers offer a waterproof laminate for the bathroom and kitchen, created from PVC. Laying the flooring is done using a simple tool, but requires an even base and care during work. Be sure to use a substrate that compensates for small flaws in the base and improves sound insulation.
When choosing what to make a floor from - from linoleum or laminate, it is necessary to evaluate the quality of the base.

An uneven screed will lead to the fact that the locks of the laminate will begin to break, cracks will appear in which water will get into. An ideal base and a competent choice of laminate in terms of abrasion class is the best solution for budget repairs. Linoleum is indispensable when there is no way to improve the quality of the screed. The foam base of this flooring is able to compensate for small flaws in the subfloor.

Which floor is better to make in the apartment: parquet, parquet board or cork?

When deciding what to put on the floor in the apartment, fans of environmentally friendly materials choose between piece parquet, cork flooring and parquet board. For elite urban apartments, these floorings can be competed with artistic parquet, which is distinguished by its exquisite design and high cost.


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

Cork flooring 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 lock cork flooring is laid according to the laminate principle and this work can be done without the involvement of craftsmen.

Parquet and cork compete with parquet board - a compromise solution not only in terms of price, but also in terms of quality. The panels of this material resemble laminate, have a locking connection and are easy to install. Unlike parquet or solid board, the thickness of expensive wood species is only 4-6 mm, which reduces the cost of the material. The basis of the parquet board is a beam of softwood, 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 wood 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 board and cork wood 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, you need to consider the likelihood of puddles on the floor. A spilled pot, a malfunctioning dishwasher, or a disconnected water heater hose can cause puddles to form 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 assortment and affordable price. This is the best choice for small rooms with high humidity. The competition for this material is clinker tiles and porcelain stoneware. They are highly resistant to abrasion, strength, frost resistance. Deciding what is best for flooring in the garage, the choice is stopped on clinker tiles, as it does not absorb engine oil. In a city apartment, you can use any option, thanks to the impressive variety of collections.

The tile material competes with the 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 a floor covering in an apartment, it is difficult to determine what is best for all rooms. All rooms differ in traffic intensity, air humidity, environmental requirements. It is not difficult to give an answer to a rather simple question - to cover the floor in the kitchen, which is better ceramic tiles or parquet - and 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, laminate 23 or 31 class, cork flooring 23 class, ceramic tile 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 22 or 23 class, cork, parquet, parquet board, linoleum;
• children's room - cork flooring class 23, parquet board, parquet;
• bedroom - laminate, parquet board of small thickness, 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: what is better to use for underfloor heating? 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, you should refuse collections of hornbeam, cedar or maple and give preference to teak or merbau. In this case, the flooring will last as long as possible, and its exterior will remain flawless.

Vinyl Flooring: Features and Benefits

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

The structure of vinyl flooring and its advantages

The production technology provides for the inclusion of polyvinyl chloride, chemically inactive fillers, crushed quartz and some other components in the composition of the material. A decent look and proper shape are given by pressing at high temperatures. Synthetic components should not cause concern that 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 coating, the following layers can be distinguished:

1. At the very bottom is a layer of polyvinyl chloride. It is attached to the base of the floor. The polymer strengthens the vinyl flooring.
2. Above is a reinforcing fiber 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 topmost layer is also represented by a polymer - polyurethane. First of all, it is entrusted with the task of preventing the destruction of the product in the event 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, decorative film is designed to give the impression that the floor is covered with stone, wood, leather, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring

Benefits of vinyl flooring:

1. From all the huge colorful variety, you can choose the color or pattern of the coating in accordance with your design tastes.
2. Many of those who use vinyl flooring for a long time, for sure, were convinced of its practicality. The original appearance almost does not change, the surface is not scratched, and when light objects fall on the floor, dents do not form.
3. Vinyl is comfortable in wet environments. Therefore, they can safely cover the floor in the bathroom or kitchen without fear.
4. There is no need to use chemicals to restore a well-groomed appearance. It is enough to wipe it with a cloth dipped in plain water.
5. Outwardly, the structure seems to be monolithic, the seams are almost invisible on the floor - the elements are so tightly adjacent to each other.
6. With the installation of vinyl, as well as this repair, almost every owner will cope with minimal professional skills.
7. Even if you walk barefoot on vinyl flooring in winter, it will not seem 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 even and clean. Otherwise, the vinyl coating will wear out or deteriorate before the operating period allotted to it by the manufacturer.
2. Toxins are distributed only when the material, through the negligence of the owners, catches fire.
3. The old vinyl coating taken to the landfill after dismantling will lie there for decades without decomposing into simple components.
4. If, for example, in a bathroom, a rubber mat is placed on a vinyl floor, then a stain will form under it after a while - the polymer reacts with discoloration or pallor after prolonged contact with rubber.

Vinyl Sizes

Rectangular tiles 600 mm long and 300 mm wide. In addition to the usual 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 proven themselves well in those rooms that will be frequently visited by people.

Roll cover. In each such roll, the canvas is from 15 to 20 meters long and 2 meters wide. Suitable for use in large rooms.

Laminated modules, each of which is a plate stretched up to 920 mm in length and 100 mm or 180 mm wide. A ball of fiberglass or felt that is in direct contact with the base of the floor plays the role of a shock-absorbing substrate, softens sharp mechanical loads when walking. The smallest thickness is 1.5 mm. The pattern on the front side gives the vinyl flooring a resemblance to a wood structure or makes it hard to distinguish from real bamboo in appearance.

Methods for installing vinyl floor coverings

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

Locking modules assume the orientation of two plates to be joined in such a way that the spike of the first of them enters the groove of the other. The end result is a really secure connection like a lock. This method is good in that no additional fixing means are required during installation.

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

Manufacturers of modern finishing materials and floor coverings offer a serious and extensive range of products. A variety of price categories, color and pattern spectrum, as well as texture designs allows you to choose the material for the floor in the apartment that fully meets the user's needs. In addition to a huge number of mass-produced offers, there are narrow-profile workshops where you can select and order custom-designed floor coverings made from natural or artificial materials of the highest quality. We offer you to get acquainted with the most common types of finishing products and their prices.

Linoleum and rubber flooring

The type of coatings that are best for laying floors in wet areas: 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 laying in apartments, it is thin and flexible. Price from $20;
• semi-commercial. More durable linoleum, ideal for low traffic office and home flooring. The price from $ 30 is slightly higher than that of a household one, but the quality differs for the better.

The advantages of the material are the following factors:

1. Waterproof;
2. Ease of cleaning;
3. Affordable cost;
4. Not subject to decay, decomposition;
5. Ease of installation;
6. Absorbs noise;
7. Resistance to mechanical stress;
8. Huge period 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 a leaky piece with a new one, cutting it exactly to size. In addition, linoleum often comes with a substrate and does not require subfloor coating, the roll is glued to any base with an adhesive composition and does not move during operation.

But the best coating in its lineup has drawbacks:

• Requires perfect evenness of the base. Any debris, chip or tubercle 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 qualitative and aesthetic features.
• With prolonged stationary heavy point loads, it is pressed 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, “wastefulness” will pay off with a long service life and beauty of the finish.

Cheaper products in the line look unpresentable, while expensive flooring is presented in a huge variety of colors, textures and imitations of natural and artificial materials.

PVC coatings

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

Positive qualities of PVC coatings:

Inexpensive price, layering, non-susceptibility to point loads, fire safety, assortment variability - 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 transport and installation;
• The tile has a body-, soundproofing qualities;
• Pleasant tactile sensations and additional floor insulation;
• Large assortment of textures, imitations, colors;
• The softness and plasticity of the material eliminate the risk of damage from breaking or cracking;
• Ease 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 even base, adhesive, some styling skills;
2. With improper care, there is a risk of drying out of the seams;
3. High-quality types of PVC products with the desired characteristics are high in cost;
4. Improper storage threatens with deformation of the elements, which makes installation difficult.

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

Floor cork

What coating can be eternal and not get bored? Of course, a cork. Soft to the touch, retaining its aesthetic and practical qualities, breathable and does not need additional decorations, it perfectly hides noise and warms regardless of the thickness of the layer. 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 transfer coefficient 0.03-0.04;
2. Maximum sound absorption, with a coefficient of 0.85, cork is the best floor covering for panel houses, famous for their sound transmission abilities;
3. Facing withstands point loads, resistant to deformation;
4. Springy qualities (depreciation) have a beneficial effect on the human support system;
5. There is no danger of slipping.

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

• Difficulty in care. Natural cork is demanding on cleaning and detergent substances, but 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;
• 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 make a choice in favor of an artificial coating, while having a protective film. Manufacturers offer cladding at a price of $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. Opting for laminate means buying the best flooring for your entire space. The main thing is to decide on the type and types of material, take into account practical and aesthetic characteristics.

Advantages:

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

Separately, it is worth noting that the range 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 massive boards, other natural and artificial materials. If you lay the floors in the apartment with laminate, you can easily make a heating system, but it is important to know which product to choose, given a number of disadvantages of facing:

• 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 very careful selection.

A minimum of minuses still makes users think about buying a product. The price of laminate flooring starts at $40, which makes the product line affordable. However, you need to know the classiness 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, as with parquet, there are no cheap high-quality products, so if you choose 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 instead of 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 floor cladding in rooms with high humidity and high traffic. Differing in size, color, shape, texture and other indicators,

The choice of goods is mandatory with the familiarization of such indicators as: water absorption, slip, hygroscopicity and strength. Modern manufacturers make it possible to carefully select the lining not only in the bathroom or bathroom, but also in the kitchen, it depends on which particular nuances to prioritize, and what can be abandoned. For example, for shower rooms, the non-slip index is important, but in the bedroom, texture tiles for wood or a certain color of the room design are suitable. 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 loads, ease of maintenance and transportation;
• Non-susceptibility to deformation, fading, abrasion and temperature fluctuations;
• Water resistance, incombustibility.

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

1. The product belongs to the "cold" type, so it is important to take care of heating;
2. Improper laying of the cladding threatens with difficulties in updating and repairing;
3. Installation requires skills, otherwise the seams will turn out uneven.

And, most importantly, a good tile cannot be cheap (from $ 5-7). Such a low cost means that the product was produced in violation of technology, the pattern 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 cladding, 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 lining: 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 high pile carpets);
• Large range of products;
• High sound absorption capacity;
• Pleasure in touch.

There are few disadvantages of the product:

1. Accumulation of dust;
2. Sensitivity to UV rays, moisture;
3. The need for frequent cleaning.

Parquet and solid wood

The most traditional coatings, which differ not only in beauty and environmental friendliness, but also in price. When choosing which flooring is best, you should pay attention to the cost: good wood 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 a little at low temperatures, and expand at high temperatures. But this is an insignificant fact given that the tree fills the house with a unique atmosphere and cleanliness.

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

Polymer materials

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

This article on the site site is devoted to various types of floors in the apartment. You will find out which floors are best done in the apartment, depending on the purpose of the room.

Today, new apartments are rented, mostly without finishing. There is a reasonable grain in this - why overpay for poor finishes and standard building materials, if you can independently choose from a wide range of offers or use the services of a professional designer who will help create a concept for finishing the room based on the wishes of the customer.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Floors in the apartment

The floors in the apartment always attract close attention. And 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 shoes with heels, furniture, falling 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 whole apartment, as the floors also carry a large decorative load throughout the interior.

Particular attention in this regard 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 flooring in an apartment, is linoleum. However, it is worth noting that this is an artificial material.

Now the trends are such that in any repair and construction work, natural and environmentally friendly materials are mainly chosen.

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 load.

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

Remain popular and carpeting. Today there is a wide range of both natural and artificial carpets of various colors.

Floor coverings made of wood, namely, parquet tiles and false floorboards are also used in the apartment. Their special value lies in the naturalness of the material.

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

• living room or lounge;
• working premises;
• passage zones.

Floor coverings for the hallway

The hallway is the calling card 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 discounted 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 easy to clean and resistant to mechanical damage.

An excellent way out would be laminated parquet (or laminate) - one of the most reliable finishing materials for the floor: it is not afraid of impacts, 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 a kitchen where the floor is occasionally subject to falling cookware and accidental dampening, laminate flooring is the perfect finishing material.

Also, ceramic tiles are perfect for kitchen flooring. The variety of its patterns and shades provides great scope for the imagination of the decorator.

The tile has one minus - fragility. If, nevertheless, the choice is made in favor of the tile, then take it 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 of 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, as in no other room, piece parquet or solid board will be appropriate.

Artistic parquet from various species will give your floor a uniqueness, due to the pattern, from ash to wenge, and modern methods for the production of mosaic parquet will complement the quality of the overall pattern of the flooring.

You can use instead of piece parquet, as well as a parquet board, here a plus will be a varnish coating previously applied by the manufacturer.

The carpet on the floor in the living room has already become an anachronism. Previously, the carpet, most likely, was 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 the 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 the case if you are not too lazy to vacuum often or you have servants.

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 system of water or electric insulation is well suited for a room for children.

A huge plus of the laminate in this case is its wear resistance, the child can spill paint on the floor, roll cars and ride them himself, various bumps and scratches are not terrible either. Laminate will take it all.

To join different types of floor coverings in the apartment, special thresholds in the shape of the letter "T" are used. Instead, you can use cork compensators, tinted in the color of the coating, in which case the joint can even be curvilinear.

To make the final decision: “what kind of flooring to choose for an 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:

If you have any questions, complaints or want to leave your positive feedback, you can do it below! Leave your feedback and suggestions in the comments!