When it comes to home interior design, flooring is a major element that gets noticed the most. Apart from enhancing the overall look, it has a functional and practical aspect as well. There are different types of flooring used in commercial and residential spaces. People opt for various options as per the availability of raw materials and their suitability. There are many choices for home flooring based on the room, the type of foot traffic it endures and how prone it is to moisture and dust.
Here is a list of different types of flooring that are commonly used in homes. Let’s get through the pros, cons and purpose of using these types of floors at home in more detail.
Various Categories of Home Flooring
Choosing a flooring option that would complement the rest of the interior design can get overwhelming, given the number of choices you have. It helps to understand what differentiates each option and which factors you should consider before making the decision.
Based on different types of materials, here are some options for home flooring that would help you make a purchase.
Concrete
Concrete flooring is one of the hardest types of house flooring. They are mostly used in exterior parts of the house, like driveways. However, they are now also being used in interior portions such as kitchens and foyers.
The initial colour of concrete flooring is grey, but it can be dyed, painted or stained to any colour and design according to your preference. A gloss or a matte finish can be added as a top layer to the floor to give it an appealing look.
In addition to this, concrete floors are highly durable and require little maintenance. They can be heated with radiant systems and are eco-friendly.
Concrete floors can lock up moisture which damages the paint. Hence, concrete floors should not be used in areas with more water usage since they can get cracks and patches.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is laid out in layers using sheets or planks. The materials mostly used for vinyl floors are plastic, fibreglass or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Nowadays, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) are also commonly used as vinyl floors.
Vinyl floors are stain-proof and waterproof which makes them quite convenient for bathrooms and kitchens. Apart from this, they are easy to maintain and can be designed to imitate other flooring materials in different colours.
Although vinyl floors are easy to lay out, the whole plank needs to be replaced once it gets damaged. They can not be refinished and are known to be emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which causes respiratory problems. It is a high-end choice for flooring. Therefore, these aspects must be considered before making a purchase.
Linoleum
The linoleum is a type of floor made of linseed oil, cork powder, jute and wood flour. This type of flooring secures a significant position in the market, as they are biodegradable and are a factor in making an eco-friendly home in the UAE. Moreover, these floors are water-resistant and come in a wide variety of colours and patterns like a honeycomb, fish scale and geometric. Linoleum is an affordable option to opt for homes and other commonly used spaces.
However, before opting for this biodegradable floor, remember that it is unsuitable for high-traffic areas. This is because the surface can get scratched and cut easily and these scratches are often hard to remove. Moreover, exposure to direct sunlight can also affect its durability and texture.
Tiles
Tiles are one of the most common types of floorings used in homes. Ceramic and porcelain are two commonly used types of tile flooring. Both are widely known for being water resistant and offer a variety of colours and designs, such as metal tiles, glazed tiles, mosaic tiles and stone tiles.
Apart from adding to the appeal of the interior design, tiles are durable and also resistant to extreme temperatures, scratches and dents.
However, this type of flooring requires a lot of preparation before it can be laid out. Tiles are difficult to install, and grout lines between the tile linings can wear out over time. They can get slippery and need to be replaced in pieces in case of damage.
Wood
Wood flooring has been a popular option for modern home flooring. There are two types of wood flooring: solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. For both options, you can further choose from maple, oak, cherry, parquet, pine, bamboo and walnut. All these types of wood flooring vary based on hardness, photosensitivity and water and moisture resistance.
Home wooden flooring, hardwood, in particular, has many merits to its name. It is convenient to clean, easy to install, organic, durable and has a wide range of colours, designs and textures.
Wood flooring requires constant maintenance since it is prone to pest infestation and fungus more often than other types of floor. To remove this infestation, you might need assistance from professional pest control companies in Dubai and other Emirates. It also shows any scratches instantly. In case of any water spills, wood expands from the edges, and cupping occurs. This damages the ends of the wooden planks, and the flooring gets affected. Crowning, opposite to cupping, also occurs when the wood is swollen from the centre rather than the edges and damages the planks.
Granite
Granite is made of minerals like quartz and feldspar, giving it a shiny and reflective appearance. It can be used in any part of the house and is also widely used in kitchen slabs and countertops. Granite tiles come in various colours and textures like white granite, black granite, crystal yellow and golden garnet granite. House granite flooring has multiple textures like solid, speckled or coarse-grained. you can opt for granite tiles for home entrance decor for an impressive initial look of the house.
In addition to this, granite flooring is heat resistant, which makes it suitable for homes during higher temperatures. It is also water-resistant and can endure scratches and dents in the long run. Granite tiles are hypoallergenic and can be easily wiped, making them easy to maintain.
However, granite house flooring can be difficult to install as it is heavy and chirps away quickly. It requires professional assistance for installation. It also gets quite slippery and requires sealing after regular intervals.
Marble
Marble for house flooring is used in both commercial and residential properties. It is quarried in mountainous regions to make different designs. It is available in various semi-colour textures like Breccia Arabesque, widely used in decor for Arabic homes.
Marble withstands scratches and marks and would look good as new even after many years. These tiles are quite manageable. However, in case any liquid is spilt onto the surface, it must be wiped at the earliest because this type of stone is porous and can absorb quickly. For this reason, sealing is required, which adds to the maintenance cost. Marble is also quite heavy and requires professional assistance in handling the material and installation.
Laminate
One of the types of house flooring is laminate which is a multi-layer flooring that is fused by lamination. There are 4 layers: back, core, design and wear. It is suitable for high-traffic areas because of its multi-composition.
Laminate floors are easy-to-maintain surfaces and highly durable. Sleek appearance, hypoallergenic, stain resistance and easy installation are advantages this type of home flooring offers. you can easily use them for decorating your living rooms and lounges.
Despite their easy-to-clean surfaces, laminate floors can get slippery and produce noise that might get uncomfortable for the residents. They also have low durability, are moisture prone and can not be refinished.
All in all, there is a variety of types of flooring that you can go for and choose the best flooring for the whole house. The flooring that you opt for should be both functional and decorative. From marble and tiles to wood and concrete, each type of house flooring has its own merits and flaws. There is also another option: carpeting vs flooring which has its own pros and cons.
Therefore, when looking for an apartment for rent in the UAE or purchasing a villa, you can consider the above-mentioned options for home flooring that suits your requirements and would look appropriate in your home.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top property blog for more information on different types of floors.
