GROUND REPORT
Before you redo your floors take a look at this comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of flooring
Your floors set the tone for your interiors. So picking one that suits your needs both in form and function is imperative. But before the selection process one should know what each type of flooring is all about, the pros and the cons.
Italian Stone
It’s a go to solution for those wanting luxe interiors. There is a high demand in the market for Italian stones of a wide range and class. One needs
to choose carefully to get the desired impact and quality. It’s the softness of the stone that gives it the high shine. But the flip side are the cheaper ones that come with a lot of filling. Checking the lot for the amount of filling is mandatory. So is picking up a lot which has a size that will ensure minimum wastage in laying.
Indian Stone
Our country has had a beautiful love story with stone over centuries now. Be it our forts, palaces, streets or homes, local stones have always played an important role and which have also passed the test of time with flying colors. They are extremely rugged and come in a huge variety across the span of the country. Most Indian stones become smoother and shinier with usage.
Tiles
The most cost effective and durable flooring available in market currently happens to be tiles. They come in a great variety and range and newer improved material variants keep getting added quite often as well. Ceramic, porcelain, vitrified, full body, glass tiles, the list is endless. If the base is laid out properly, then tiles can last you a lifetime.
Laminated Wooden Flooring
A popular choice for making a space look warm and cosy. This flooring has become a preferred choice for bedrooms. It’s also one of the fastest to lay. There are different grades of laminated wooden flooring that one needs to choose keeping in mind the footfall expected over it.
Hardwood Flooring
Looks extremely beautiful, but requires maintenance. The natural grain variation makes it look better than the slightly uniform laminated version. Avoidable in areas with great temperature variation or in zones with a termite threat.
Vinyl
This is the cheapest and the fastest to lay flooring option. Comes in a wide range of colours and prints and is easily customisable as well. Needs a good quality and finished subfloor. It has a lesser lifespan as compared to other flooring options.
Cast In-situ / Cement Based Flooring
Terrazzo is a beautiful flooring technique that’s making a strong comeback in recent times. Extremely easy to maintain, this once commonly opted for flooring has gone into the luxury segment due to the unavailability of skilled labourers now. Then there is micro concrete flooring that is getting a lot of players in the market. The laying varies for different companies, but most involve a PCC base with an added pigment. It’s a preferred flooring for heavy machinery zones. Traditional Indian homes used to have a version of this (still extremely popular in southern India) known as the red oxide floor. Being cast in-situ ensures a very even product. The spans are larger and the dividers could be designed as a design insert as well.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is quite like wooden flooring, but is a sustainable option as bamboo grows much faster. If treated properly it can be highly termite resistant as well.
Carpeted
A popular option for offices due to both its sound absorption capability as well as for providing friction for chair wheels. It used to be a popular option for the hospitality industry as well. But in the Indian weather conditions, maintenance of a carpet becomes quite tricky. So the usage in hotels has gone down tremendously in the last decade.