How to choose a floor covering in the apartment. Which floor is better to choose for an apartment

We will analyze the most popular coatings, and you will already decide which of the evils is the least.

First, take into account the initial data of the kitchen

Before thinking about what is better to put on the floor in the kitchen, you need to think about where exactly the room is located:

1. If we are talking about a high-rise building and a middle floor, then almost any floor will be warm enough and it makes no sense to especially worry about warming.
2. A if you live on the ground floor or in a private house, then here the conversation is different, since in winter, without special heating, the floor can be simply icy.

Also important is the initial humidity of the room, which, again, depends on the location. Particularly wet kitchens are on the ground floors and in houses without a basement. Having laid a wooden floor in such a kitchen, for example, you should not count on the fact that it will lie for a long time and will not need scraping.

But let's go in order.

What floors are there and which ones are the most practical?

Of the most popular and affordable coatings today, we can distinguish:

There are, of course, also cork floors, there are stone ones, but this is no longer so popular, since the price “bites”. Therefore, we will not include them in our review, it is better to talk about them separately, taking into account all the nuances.

From all of the above, we can say that the most practical floors are tile and self-leveling.

But the tile has one big minus - it is cold. Self-leveling floors are quite expensive. But we are all Let's look at it in more detail in separate blocks. considering both advantages and disadvantages.

If desired, you can also make a combined floor, this is especially true for kitchens connected to the living room. Due to the transition of textures, it is possible to successfully zone the room.

About screed and insulation

When repairs are in full swing, the question of which coatings to prefer is not the most burning one. Now the main thing is the screed and leveling of the surface.

Before choosing the material from which the screed will be made, you need to think about what you will lay on top.

If it is a tile, then there is no difference what will be below and an ordinary cement mortar will do. And if it is a laminate, then it is much better to make a gypsum screed using a plaster mixture for this. Such a floor will come out much warmer and will be less moisture permeable.

Also, the thickness of the screed may depend on what type of insulation you choose.

And if you raised the screed high enough, then making wooden flooring is no longer very reasonable if your ceiling height is standard, that is, 2.5 meters. If you "steal" the extra 10 cm, then this will significantly affect the visual perception of the room.

And if you are also planning a hinged ceiling, then it will not be good at all. Now let's get closer to the topic and talk about specific coatings.

Laminate in the kitchen

The good thing about laminate flooring is that its installation is quite simple and you don’t need to involve professionals for this. Also, it is quite easy to care for him, he is quite durable, warm to the touch, and the choice of colors and textures is more than huge.

Overall, laminate flooring is a very good choice for a kitchen, as long as you buy it with durability in mind and don't go for the cheapest option.

Of course, a class for commercial premises is not always needed, but increased moisture resistance and resistance to chips will not hurt. By the way, just recently we wrote about that, be sure to read.

Keep in mind that a kitchen is a kitchen. A knife, a heavy frying pan, a meat grinder can fall out of your hands ... Anything. And it will be simply impossible to restore the floor later.

Also if your room is still damp, the same first floor, then laminate will not be the most brilliant choice for the reason that it has the property of "going". And if in a room of medium humidity it retains its original appearance for 10 years, then in a humid room in the fifth year, the joints will begin to “turn out”.

Do not forget that the kitchen is a place where you constantly water splashes. And the laminate does not like this very much, and you need to constantly wipe off the drops in order to keep the surface as long as possible.

Wooden floor

You can't lay parquet on your own, of course. It is expensive, subject to abrasion and, in general, not the best option for the kitchen.

But ordinary deck boards are what you need. The floor comes out very warm and without insulation, it is easy to take care of it and most importantly - no screeds are needed in this case, since the board is laid on the logs.

It is for sale ready-made, so you don’t need to scrape anything, just lay it evenly, setting the supports in level.

This option is not the most budgetary, but it is beautiful and environmentally friendly. And given that you also save on the screed, then this option has the right to be considered.

But here, too, do not forget that if a knife that fell from a height is stuck in a tree, a scratch will remain on it. But on the laminate - no. But it is unpleasant to walk barefoot on a laminate, like on oilcloth, and on a wooden one - very much so.

But, as we wrote above, it is very cold in winter.

So, if your kitchen is poorly heated, think thrice before settling on tiles. Not only is it cold in itself, it also lowers the overall degree of the room. Not much, but still.

But, if the cold does not bother you, or you are ready to insulate the floor at the stage of laying the screed, then you can consider this option.

The tile is very exacting to correctness and quality of laying. If it is poorly laid, and there are air gaps between it and the screed, then it will very quickly begin to “walk” in these places, and over time it will simply burst in this place. Also, the tile bursts from the fact that cast-iron pans fall on it ... It is unreasonable to renounce such an incident, because anything can happen and all options must be taken into account.

It is often impossible to find a replacement for broken fragments, since fashion changes quickly, the assortment in stores also, so take this into account when buying building materials. Let you have a couple of extra tiles left for later.

Well, the last moment - the tile is often very slippery and it is very easy to slip on it if water is spilled on the floor. And falling on the tile hurts, yes. And the glasses crumble, falling on a hard surface instantly. But if they fell on a laminate or a tree, then nothing would happen to them.

As for which tile is better, it's hard to say. Naturally, it should not be for the walls, but for the floor.

If you don’t have a herd of rhinos running through your kitchen every day, you can choose the most ordinary, not the most impact-resistant. Expensive porcelain tile, for example, is definitely not needed, it is more suitable for outdoor patios.

Linoleum in the kitchen

Even a woman can put linoleum on the floor. But it must be laid exclusively on a flat surface, otherwise every grain of sand and recess will be visible under the coating. Not only is it simply ugly, it will also wipe itself in these places with incredible force.

The wear of linoleum depends on its initial characteristics. There are softer options that cannot be pressed with something hard, as a dent will instantly form. And there are denser ones, for offices and other commercial premises.

The main trouble with linoleum is that it does not shine with beautiful colors.

Color options in this case: grey, light grey, dark grey, blue. If you manage to find something more interesting and with a pattern, then it will be a great success. We do not recommend imitations of wood and tiles.

But linoleum has one big minus. On it, all the time there are black stripes from the soles, which are still a pleasure to wash. And, it's not just about street shoes.

So, if you have children in your house who run a lot and “slow down” with their soles, get ready for the fact that you will have to crawl with cotton wool soaked in acetone and wipe the marks.

Maintenance is absolutely minimal. this floor washes well. Also, it is not afraid of moisture, is not afraid of bumps and scratches, but at the same time it cannot be called very hard to the touch.

The self-leveling floor is not cold, therefore, it is much more pleasant to walk on it than on tiles.

Another big plus such floors - the ability to choose very non-standard colors. Here you can think of anything. Although the image of a volumetric aquarium with fish, with a full 3D effect.

But self-leveling floors are still a novelty, and therefore The price for them is not the most loyal.

Also of great importance is fitter skill. Some may do this very sloppily and the floor will look uneven. And considering that it is mostly glossy, every dot and bubble will be visible in the sun.

Therefore, before deciding on a self-leveling floor, look for the masters and see photos of their work, and also read reviews about this company.

And so, the self-leveling floor is very durable, they say that it has been serving for more than fifty years, while maintaining its original appearance. To be honest, we have doubts about this, since no one has canceled abrasion and micro-scratches. And, if even ceramic tiles wear out after 50 years, then how can a self-leveling floor be preserved if it is softer by definition?

Our article has come to an end and we hope you have decided a bit on which floor is better to make in the kitchen. We wish you all the best!

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 the house, apartment or on the 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 composition, 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 tile 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 showers, 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.

Important

It is equally important to consider the number of storeys of the apartment. I'll explain why: if you live on the first floor, then remember, there is an unheated basement below. And that means high humidity and cold. If you live on the second floor and above, then under you there will be a residential heated and dry apartment.

When choosing a floor covering, I also recommend considering the height of the room. Some technologies are simply unrealistic to introduce into an apartment, for example, wooden floors on logs if the ceiling height is 220 cm. Another point is the floor difference between rooms. We level the floors at all our facilities.

If your apartment has a wooden floor, then I do not advise pouring a concrete screed. There will be a heavy load on him. On the contrary, choose a coating that is light in weight, such as laminate or linoleum. Well, it is important to pay attention to aesthetics.

From a practical point of view, I also advise you to choose flooring by zone. For example, tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, wood, laminate and the like can be laid in the bedroom.

Advice

Zone the territory. Separate it with a color, it's beautiful and convenient.

Here's what the floors look like with zoning:

What basis to use

The draft base in the apartment can be made from:

1. Wet screed.

2. Semi-dry screed.

3. Dry screed.

Wet screed

· Long drying time. After pouring, about 30 days or more should pass for complete hardening.

• There is a lot of dirt in the process.

· There is a serious load per square meter, which can reach up to 70 kg/m 2 .

Shrinkage may occur as moisture evaporates.

• Serious labor required.

• High strength.
• Relatively low cost.

· Various engineering systems can be laid in the screed.

· To achieve the required level, you can fill in a thick layer without consequences.

Important

Provided that at least three people will pour the screed: one on the batch, the second on the rule, the third on the tray, then on average it is possible to pour the screed for a working day with an area of ​​​​up to 50 m 2 with a thickness of about 50 mm. at the same time, it takes about a day to install beacons.

Work on pouring a wet screed costs about 400 rubles. per m 2.

Semi-dry screed

We use this option in all our facilities. You can read more about the technology on our second website - http://qualityfloor.ru/

· Dependence on weather conditions. At sub-zero temperatures, work is prohibited.

• Difficult to implement on your own.

· Excellent quality is maintained at high speed.

After a while, cracks do not appear on the surface.

· Eliminates the possibility of water leakage into the lower room.

· Unlike a wet screed, a semi-dry screed is 15% cheaper.

Important! One team in the traditional way of pouring a semi-dry screed is able to pour up to 100 m 2. If you use a mechanized method, then up to 300 m 2 in one day.

The cost of materials: cement M500 50 kg - 350 rubles, washed sand 1 m 3 - 1100 rubles. The cost of work, which includes work by the rule and by helicopter, reaches up to 150 rubles. per m 2.

Dry screed

Disadvantages:

· Hydrophilicity. I explain: if a pipe breaks under a dry screed, then the screed will have to be made completely anew, with preliminary dismantling work.

• Cannot be installed in the shower and bathroom.

Advantages:

• Wet processes are completely absent.
• Increased sound and thermal insulation.
• Environmental friendliness.

· Little weight. Three times lighter than concrete wet screed.

• After installation, the floors are ready for use.

Important! In one day, a team of qualified specialists is able to produce 50 m 2 of dry screed.

The cost of installing a dry screed "Knauf" per m 2 ranges from 450 to 1300 rubles. The price depends on the method of production and volumes. For example, a dry floor screed up to 10 m 2, which includes dry backfill and a floor element 1000 rubles / m 2. With a similar composition, a volume of 30 m 3 will cost you 450 rubles. I will advise you to compare the offers of several construction companies at once in order to choose the most favorable price.

Noise isolation

Styrofoam

Advantages:

• Easy installation.
• Easy to cut.
• Elastic and strong material.
• Service life up to 25 years.
• Not afraid of moisture.

• Flammable material.

· Existence of joints that reduces noise-insulating properties.

The cost of foam plastic per m 3 with a thickness of 10 mm is 280 rubles. (I didn't find the price for the job)

Mineral wool

In my opinion, mineral wool is one of the best building materials that provides excellent floor sound insulation. However, mineral wool cannot be poured with concrete. It is only suitable for wooden floors. For example, laying between floor beams.

• The ability to absorb sound waves.
• Does not burn.
• Does not emit harmful and dangerous toxic gases.
• The ability to cope with temperatures up to +1000°C.
• Possibility of laying without a cold bridge.
• Service life up to 25 years.
• Mineral wool is resistant to various aggressive environments.

· Throughout all term of operation mineral wool keeps the properties.

• Vapor permeability.

• Afraid of moisture.

· Difficulties during installation (protective clothing must be worn).

The cost of mineral wool per package differs based on its thickness. For example, mineral wool 100 mm thick 600 × 800 mm costs 450 rubles. Mineral wool 600 mm thick 600 × 100 mm costs 650 rubles.

Important! The cost of installing sound insulation with mineral wool per m 2 will cost 200 rubles.

Expanded clay

If a screed is poured, then in my experience and practice, expanded clay is the best solution. Its price is much lower. The price depends on the faction. It is sold in bags. For example, a fraction of 10–20 mm with a volume of 0.05 m 3 costs 85 rubles, and a fraction of up to 5 mm with a volume of 0.05 m 3 costs 140 rubles.

Important! The cost of backfilling expanded clay per m 2 is 60 rubles.

Positive sides:

• Low price.
• Natural product - environmental friendliness.

· Does not change its structure when the temperature changes.

• It does not start various microorganisms.
• Refractory material.
• Noise isolation is provided by the porosity of its structure.

Negative sides:

• Very brittle due to porosity.

· Due to the low density, it is necessary to fill up a soundproof pillow of a decent height. In apartments with small ceilings, it is impossible to implement.

• The ability to absorb moisture.

Warming

As for the floor insulation in the apartment, I advise all my customers not to miss this opportunity. Especially when the apartment is on the first floor and there is an unheated basement under you. Floor insulation will eliminate heat loss.

Important

If a floor heating system is laid on the floor, then floor insulation is simply necessary. There should be a reflective film on the heaters. Due to this, all the heat emitted will rise up the apartment.

Various materials are used for insulation.

Styrofoam

Expanded polystyrene is sold in packages. Depending on the manufacturer, the price ranges from 1.1 to 4 thousand rubles. Work for m 2 will cost you 150 rubles.

• Easy installation.
• Light weight.
• Environmental friendliness.
• It does not contain different microorganisms.
• Does not pass moisture and heat.
• Service life of 50 years or more.

• combustible
• Upon reaching a temperature of 90 ° is deformed.

Cork

It costs a roll of cork 2 mm thick - 1200 rubles. The cork thickness of 6 mm has a price per roll - 3800 rubles. In my opinion, the use of this heater is unjustified. There are much cheaper heaters. But in some cases this is the only optimal solution. The price of work for installation is 320 rubles. m 2.

• Long service life.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Does not rot, does not spread mold.
• After a while, it does not lose its characteristics.
• Lets air through.

• Difficult installation process.

· High price. But in my opinion the quality justifies the price.

Ecowool

One of the modern solutions. In my opinion, the most effective way to insulate a wooden floor in an apartment. The cost of 1 kg is 28 rubles. Work for 1m 2 costs from 1600 rubles. (wet method). In my opinion, the perfect combination of quality at low cost.

• Lets air through.
• Low cost.

· Does not breed mold, does not rot. Insects and mice do not start in it.

• Easy installation.
• Seamless insulation.

Note

Cons: the main drawback is that after a while, dry laying of ecowool becomes caked. Therefore, when insulating the floor, I recommend tamping it well, on average, 1 m 3 will consume 50 kg.

Water heated floor

For many customers living in an apartment, I advise you to make a warm water floor. However, it is not always possible to do so. For example, your apartment has low ceilings, and a heating cake can take up at least 70 mm. It is not always possible to pour the screed onto a water-heated floor, due to weak overlap. It is also important to consider the choice of flooring. For example, under the laminate all the heat is eaten up and it will be difficult to reach a comfortable temperature.

Advice! As my practice shows, a water-heated floor is ideally combined with ceramic tiles. It has a high level of thermal conductivity, which allows not to retain thermal energy in the body of the screed.

· Lining insulation (which are which are cheaper and better, briefly describe)

Floor materials

The modern market offers a large selection of floor finishing materials. I propose to compare the most common facing materials.

Parquet

• Ease of use.
• Durability about 100 years.
• Beautiful appearance.
• It matches perfectly with any style of interior.

· High price. Especially when exotic wood species are used.

• Needs to be polished from time to time.
• There is a lot of noise when walking.

The cost of a piece parquet is 950 rubles/m2, and a parquet board is from 800 to 2000 rubles/m2. The work will cost 1000 rubles. per m 2.

Laminate

There are many manufacturers of laminate, respectively, the cost of the laminate is different. I take off from the class. For an apartment, I advise you to purchase a laminate class of at least 33. So the price per m 2 is in the region from 300 to 2400 rubles / m 2. The cost of installation is on average 350 rubles / m 2.

Benefits of laminate:

· Packing convenient for transportation and manual carrying.

• Simulates various building materials.
• Easy care.
• Wear resistance (depending on the class).
• Relatively simple and quick installation.
• Can be installed in different rooms.

· Resistant to negative effects of UV, does not fade. Some planks are even moisture resistant.

• Does not breed mold and fungus.

Cons of laminate:

· It is impossible to restore the top layer in case of wear. A complete replacement is needed.

• Makes a lot of noise when walking.
• Unnatural tactile sensations.
• Rigidity.

The presence of formaldehyde calls into question the environmental friendliness.

· Without deformation joints, the coating will spread or swell.

Linoleum

The cost of linoleum ranges from 200 to 1.5 thousand rubles / m 2. The cost is affected by its class, for example, commercial, household, and so on. For an apartment, I recommend buying linoleum no cheaper than 500 rubles / m 2. Installation cost: for glue 320 rubles/m 2 , without glue 250 rubles/m 2 .

• Relatively inexpensive flooring.

Resistant to moisture and steam. Actual for rooms in an apartment with high humidity, for example, a kitchen.

• Wear-resistant (depending on the class).
• Easy installation. You can use glue or not.
• Does not slip when wet.
• Easy care.

· Linoleum has a specific smell. It goes away after two weeks.

• Weak wear resistance to punctures.
• A perfectly flat floor surface is required.

Wood

In my opinion, the tree is the most win-win option when finishing the floor in the apartment. just keep in mind that it fits on the logs. Therefore, the height of the ceilings should allow such luxury. The cost of a wooden floor per m 2 varies based on the thickness of the board. The average price is 450 rubles / m 2. The flooring of the board along the logs will cost 400 rubles / m 2.

• Excellent aesthetic appearance.
• Pleasant tactile sensations when walking.

· In addition, wooden floors insulate the base. You can walk barefoot.

· Easy to operate. Once every 5 years, a coat of paint / varnish is applied and the floors are like new.

· A new floor covering can be laid on the old wooden floor.

• Easily repairable.

Difficulty in installation. Many nuances must be taken into account.

• It is impossible to achieve perfect evenness of the floor.
• If the installation technology is not followed, they creak.

Tile

The cost of ceramic tiles varies based on its collection. You can find tiles for 400 rubles / m 2, and there are collections of 17 thousand rubles / m 2. The cost of work is within 1000 rubles / m 2.

• Hard and durable coating.
• Does not let moisture through, unless there is a flood.
• Long service life.
• Hygiene.
• Easy to clean up.
• Resistant to temperature extremes.
• Resistant to chemical aggressive agents.

· High thermal conductivity. It's cold to walk on tiles without underfloor heating.

• Harmful in case of moisture.
• High price.
• Installation difficulties.

Rating of floor materials

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.

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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 exposed 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 of 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 is 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 expansion joints, tinted in the color of the coating, in this 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.

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The basis of the interior of any house, apartment or office space is the floor. Today, there are a large number of floor coverings that you can choose exactly for your room design. Someone stops at the most famous and relatively inexpensive materials, such as linoleum, laminate, carpet or tile. Others prefer the latest in the world of flooring or more expensive options - marmoleum, self-leveling floors or parquet.

When choosing a floor covering, it is necessary to consider in which room it will be laid. After all, different materials carry different characteristics and properties. That is, the floor coverings in the bedroom and the hallway should be different, since the traffic in these rooms is different.

Individual features of floor coverings in different rooms

Before moving on to an overview of the different types of flooring, you first need to consider what features the floors have in each individual room.

In addition to the main characteristics, it is also worth paying attention to the price categories for each coating and ease of installation.

Types of floor coverings in the apartment

Today, the market is filled with a variety of models and types that will suit every taste and budget. All of them will differ among themselves in characteristics, composition and place of use.

Floorboards

Fix linoleum to the floor in 3 different ways:

• just with skirting boards,
• on double-sided tape;
• using special glue.

Advantages linoleum are as follows: it has good moisture protection, it is easy to clean, there are no great difficulties in laying, it does not rot, it has a low cost among all floor coverings, a large selection of colors, and has a long service life of several decades.

disadvantages consider low ergonomics and often a long process of preparing for laying. In order for linoleum to serve for a long time, it is necessary to lay it on a completely flat surface. In addition, before fixing, it should lie unfolded for several days for maximum adhesion to the base. It is also less environmentally friendly than wood. With large temperature fluctuations, it can crumble or crack.

Laminate

Laminate is a MDF panel treated with special resins, with layers of paper glued to them, and varnished.

This product appeared on the building materials market not so long ago, but has already won a large number of buyers. In its coloring, it imitates real wood floors.

This coating is divided into several classes depending on the degree of strength of the panels. Less durable and wear-resistant grades 21-23.

Such a laminate should be laid in living rooms. 31-33 classes are stronger and more reliable, they are usually laid in hallways and kitchens.

Benefits of laminate lot. This material is considered resistant to such influences as pressure, loads, abrasion. It does not leave recesses from heavy furniture. It tolerates high temperatures well and is fire resistant. Laminate does not need to be carefully looked after, unlike parquet. Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic, as it is produced without harmful chemicals. Pretty easy to install laminate flooring. Suitable for covering underfloor heating systems. Service life more than 10 years. Sold at affordable prices.

However there are downsides too. Not suitable for rooms with high humidity. It is advisable to treat with a special waterproof solution or wax after laying.

Before laying, a lot of preparatory work is required. If the laying technology is broken, then swelling of the boards or bubbling of the surface is possible.

If the surface is not properly leveled, the laminate will start to squeak.

PVC floors

These coatings are in the form of soft elastic embossed materials. They include several layers. They have a long service life - about 30 years. Withstand heavy loads and do not burn well.

In addition to this, to Advantages of PVC flooring it can be attributed that their strength is higher than that of linoleum or laminate. Their transportation is easy. They have good soundproofing and moisture-proof properties. Great variety in colors and textures.

disadvantages are that laying skills and a well-prepared surface are required. Seams can dry out over time. This is not cheap material, and in small towns it is not always on sale. If stored incorrectly, the tiles may warp, which will cause difficulties during installation, so it is necessary to carefully check all packages before purchasing.

Cork flooring

This is a completely environmentally friendly material, as it is made from cork tree bark in the form of compressed chips or veneer plates. Produced in the form of plates or rolls. The coating is laid on MDF panels and fixed with glue.

This type of flooring many advantages. Cork floors have very good heat and sound insulation properties. Resistant to deformation, so heavy furniture is not terrible for this type of coating. The coating does not slip, has a positive effect on the human musculoskeletal system due to its shock-absorbing qualities. It can only be affected by caustic alkalis, which are not used at home. Does not attract rodents and insects.

disadvantage First of all, the high price is considered. Heels, pet claws, sharp furniture legs can damage the surface.

Due to the low thermal conductivity, it is impractical to install a floor heating system under this coating. Not suitable for rooms with high humidity, as the MDF base may swell.

Parquet board and parquet

Classic flooring. Parquet is a valuable type of wood glued onto a wooden base, it looks like small boards.

Laying takes place in a mosaic way on the base, which is prepared in advance. Fix with glue or mastic.

To benefits certainly include environmental friendliness and durability of the material. With the right laying technology, parquet will last for decades.

disadvantages are high cost and a small selection, limited to types of natural wood.

carpet

Another popular type of flooring material is carpet. They can contain both natural ingredients and artificial ones. The latter are more common. Carpets can be purchased at affordable prices. Huge selection of colors. There are no difficulties in care. Also, rodents and moths do not show interest in them. Just like linoleum, carpet is produced in the form of rolls and tiles.

To their benefits include good sound insulation, which provides an elastic and soft pile. Carpet is abrasion resistant.

Wherein disadvantage is that carpets can fade in the sun. High humidity can cause mold to form. Due to the accumulation of dust in the pile, frequent vacuuming is necessary.

Ceramic tile

Ceramic tiles have long been used by mankind as a floor covering.

Most often it is placed in rooms with high traffic and humidity. Today there is a huge number of different in appearance ceramic tiles. The differences are in size, appearance, strength, water absorption, degree of slip, etc.

Most often, it is placed in bathrooms and in the kitchen due to its certain characteristics. But recently, it has often been laid in bedrooms and living rooms due to its good thermal conductivity, installing a floor heating system under it.

Advantages of ceramic tiles are its durability, moisture resistance, environmental friendliness, strength and ease of operation.

To shortcomings include difficult installation and dismantling, the presence of seams. If the floor heating system is not installed, then it will be cold to walk barefoot on such a coating.

Marmoleum

New to the flooring market.

The composition of this coating includes only natural ingredients: linseed oil, ground lime, wood flour and resins.

Available in rolls, panels or tiles.

Marmoleum has a large range benefits. The most important of them is an environmentally friendly product.

It is laid without any particular difficulties, while there are no special requirements for leveling the base, as, for example, for laminate or linoleum.

Service life from 20 to 30 years. Resistant to fire, does not absorb moisture. A damp cloth is sufficient to clean the cover.

Main flaw- brittleness of the material when cutting. Therefore, the cut parts are hidden under the baseboards. At the same time, the material is solid, and this property increases over time, so it is given a high level of injury risk.

Polymer floors

This coating is also called self-leveling or liquid floors. According to the components in the composition, they are divided into several types: cement-acrylic (the most environmentally friendly), epoxy, methyl methacrylate (the most expensive) and polyurethane.

This new type of coating is gaining great popularity. They are used not only in residential premises, but also in enterprises, trading floors, and sports facilities.

In apartments, most often a self-leveling floor can be found in the bathroom. They have an unusual design of 3D images on the floor.

big row benefits helps to make more and more choice in favor of self-leveling floors. First of all, it is their appearance, beautiful and unusual. They are durable, resistant to moisture, fire and aggressive chemicals. They are easy to clean and wash.

However, the pleasure of having a self-leveling floor is quite expensive. The preparation of the base and the laying process itself require professional skills. And liquid floors consist entirely of artificial materials.

Conclusion

Everyone who wants to replace the flooring at home will find among all this variety of species exactly the option that suits him best. When choosing, it is worth remembering such characteristics as strength, heat and sound insulation, fire and wear resistance, chemical inertness, hypoallergenicity.

If you take the issue seriously and carefully study the flooring market, you can get a result that exceeds expectations.