CREATING INTERIOR BACKGROUNDS

Chapter 14

Flooring Material

Wood Offers beauty and warmth Some resilience and durability Can scratch and dent Cost is moderate to high Hardwoods include oak, maple, beech,

birch, hickory, mahogany, cherry and teak Softwoods include redwood, cedar, cypress

and white pine

Flooring materials

Two types of installation Unfinished Prefinished

Unfinished Must acclimate to the interior temperature

due to humidity and temperature Multiple steps to finishing

Engineered wood can be installed over concrete and has more stability

Flooring materials

Tile Feels cool to touch and more popular in

sunbelt areas Can be expensive to install Ceramic

Harder, more durable and more expensive Quality and cost can vary Glazed ceramic tile is water and stain resistant Seal the grout

Flooring materials

Porcelain Tile Highest quality tile Can withstand freezing temperature Smooth surfaces can become slippery Ceramic tile color is only on the surface

Quarry Tile Made from terra- cotta Very strong and durable Glazed or unglazed

Flooring Materials

Natural Stone Beautiful and durable, but costly Limestone, travertine, granite, marble, slate Texture may be rough or polished Easy to maintain

Concrete Color can be added Sturdy and durable, but uncomfortable to

stand on Inexpensive

Flooring Material

Brick Costly, beautiful and durable Wide variety of pattern

Floor Coverings

Floor coverings are surfaces placed over the structural floor

Last several years, are expensive, but not as expensive as flooring materials

Include soft floor coverings and resilient floor coverings

Soft Floor Covering

Carpets and rugs Made from natural or manufactured

fibers Insulate cold floors Provide sound control Walking comfort Add color and texture Can cover the entire floor or only a

portion of it

Soft Floor Covering

Wall to wall carpet Makes a room larger Hides damage or faults in the floor

Room-size rug Exposes border on the floor Requires two cleaning methods

Area rugs Vary in size Used to define areas, add interest, serve as

focal point

Resilient Floor Covering

Nonabsorbent, durable easy to maintain Fairly inexpensive Provide some cushioning for walking Vinyl, laminate and cork

Vinyl Floor Covering

Available in many colors, pattern and textures

Quality varies with cost Available in tiles or sheet Solid vinyl floor covering is made totally

of vinyl rather than a thin layer Have appearance of hardwood, marble,

stone granite or geometric pattern

Laminate flooring

Product made by uniting one or more different layer

Best have four layers that are fused under heat and pressure

Resistant to traffic, stains and fading

Cork Flooring

Must be covered with protective coating to be water resistant, durable and easy to maintain

Rich appearance Good walking comfort