Which floors are better? Let's figure out which floor is better in the apartment

When renovating an apartment, very little attention is paid to the floors; the main thing is that they are smooth, sound and durable. However, this element of the home has become more in demand in design. IN Lately you can meet not only classic options finishing, but also quite original. So, what floors are best for an apartment?

Parquet is still in fashion. However, now it is no longer the same as it was before - in the shape of a laid Christmas tree. Now it is made in the form of special shields, which are covered with valuable types of wood. Unique piece parquet is the most expensive, but with its help you can create a real work of art on the floor. For such parquet, beech, maple, ash, oak, as well as exotic wood species are usually used.

When deciding which floors are best to install in an apartment, you can come to the conclusion that parquet is not only a very expensive option, but also capricious in terms of maintenance. Many people choose parquet boards. It is made in such a way that it allows itself to be updated several times, which is an important factor. It can be used to cover all rooms, even loggias. Laying is carried out on a flat floor using the floating method, that is, without using glue. The boards have locking connections. In terms of maintenance, it is less capricious than parquet, and it is also cheaper.

If you are deciding what floors to install in your apartment, then it is worth considering some other options. For example, laminate. It perfectly conveys texture and color various breeds wood, can imitate stone, leather, ceramic tiles. The most popular ones are those that imitate exotic dark woods or oak. In addition to natural natural colors, you can find examples of green, orange and blue shades.

Speaking about which floors are best to make in an apartment, it is worth saying that recently woven carpets - mats - have become increasingly popular. They are made from natural fibers of cane, flax, sisal, hemp and jute. These coatings differ in texture, size and color. Their advantages are hypoallergenic, antistatic, massage effect, and do not attract dust. Such coatings do not tolerate dampness and require careful handling. Mats look very good in minimalist interiors.

If we talk about what kind of floors are better to make in an apartment so that it is easy to walk on them barefoot, then there is an answer - from cork. This coating is light, elastic, environmentally friendly, it does not rot, and feet do not slip on it. Cork dies, which are varnished, can have different designs and colors: light, dark, or with some kind of pattern.

If you decide to make the floor in new apartment, then it’s worth mentioning the most unusual coating - glass. Nobody says that the entire floor should be glass; a few small rectangular windows are quite enough. They can be filled with pebbles, colored glass, sand, and shells. You can make a transparent podium or several. Tempered glass is used for the floor.

It turns out that you can have different floors in the apartment.

Materials for decorative finishing residential premises must meet the following requirements:

In practice, all of the above requirements can be realized if you pay attention to:

1. material type;
2. wear resistance class;
3. coating manufacturer;
4. additional features.

Types of Home Flooring

In residential premises, the following types of coatings are used for finishing floors:

• It is a narrow MDF panel with a protective and decorative coating. In recent decades, the material has become extremely popular. However, some experts dispute the advisability of its use in apartments. The process of laying laminate flooring is quite labor-intensive, and the material itself is more expensive than linoleum and carpet. Despite the fact that the coating is based on wood waste (shavings and sawdust), its thermal conductivity is higher than that of natural wood. Finally, the surface of many types of laminate flooring is very slippery;
• Parquet is one of the oldest varieties floor coverings. Complex compositions made from valuable natural wood look like real works of art and last for decades. back side medals - the high cost of the coating and the complexity of its maintenance. Without regular sanding and varnishing or special mastic the parquet loses its attractive appearance and collapses;
• Ceramic is the leader in wear resistance. The material offers an endless number of design options, is easy to clean from any type of contaminant, and does not provoke allergies or asthma. However, due to their high thermal conductivity, ceramic tiles are laid on the floor in kitchens, bathrooms, restrooms, on balconies and loggias.

Wear resistance class and coating manufacturers

The surface of floor coverings gradually wears off during use. As a result, the material loses its decorative properties and is destroyed.

Advice. It is easy to check a particular synthetic material (linoleum, laminate or carpet) for compliance with environmental standards. To do this, just smell it. Poor quality coatings emit a pungent chemical odor. Usually it does not weather even after several years of use.

Operating conditions and loads in industrial, office and residential premises vary significantly, so it is not possible to create a universal coating. However, calculating typical loads is quite simple. Based on these data, it is possible to vary the strength of the material depending on its purpose.

The wear resistance class is indicated by a two-digit number. The first digit indicates the type of room:

• 2 - residential;
• 3 - office;
• 4 - production.

The second number indicates the intensity of the load from 1 (low) to 4 (very high).

Thus, material of wear resistance class 21 is suitable for a pantry or bedroom in an apartment, and 44 is suitable for an industrial workshop in which equipment and all kinds of mechanisms move quite intensively.

Advice. The division into wear resistance classes is conditional. Industrial and office coatings can also be used at home. In practice, a reasonable safety margin should be provided. Many manufacturers have stopped producing flooring materials of classes 21-24, since their use in apartments is impractical. Laying coatings for industrial use in residential areas also does not make sense, but due to the excessive safety factor. It should be remembered that increasing the wear resistance class increases the cost of the material.

In Russia, floor coverings produced by domestic and European companies have become widespread. Products of foreign companies are leaders in the premium segment. Goods Russian manufacturers practical and cheap, but do not cover the elite segments of the market.

What flooring is best for the kitchen and bathroom?

In the kitchen, droplets of grease often fall onto the floor, and in the bathroom the coating is used in conditions of high humidity. Parquet, carpet and ordinary brands of laminate quickly collapse under this kind of load.

Ceramic tiles are suitable for the kitchen and bathroom. It does not deteriorate from constant contact with water and frequent cleanings using abrasive detergents and hard brushes. Linoleum has similar properties, but removing old grease stains from it is quite difficult.

Some manufacturers produce special waterproof brands of laminated parquet. They can also be used in bathrooms and kitchens. However, only outside surface material. The joints between the panels must be carefully coated with glue, otherwise the laminate will deform and become unusable.

Systems are often installed in bathrooms and kitchens. Such equipment is quite affordable, reliable and practical. However, some types of coatings, primarily parquet, become deformed due to prolonged heating. The thermal conductivity of other materials is so low that placing heating elements underneath them makes no sense.

For sharing with warm floors Ceramic tiles are great. When choosing laminate, linoleum and carpet, you should pay attention to the special markings and manufacturer’s recommendations.

Flooring for residential premises should be environmentally friendly, practical and affordable. You need to be especially careful when choosing materials for the kitchen and bathroom or when used together with underfloor heating systems. The durability of the coating is indicated by the wear resistance class. Defective or low-quality products can be easily recognized by their pungent chemical smell.

How to choose linoleum for an apartment - video

Today there are quite a large number of apartment floor coverings. This is precisely the main difficulty encountered on the path of choice. the required material. Today we will try to figure out which floor is best for an apartment. Let's find out which materials are the most practical, take into account reviews about them and look at photos of ready-made options.

Basic criteria for choosing flooring

Whatever room of the apartment you plan to replace the floor in, there is general criteria, by which the type of flooring is selected:

1. First, decide how much money you are willing to pay for this type building material. After all, the price categories of flooring are quite ambiguous and depend on the type of material and its quality.
2. When choosing flooring, the location of the apartment is taken into account. For example, the material that can be used on the second, third and higher floors is strictly not recommended for installation on the first floor (due to the increased level of moisture in the basement).
3. Lifestyle and number of people living in the apartment. If four adults, two children live in one room, and there are also animals, then preference should be given to more durable and high-quality material.

Choosing a floor for the bedroom

The bedroom is the place where we are used to being as relaxed as possible. Therefore, we want to get maximum comfort from this room so that we can relax peacefully. Often, moving around the rest room occurs with bare feet, so the main quality of the flooring should be warmth.

Warm and soft carpet: a good option for the bedroom

Most suitable coating Materials with high heat resistance characteristics can be used for the bedroom:

• Carpet;
• Natural wood;
• Parquet.
  

  Attention! IN last years Laminate has become the most common material due to its practical, durable and durable characteristics.

  Although it is worth knowing that in terms of its thermal properties, laminate is significantly inferior to carpet. You should walk on such a surface in indoor slippers or cover it with a carpet. Another great way to make laminate flooring warm is to install a special heating system underneath it.

Children's room - an area of ​​increased attention

We all want to provide our children with maximum warmth, comfort and protection. Therefore, the choice of flooring in a children's room should be taken with the utmost seriousness. The child spends most of his free time in his room: playing, studying, resting and sleeping. The most important criterion for choosing a floor for a children's playroom is safety. The material from which the coating is made should not emit harmful toxic substances or unpleasant odors.

Cork: one of the most environmentally friendly materials for an apartment

One of the safest floors is cork, the same type used to seal wine bottles. The main properties characteristic of cork flooring:

• Safety. The material is completely environmentally friendly, therefore it does not emit harmful and toxic substances into the air;
• Has excellent anti-allergenic and bactericidal properties;
• Moisture-resistant, which is very important for rooms where there are small children;
• Cork flooring is an excellent sound insulator. Therefore, the active games of children will not be heard by the neighbors below;
• Elasticity and strength.

Attention! Cork is a fairly durable material that does not rot or form fungus.

The only drawback of cork flooring is its expensive price, which is equivalent to the cost of natural wooden parquet.

What is the best floor to make in the kitchen?

The kitchen is a zone of high humidity and temperature. Therefore, the kitchen flooring must be practical, durable, and hygienic. An ideal option for the kitchen could be ceramic coating(tile). She doesn't demand special care If it gets dirty, just take a damp cloth and wipe the floor. Today you can simply be amazed at the variety of ornaments and designs on tiles, so everyone will choose the most suitable design for themselves. Another advantage of ceramics is that even after time it does not change its original appearance and bright color.

Ceramic tile: great option for a room like a kitchen

If you are primarily interested in budget coating options, then you should pay attention to linoleum, which today is significantly different in its appearance and the quality of Soviet coverage. Linoleum is also quite easy to maintain and has good quality characteristics.

Flooring in the hallway and hallway

The corridor and hallway are considered the most trafficked places in the apartment, which are subject to frequent pollution, dust and mechanical damage. It is for these reasons that it is necessary to use high-quality flooring in these rooms. And here again it comes to the rescue ceramic material(tile). It is wear-resistant and durable. Ceramics do not require special care; dirt, dirt and dust can be easily removed with a regular damp cloth.

Ceramic tiles are well suited for both the corridor and the hallway area

Since the corridor or hallway is often small-sized and naturally unlit, preference should be given light colors. This way you can visually enlarge the room and make it much brighter and lighter. Bright pictures and increased contrast are not welcome in this case.

Attention! Whatever type of flooring you choose, the main thing is that it is safe for human health. The quality characteristics of the floor largely depend on the professionalism of the laying of the material. Therefore, floor installation should be carried out by experienced specialists.

So, to summarize, we can say that for each room you should choose a certain type of flooring, which is characterized by certain characteristics. If you like warmth, then we recommend giving preference to parquet, natural wood or carpet. When sustainability is a priority, look to cork. Ceramics have an increased level of strength and practicality. While linoleum is the most budget-friendly flooring option.

Video: Which floors are best to choose for an apartment?

The floor in the apartment is the most important part of it. Firstly, furniture is installed on the floor and most of equipment, washing machine, stove, bath, shower, toilet and other plumbing. A person is constantly in contact with the floor, walking on it, often barefoot. Sometimes you have to lie on the floor, even sleep. The floor must be well adapted to cleaning, since any debris falls on it, liquids are spilled, and food remains are spilled on it. The floor separates us from the people living in the lower apartment, and the comfort of the apartment depends on how well it is insulated.

That is, in addition to strength, it must protect the apartment from extraneous sounds and foreign climate. It is the finished, well-executed floor that gives the apartment ensemble completeness.

Installing a floor is not a cheap undertaking. Nevertheless, variety of materials and methods of its construction allows you to build a fairly comfortable and aesthetic floor based on the most modest budget.

Thus, the floor in the apartment bears the following functional loads, which must be taken into account when constructing it:

1. Carrier.
2. Warming.
3. Soundproofing.
4. Moisture-proof.
5. Aesthetic.

Floor design in the apartment

The floor in the apartment is mounted on top surface interfloor covering and consists of two main layers:

• intermediate;
• flooring.

In the simplest cases, for example, in a Khrushchev apartment intermediate layer absent. The floor covering in it, most often PVC tiles, linoleum, or thin cotterless parquet strips glued directly to the top surface concrete slab covering with bitumen mastic, latex or PVA glue.

At best, the top surface of the slab before gluing was smoothed with a thin layer cement screed. It’s no wonder that in such apartments the audibility and thermal qualities leave much to be desired. The horizontality of the floor plane in such apartments is also far from ideal.

IN modern houses inter-apartment floors are complex reinforced concrete or metal structures , equipped with layers of heat, moisture and sound insulation. In frame-monolithic structures, floors are most often cast from expanded clay concrete- an excellent insulating material. In these cases, insulating layers should be installed in the intermediate layer if the insulating properties of the ceiling are insufficient.

The wooden beam floor may also contain thermal, moisture and sound insulation. Most often this mineral wool, laid between the beams. A layer of waterproofing may also be provided there. An intermediate layer is already installed on the beams, which can consist of joists, a subfloor, insulating layers of insulation and waterproofing, screed, and a floor covering is placed on top. The wooden floor, which, thanks to the cottered boards, forms a single sheet, can be laid directly on the beams. If the beams are located far from each other, on logs attached to beams.

There may be no overlap, for example, in basements or basements. In this case, the floor is mounted on a screed that specifically covers prepared pillow, consisting of compacted layers of sand and crushed stone lying on the ground.

Types of flooring bases

The floor in the apartment, unlike individual house, is installed on the existing “builders’” floor in a new house, or on a beam floor in an old one. For this reason, before laying the floor, it is necessary thoroughly study the overlap. In old houses, it is necessary to raise the old floor and carry out an examination of the floor beams. Replace or strengthen damaged beams or replace them with new ones. The best solution The beam covering will be replaced with reinforced concrete.

Floors in new houses, depending on construction technologies, can be made of reinforced concrete panel floors, or in monolithic frame houses - solid expanded clay concrete.

The following can be used as beams:

• wooden beam;
• reinforced concrete beam;
• metallic profile(T-beam or I-beam or rail).

Beams are installed during construction straight into the wall or on concrete crossbars mounted into the wall.

Beams can be wooden or concrete. In Khrushchev's houses, they were most often used as ceilings. hollow-core panels, which served as the basis for the floor on one side and the ceiling on the other.

Floors from builders, except surface defects may have a bias. Therefore, the surface of the ceiling is covered with a screed, which solves two issues:

• makes the surface smooth enough for the position of the floor covering;
• makes the surface horizontal.

Cement strainer

The simplest type of screed is a cement screed. The filling solution is being prepared made of cement 400 grade and river washed and sifted sand. Currently, ready-mixed dry mixtures are available for sale. But you can cook it yourself. Mixture composition:

1. Sand - 3-4 parts.
2. Cement - 1 part.
3. Water - so much so that the solution resembles sour cream.

Sequence of actions when installing cement screed:

After completion of all work, during the entire curing time, it is necessary to moisten the surface pouring, sprinkling it with water. To maintain moisture, you can cover the pouring surface with polyethylene.

Time for final setting and drying of the screed 28−29 days.

Semi-dry cement screed

Recently, the semi-dry screed method has become widespread. Its main advantages are:

• short curing time of the mixture, sufficient for laying the floor covering;
• no risk of leaks to the lower floor;
• the plasticity of the screed and, as a result, the absence of cracks and cavities after hardening;
• additional heat and sound insulating properties.

The composition of the mixture for laying semi-dry screed differs significantly from wet screed smaller water content. In addition, a significant amount of plasticizer is added to the solution - fiber fiber, which keeps the screed from cracking.

The composition of the mixture is as follows:

1. Pure construction sand, fineness modulus = 2.0; fraction up to 5 mm - 2 parts.
2. Cement grade 400D20 - 7 parts.
3. Water - 1 part.
4. Fiber - 700 gr. per 1 cu. m of solution.

The installation procedure is the same as in the case of a cement screed with the difference that:

The main advantage of semi-dry screed is that it is already 12 hours hardens enough to be walked on. After 42 hours, porcelain stoneware and tiles can be laid on it, and after 7 days- laminate, PVC tiles or linoleum. The fact is that although a semi-dry screed gains strength very quickly, moisture evaporates from it little by little over the course of a month. Therefore, it is better to install a parquet floor on a fresh screed after a month of aging, since even minor fumes can ruin dry parquet.

Dry screed

The main advantage of a dry screed is that it can be covered with flooring immediately after installation. The intermediate layer of dry screed is formed as follows. Waterproofing in the form of a polyethylene sheet 0.2 mm thick is laid on the surface of the ceiling. From above it is filled with expanded clay or sand, which is carefully leveled and compacted with a flat vibrator or roller.

A special layer is placed on the layer thus formed. metallic profile, which is covered on top with gypsum fiber boards arranged in a checkerboard pattern, which are attached mounting screws to this profile. If the backfill is more than 7 cm thick, upper layer reinforced with another layer of gypsum fiber boards. The floor covering is immediately laid over the finished screed.

Self-leveling floors

In case it is necessary to receive perfectly smooth horizontal surface ready for laying linoleum, PVC tiles or laminate, the best intermediate layer can be obtained by pouring onto well waterproofed the base is a liquid solution of a certain composition. This solution is formed by diluting with water, in accordance with the instructions included with each package. ready mixture, a wide variety of which are currently available on the building materials market.

The mixture consists of cement, gypsum, fillers such as fine sand and contains various chemical components, which promote rapid and uniform spreading, plasticization and stabilization of the resulting coating. Perfect horizontal surface is formed by itself under the influence of gravity. That is why these mixtures are called self-leveling. Various formulations connected With different conditions and different thicknesses of the formed coating.

Before installing the floor, heat and sound insulation should be placed between the beams. It can be mineral wool, expanded clay or slag. Porous insulating material significantly loses its insulating properties when absorbing moisture or steam. Therefore, it must be carefully isolated moisture-proof film, for example polyethylene or roofing felt. If the size of the film is insufficient, its sheets should be overlapped, sealing the edges with tape.

1. If the distance between the beams does not exceed 60 cm, then the floor can be laid directly on the beams. If not, then logs are laid on the beams, perpendicular to their direction at a distance of 50-60 cm.
2. The logs are placed directly on reinforced concrete floor or screed.
3. Lags are wooden beams cross section 50×100 from coniferous species tree. When laying, it is necessary to use a level to set the top edge strictly horizontally. The distance between the logs should not exceed 60 cm.

The cut is applied to the joists in advance batten, which, thanks to the cotter pin, forms a single floor sheet. It is necessary to install ventilation ducts in the walls, coming out of the walls at a distance of several centimeters from the baseboard, closed with openwork hatches. These moves are necessary in order to ventilated the space between the joists and the underside of the board. For greater strength, the boards are attached to the joists with self-tapping screws inserted at an angle at the level of the cotter pin in order to hide their heads and make it possible to process a single floor surface with a polishing machine.

The best flooring boards are mahogany and oak, but they are most often made from softwood. Optimal ratio price quality have boards made of Siberian larch.

After polishing, the floor can be varnished or painted. In both cases it is necessary follow instructions for painting and, if necessary, perform preliminary priming with special primers. This will significantly lengthen lifespan paint layer.

A subfloor can also be laid on the logs, on which PVC tiles, linoleum, or laminate can be laid as a floor covering. To do this, the subfloor is covered additional leveling sheet material, for example fiberboard. Covering with tiles or porcelain stoneware wooden covering possible only if a reinforcing layer is applied on top reinforced screed.

The subfloor can be made from floorboards, chipboards, or OSB. In this case, additional leveling layer not needed. Parquet is laid on the subfloor.

Types of flooring

Floor coverings complete the floor installation. This is exactly the material that will be addressed to a person and will be with him contact directly and which will take on all external influences.

Board

To cover wooden board tongue and groove floorboard is used. She represents planed board in the form of a regular parallelepiped, along one of the narrow edges of which a ridge (tongue) is milled along the entire length, and on the other, opposite, corresponding groove. This form allows, by assembling boards so that the tongue of one fits into the groove of another, and forming a strong continuous flooring.

The thickness of the floorboards varies from 25 to 45 mm. The thicker the board, the less it “plays”, that is, the floor bends. The thinner the floorboard, the smaller the distance between the joists should be. For example, with a board 25 mm thick, the distance between the joists cannot exceed 60 cm. When installing, the floorboard floor must leave a gap between the wall and the edge of the floor at least 1 cm for expansion from moisture and temperature.

The board should be well dried(at least 10% humidity). After installation, a wooden floor can be polished, varnished or painted. The gap near the walls, upon completion of installation, is covered with a plinth. The floorboard is not made from linden and alder.

Parquet and laminate

Parquet, in fact, is a small floorboard with grooves and cotter pins on all sides in pairs. This allows you to assemble the flooring from relatively small tiles.

Parquet is undoubtedly the most human-friendly floor covering. However, it is inherent significant drawback. When even a small amount of moisture gets in, it warps, and when flooded, it “rears.”

An alternative to parquet is an unpretentious laminate. Externally, laminate is very similar to parquet. In essence, it is a parquet board, but made not from solid wood, but from a four-layer material, the main one, load-bearing layer which is a thin wood fiber board impregnated with resins. A mounting layer is glued to the bottom of it, providing rigidity, on top is paper, with a pattern applied, usually imitating natural wood, covered with another layer of melamine or acrylic resin provides wear resistance. Structurally, the laminate board repeats tongue and groove lock parquet, which makes it easy, quick and reliable to assemble the flooring.

Linoleum and PVC tiles

Linoleum is probably the most common and most universal coating of all those existing today. The first linoleum was a jute burlap, onto which was applied a material made of cork chips, pressed with linseed oil as binding material. It has proven itself for many years as a covering material for floors, walls and countertops. The current linoleum has retained the basic idea of ​​two layers, fabric and surface, but both have undergone lots of changes.

Mainly in modern linoleum as fabric base various woven and nonwovens, felt type, serving simultaneously base and insulation. Numerous wear-resistant materials are used as the surface layer, for example PVC in various options and compositions. Modern technological capabilities make it possible to imitate on the surface of linoleum any material and texture and paint it with incredible patterns.

All this made it possible to produce incredible assortment in terms of strength, insulation and other capabilities. But the distinctive feature of linoleum, which distinguishes it favorably from ceramic tiles and stone, is its “warmth” in sensation and some softness. Dishes that fall on a linoleum floor will not necessarily break. And bruises when falling on linoleum will not be so painful.

PVC tiles are tiles made from a special multilayer composite material, which is based on crushed natural stone and very durable vinyl. It comes in a wide variety of colors. Thanks to its modularity and variety of colors, it allows you to achieve incredibly designer decor on the floor. Its main advantages:

• ease of installation on bitumen mastics and adhesives;
• ease of installation and dismantling makes it easy to replace damaged tiles;
• and cheapness means changing a boring pattern;
• The tiles are extremely wear-resistant and adhere well to the surface.

PVC tiles are the most democratic material for flooring.

Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles

Ceramic tiles are one of the oldest facing materials. Previously there were two varieties:

• facing tiles covered with glaze and having underglaze painting;
• metlakhskaya, unglazed, rough, for the floor.

Nowadays there are also ceramic tiles of the most different sizes and purposes. Their main advantage is the strength of the material and resistance to any aggressive influences. However, when making tiles, the material and heat treatment modes.

Such tile producing countries as Spain, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic have proven themselves to be excellent. By choosing tiles from new market participants such as Türkiye and China, you can win on budget but lose in quality. However, these manufacturers also have high-quality products, which allows you to save on cladding. The disadvantages of tile flooring are slipperiness when moisture gets on it, fragility when hit by a heavy object, “coldness” in sensation, hardness, which leads to the fact that dropped glass and ceramic dishes break into small fragments, which can represent some danger for children and pets.

If earlier the installation of tiles was carried out using mortar, then with the development of the construction adhesives industry, installation is carried out with their help. The main tool is wide spatula with cutouts for applying glue. Glue is applied to the tile and then the tile is fixed on the prepared surface. You must remember to leave a small gap between the tiles, for which there is simple and accessible equipment. This gap is necessary to compensate for the thermal expansion of the tile when changing ambient temperature. The seam is then sealed with special grouts and improves the aesthetic perception of the surface.

Porcelain tiles are very similar to tiles, but have slightly different qualities. Porcelain tiles originated in Italy in the late 70s and are produced ceramic sintering method and natural minerals at very high temperatures and pressure. This process is very similar to the natural processes occurring in the bowels of the earth during the formation of granite. The end result was incredible durable material superior in strength to granite and approaching corundum.

Technologies make it possible to paint it in such a way that tiles made from it not only imitate all known gems and semiprecious stones, but also make it possible to obtain any color and pattern, moreover, distributed throughout the entire thickness, and not located only on the surface. In addition, the material is lighter natural stone and has additional thermal insulation properties. It polishes well and somewhat warmer ceramic tiles.

The most important advantage of porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles is their absolute hygiene, which makes them an indispensable floor covering for the bathroom and kitchen.

Conclusion

The topic of flooring is very broad. It's obvious that variety of materials and technology makes it possible to build a comfortable, functional and beautiful floor for every taste and for any money. However, I would like to note that, despite the simplicity and clarity of floor installation procedures, it is better to carry out this important work trust a professional so as to receive good result a synthesis of knowledge, experience and practical skills of a person constantly engaged in work in this important area is necessary.

In most cases, a modern apartment is a concrete box, subject to rough and fine finishing. In the case of the floor, the homeowner needs to decide several fundamentally important issues - which rough structure to choose, how to insulate it and soundproof it, and also what finishing coating to use in each room. Floors in an apartment - what to make of them so that they are not only aesthetically attractive, but also safe, durable and practical. This is what today's material is about.

For styling most decorative coatings requires an even solid foundation. Sometimes the quality of the floor slab allows finishing without preliminary preparation, but more often it requires leveling the base, its insulation and sound insulation. The type of floor construction ensures its reliability, practicality and durability. Therefore, it often consists of an intermediate (sub-floor) floor mounted on a floor slab and a finished (decorative) floor, which must also have characteristics and properties appropriate for the purpose of the room.

A rough screed does not require special qualifications of the builder, but, nevertheless, involves a large number of works associated with its creation. You will find the features of the device and a calculator for calculating the amount of ingredients for a floor screed solution

Previously, it was practiced to lay finishing material directly on the floor slab, but it soon became clear that decorative material in the form of linoleum, carpet or parquet does not provide the required level of heat and sound insulation, and therefore the required degree of comfort and safety for human health. In addition, the absence of a rough leveling structure affects the evenness of the coating and reduces its service life.

Now the floor design is in modern apartment is a complex multi-layer technological system in which each layer is thought out and technologically justified - hydro-, sound-, heat- and vapor barrier.

There are fundamentally two types of subfloors - in the form of a screed and a structure with joists. Each variety has its own characteristics and advantages.

Types of screeds

In addition to the fact that the screed is designed to level the base under the finishing material, it affects the following factors:

1. Makes the base more rigid.
2. Forms a heat and waterproofing layer.
3. Allows you to create a slope to drain water in rooms where it is necessary.
4. Allows installation in floor structures engineering Communication and electrical networks.

When laying the floor in an apartment, one of three types of screeds is used:

1. Wet.
2. Dry.
3. Semi-dry.

Each of these varieties has its own characteristics, technology, advantages and disadvantages.

Wet screed

This is a traditional screed method, the significant disadvantage of which is the presence of water in the solution in large quantities. Before pouring it, it is imperative to provide a high-quality waterproofing layer of the base (floor slab), otherwise moisture will seep through it. To create a waterproofing layer, coating compounds are used that make it possible to obtain a monolithic, seamless coating or ordinary dense polyethylene, which is laid with an overlap of at least 15 cm and carefully taped with waterproof tape.

Important! Waterproofing is applied to the walls to the height of the screed.

A variation of this type of screed is one of the cheapest options. You can fill it yourself. And the issue of providing thermal insulation can be solved by laying penoplex in two layers with an offset. This will lead to an increase in the cost of the floor structure, but it will become much warmer.

To create the solution, use cement of a grade no lower than M400, which is mixed with sand and water. In order for the components to form a stronger bond and the screed to be strong and dense, add. As part of the screed, this substance affects the following points:

1. Increases the mobility of the solution.
2. Increases the strength of the solution by 50%.
3. Increases the adhesion of the mortar to the reinforcement by 1.5 times.
4. Reduces cement consumption by -20%.
5. Reduces the amount of water in the solution.

The strength of the screed is also ensured by its thickness, which should not be less than 2 cm. This type of base is suitable for any finishing coating, as well as for laying a “warm floor” system. The disadvantages of wet screed include the following:

1. The work is classified as labor-intensive.
2. The process involves wet, “dirty” work.
3. To obtain an even layer, you must have the skill of working with beacons and know how to install them correctly.
4. To dry the screed it is required long time(at least 3 weeks).
5. During the hardening process, the screed requires special care - wetting, in order to avoid the formation of cracks on its surface.

Semi-dry screed

This variety is excellent alternative option wet screed. This method is also quite inexpensive and uses a small amount of water. The result is a certain mass, which among professional builders is called “prance”, which is sand mixed dry with cement and a minimal amount of water, which barely moistens the mixture. The installation of a waterproofing layer when laying such a composition on a floor slab is, in fact, only a convention.

The advantages of this type of screed include the following:

1. Can be used in both new and old apartments, private houses and cottages.
2. The presence of a small amount of water allows the use of this type of screed regardless of the height of the floor where the apartment is located - moisture does not penetrate into the apartment below even without installing a waterproofing layer.
3. The ability to create a perfectly flat base without air bubbles, which are removed during the process of compacting the semi-dry mixture.
4. Low probability of cracking. If you add fiber fiber to the composition, the screed will gain additional strength and will definitely not crack.
5. Formation of an excellent soundproof barrier between apartments.
6. The ability to make even the floor on an unheated loggia warmer.
7. Can be used in a “warm floor” system with water or electric coolant.
8. Reliably protects internal communications from mechanical impact.
9. Due to the low moisture content, the screed dries quickly, which generally speeds up the repair process.
10. Availability and low cost of components.

The disadvantages of this semi-dry screed include the following:

1. Without specific work experience, difficulties arise with adding the optimal amount of water to the screed composition.
2. The low fluidity of the solution causes difficulties when laying the screed and forming a flat surface.
3. High-quality coating is obtained by using special tamping tools.
4. The height of the screed should not be less than 4 cm.
5. When forming a high screed, a reinforcing mesh must be used.

Dry screed

For an apartment located in a multi-storey building, a screed made using this technology is ideal option. This method can be called a screed conditionally; rather, it is a multi-layer flooring that does not use water.

To form a flat horizontal plane, as in the manufacture of other types of screeds, guide beacons are used. The liquid solution is replaced with dry granular thermal insulation backfill, which is also distributed according to the rule. After this, to form a rigid base, two layers of gypsum fiber boards are laid. This type of screed is strong and reliable.

The advantages of a dry screed device include the following:

1. A significant reduction in the time required to complete the work - it can be completed in one working day.
2. It is possible to qualitatively equalize differences in any height.
3. Laying finishing coating can be carried out immediately after installation of the screed.
4. Dry backfill provides high-quality heat and sound insulation of the room.
5. “Clean” work process.
6. The low weight of the floor structure allows the use of this screed in rooms with weakened floors, for example, in wooden houses or on balconies.
7. Dismantling of the structure is carried out quickly, which is especially important when laying communications and utility networks inside the floor.

Floor construction based on joists

This technology for creating a rough foundation is also traditional and has been used for a long time. It is endowed with special advantages that make this method of constructing a rough foundation the most optimal for apartments:

1. When installing such a floor, there are no “wet” processes.
2. The construction material is environmentally friendly and safe.
3. The installation process does not require any special skills or tools.

Similar designs differ in the method of laying the logs and the type of covering material. Logs can be simple and adjustable. They differ in the way they rest on the base. In the first case, to install the logs, bars or lumps are used, which must be selected in height so that all the logs, laid in increments of at least 50 cm, are located in a single horizontal plane.

A modern and convenient way to install a floor on joists is the method using adjustable supports in the form of studs and nuts. By rotating the latter, the required height of each beam is set. This technology is convenient and allows you to quickly install logs, but it is more expensive than the first option.

The following can be used as the flooring material for the rough foundation:

1. Boards. Moreover, such flooring can be either rough or finished, if you use a top-class tongue and groove board.
2. Plywood. The sheets are laid in two layers with the seams spaced apart. This is a smooth and durable, but rather expensive material.
3. OSB boards, They are laid like plywood, but are cheaper.
4. Chipboard. Most a budget option for flooring installation. The characteristics are inferior to the above options.

What should the floor be like in rooms for different purposes?

The finishing coating material is selected depending on the purpose of the room where it is required different requirements regarding appearance and performance characteristics.

Bedroom floor

The bedroom is the quietest place in the apartment. Here a person should have the opportunity to fully rest after a working day, relax, and get some sleep. The bedroom interior is usually decorated in soothing colors using environmentally friendly and, preferably, natural materials.

The flooring in the bedroom must meet the following requirements:

1. The surface should be pleasant to the touch, since you often have to walk barefoot in the bedroom when going to bed or getting up early in the morning. Natural coverings have a more suitable surface - boards, parquet, cork and soft carpet.
2. The covering should absorb noise when walking on it, especially if it is a spouse's room - excess noise can interfere with the rest of the second person. For the same reason, the coating should not creak. Cork and carpet meet this requirement to a greater extent.
3. Particular attention is paid to the aesthetics of the coating. It must match the style and color scheme room, take into account the level of illumination in it, help create a cozy, warm atmosphere.
4. An optimal microclimate must be created in the sleeping room, so preference should be given to natural, “live” ones. finishing materials. In the case of flooring - natural wood and products made from it.
5. The floor surface must be antistatic - this quality will be ensured fresh air And minimal amount dust in the room. This quality is especially important in a room where people suffering from asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system live.
6. The coating must be wear-resistant, smooth and durable. Despite the fact that the bedroom is a room with a low level of traffic, this way the coating will last longer.

Children's room

The surface of the floor in the nursery is subject to serious dynamic loads, there is a possibility of mechanical damage, wetting and contamination. At the same time, the floor must retain heat, be easy to clean and maintain its aesthetic appearance throughout its entire service life.

There are several requirements:

1. The material must be of high quality and meet all safety standards.
2. The coating must have soundproofing properties.
3. The surface of the material must be non-slippery, hygienic, hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly, free of odors and dyes.
4. The material must withstand repeated wet cleaning and exposure to detergents and detergents. Also, the coating should not absorb dirt.
5. The coating must be antistatic (the property of not accumulating dust on its surface).
6. It is important that the material absorbs shock when walking on it - this property will protect the child from injury when falling and reduce the load on the spine.

Living room floor

The living room is a room where all family members meet, spend family holidays, and receive guests. Sometimes, a room performs several functions, being a living room and a dining room, a living room and an office, a living room and a bedroom. All this must be taken into account when choosing flooring.

Of the basic requirements for the floor in the living room, the following are noted:

1. The coating should be aesthetically attractive, organically combined with the rest of the decoration and furniture, emphasizing the style of the interior.
2. When choosing a floor covering, take into account the shade of the door and window openings.
3. The floor surface must be wear-resistant and durable - this way the coating will last longer.
4. The living room can be called business card home, so the flooring chosen here is expensive, creating a presentable appearance of the interior.
5. The coating should be easy to clean and durable, especially if children and pets live in the house.

Kitchen floor

The kitchen area has special operational characteristics. The floor material here is exposed to various adverse effects:

1. The floor surface is subject to the greatest wear and tear in work area kitchens.
2. The indoor microclimate is characterized high humidity and temperature changes.
3. The coating must withstand repeated wet cleaning with detergents, since it is subject to frequent pollution.
4. The floor surface must be durable because heavy or sharp objects often fall on it.
5. In addition to strength and wear resistance, the floor in the kitchen should be aesthetically pleasing.
6. The floor should not absorb dirt or liquids.
7. The hygiene of the coating will ensure the absence of pores and relief on the surface.
8. The material must be moisture resistant.

Hallway floor

The hallway is the room that is most susceptible to negative and even aggressive influences. This is where most of the sand, dirt, and water gets in. The coating is subject to mechanical stress and wear.

The floor material in the hallway must have the following properties:

1. The aesthetic appearance of the coating plays an important role.
2. Preference should be given to coatings on the surface of which scratches and dirt are less noticeable.
3. The surface must withstand mechanical stress and abrasives.
4. The material chosen is moisture-resistant, on the surface of which water can stand for some time without causing harm to the coating.
5. The material must be resistant to aggressive cleaning agents.
6. It is desirable that the floor surface has dirt-repellent properties.
7. The high strength of the material will protect the coating from impact loads.

Bathroom floor

Flooring in rooms with high humidity must include a layer of waterproofing. The most reliable type is the coating method, which forms a monolithic hermetic coating. The main features of the bathroom coating include the following:

1. Moisture resistance.
2. Durability.
3. Hygiene.
4. Mechanical strength.
5. Non-slip surface.
6. Easy care.
7. Aesthetic appeal.
8. A minimum number of joints or their careful sealing.

Types of floor coverings and their characteristics

All floor coverings that can be used in an apartment differ in the installation method, requirements for base preparation, appearance and performance. Let's look at the most popular options.

tongue and groove board

Wooden flooring is a traditional way of creating a warm, tactile, natural flooring. For finishing A special type of board is used, which is called tongue-and-groove. In addition to the fact that it is equipped with a groove and a tongue, there are grooves on the back side that provide natural ventilation flooring

Important! The tongue and groove type lock ensures uniform distribution over the surface of the flooring.

Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of plank covering

Table 2. Board laying process

Image	Description
	The first board is laid with a groove to the wall at a certain distance, forming a gap of at least 1 cm.
	They are fixed with a self-tapping screw so that the head of the fastener subsequently ends up behind the baseboard.
	For further installation of the flooring, you can use long self-tapping screws that are twice as thick as the lamella. Self-tapping screws are screwed into the boards at the locations of the joists. The fastener caps are subsequently masked with a special putty.
	The second method involves screwing self-tapping screws into the tenon of each board. This method ensures a tighter fit of the boards and allows you to hide the fasteners.

Parquet

One of the types of wooden flooring is piece parquet. You can also lay modular parquet, which looks like tiles with a geometric pattern made from several tiles.

Important! Parquet differs from other materials in that it is made from solid wood, so its cost is quite high. At the same time, such a coating has very long term services.

The presence of a groove and a ridge on each plank ensures their tight fit; in addition, the elements are attached with glue during installation. For the manufacture of parquet, wood such as oak, cherry, ash, beech, and maple is used.

Table 3. Advantages and disadvantages of parquet

Piece and modular parquet differ in cost and, if desired, you can choose the material at a fairly affordable price.

Table 4. Average cost of parquet

Parquet board

Parquet board is a three-layer flooring material with lock connection, like laminate, but differs from it in that the front layer, like all the others, is made of natural wood. Therefore, the parquet board looks noble and natural. The lamellas are highly durable due to the fact that the middle layer of slats is located perpendicular to the outer layer - the bottom plywood and the front decorative layer, impregnated with a protective composition.

Externally, a parquet board can imitate a coating made of piece parquet. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the front layer of one lamella looks as if it was assembled from 2, 3 or 4 rows of dies.

Table 5. Advantages and disadvantages parquet board

Table 6. Laying parquet boards

Illustration	Description
	The material is left for 48 hours without unpacking.
	First, lay the substrate with the material placed on the wall around the perimeter of the room.
	The boards of the first row are cut on one side, removing the locking element. A gap is left between the wall and the first row of lamellas by inserting special plastic spacer wedges into the gap.
	To ensure a tight fit of the planks, the technology of tapping them with a hammer through a special block is used.
	To trim the lamellas, use a jigsaw.
	The locking system allows installation of the coating in a short time.
	Spacer wedges are installed around the entire perimeter of the room. This installation method is called floating and ensures the integrity of the coating when the material expands during periods of temperature fluctuations.
	To lay the boards in the area of ​​the doorway, the lamella itself and the door frame are cut.
	IN doorway install a threshold with a hidden fastening to match the coating.
	At the final stage, a plinth is installed around the perimeter of the room.

Laminate

Laminate is a coating consisting of multilayer lamellas, the front decorative layer of which imitates any type of wood, as well as other natural and artificial materials.

Lamels from different manufacturers can have any technological layers that improve the performance properties of the laminate. The simplest instance consists of the following layers:

1. Bottom stabilization paper layer with melamine impregnation.
2. The load-bearing and thickest layer is based on HDF - slabs with interlocking connections at the ends.
3. Decorative paper layer with a pattern of natural material texture.
4. A protective polymer layer that determines the wear resistance (class) of the laminate. For residential premises, class 32 material is purchased.

Table 7. Advantages and disadvantages of laminate

PVC laminate is environmentally friendly and safe for humans and environment. can be found detailed list advantages of PVC panels.

Laying laminate flooring is carried out according to the same principle as parquet boards - in a floating way.

Laying is carried out on a flat and clean base on a substrate, leaving a compensation gap around the perimeter between the coating and the wall.

Linoleum

Linoleum is one of the most common types of flooring that can be used in rooms of any purpose and level of traffic. Its popularity is associated with many factors, one of which is the moisture resistance of the material and the ability to use it in wet rooms.

Linoleum can be with or without a base. According to its structure, it is divided into homogeneous (single-layer) and heterogeneous (multilayer). The composition can be natural or artificial (PVC). By area of ​​application, the material is divided into:

1. Commercial.
2. Domestic.
3. Semi-commercial.
4. Special.

More often, three-layer linoleum for semi-commercial purposes is used in residential premises. He has higher operational properties, resistance to mechanical stress and abrasion. It consists of the following layers:

1. Protective polyurethane layer 0.4-0.6 mm thick.
2. Decorative (front) plain or multi-colored layer.
3. The bottom layer is in the form of a foamed PVC backing.

Table 8. Advantages and disadvantages of linoleum

Before you begin laying linoleum, the base must be prepared. If installation is carried out according to cement screed or reinforced concrete slab, then its surface is cleaned of debris and primed. Laying can also be done on wooden (plywood) flooring.

Table 9. Laying linoleum

Illustration	Description
	At the first stage, the roll is rolled out indoors and allowed to rest for some time.
	Linoleum is cut around the perimeter of the room, adjusting it to size.
	After a day, you can start fixing the canvas using double-sided tape. The adhesive tape is first fixed on the floor, having previously bent back part of the linoleum.
	After the surface of the tape is smoothed paint roller, remove the protective layer, releasing the outer sticky side of the tape.
	The linoleum is carefully returned to its place, fixing it in a given position. Do the same with the second half of the canvas.
	At the final stage, the plinth is fixed.

Marmoleum

A natural type of linoleum is modern material– marmoleum. It contains exclusively natural ingredients:

1. Coniferous resin.
2. Linseed oil.
3. Jute fibers.
4. Wood flour.

Important! To the touch, in terms of environmental friendliness and degree of shock absorption, marmoleum can be compared to cork.

Marmoleum can be rolled or slab. Rolled material must be laid on an insulated or heated base, since it does not have additional layers. Another option is slab, characterized by a multilayer structure, when a strip of marmoleum is fixed onto a load-bearing HDF board with a lock, and a cork backing is attached underneath. Laying of such slabs is carried out quickly, and the interlocking method of connection ensures a tight fit of the elements and eliminates the occurrence of cold bridges.

Table 10. Advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum

Laying marmoleum is easy and does not require special skills.

Table 11. Marmoleum laying process

Illustration	Description
	The base must be cleaned of dirt and dust.
	Markings are applied to the floor surface, the middle of the room is marked, taking into account the distance from the wall along the perimeter of the room at a distance of at least 6 cm.
	Using a spatula, apply the adhesive composition.
	Use a notched spatula to level the solution, forming grooves.
	A fragment is laid out from a marmoleum tile.
	Excess glue that has bleed through is removed immediately with a damp sponge.
	Using a rolling roller, the tiles are pressed into a given position, passing in two directions.
	When cutting tiles, mark the cutting line using a sharp utility knife.
	The fragment is cut at an angle of 45 degrees using a special tool.
	After gluing the cut fragment, it is also rolled with a roller in two directions.

Video - Laying marmoleum with your own hands

Tile

This material occupies a special niche among floor coverings - according to technical specifications it is more suitable than others for rooms with special operating conditions and requirements for floor hygiene (kitchen, bathroom, hallway).

Table 12. Advantages and disadvantages of tiles

The surface of ceramic floor tiles can be matte or glossy. Matte tiles are safer, with a pleasant textured, porous structure. It does not slip, so it is recommended for bathrooms. It is easier to remove dirt from a glossy surface; its shine visually makes the room lighter and more spacious. One of the options for floor covering is mosaic, but its disadvantage is the large number of joints, which are the most vulnerable place susceptible to contamination, so the optimal place for its use would be the bathroom.

Important! When choosing floor tiles, take into account the operational characteristics of the room and the load. We'll show you how to choose the right floor tiles.

Self-leveling floor

The self-leveling floor differs in composition. In this regard, its surface can be:

1. Matte.
2. Semi-matte.
3. Glyantsevoy.
4. Semi-gloss.

In appearance, floors can be multi-colored or plain, with a pattern or . Self-leveling flooring makes it possible to use the most different ways decorating them - using a canvas with a pattern, introducing decorative inclusions into the solution, filling cuts of wood, stone, coins and other elements with a transparent composition.

They are entrusted to professionals with experience, since there are many technologies for producing the composition, depending on the components and methods of creating a decorative coating.

Table 13. Advantages and disadvantages of self-leveling floor

Carpet

Carpet is roll material with different thickness and height of pile, shade and pattern, which allows you to choose a coating for any interior. The thickness of the material varies from 5 to 10 mm.

Note! Any carpet consists of a base for fixing the pile (woven or non-woven), a latex-based fixing layer, a secondary base in contact with the floor, which gives the covering elasticity, heat and sound insulation qualities, wear resistance, and pile.

The carpet is different:

1. Material of manufacture.
2. Manufacturing technology.
3. The length and quality of the pile.
4. Base material.

Depending on the material used, carpet can be natural or synthetic. The first one is more difficult to care for and costs more.

Table 14. Advantages and disadvantages of carpet

Cork floor

Cork is made from natural raw materials by pressing. This floor is distinguished by its high shock-absorbing properties due to its porous structure. Cork is pleasant to the touch, which is why it is often used in children's rooms. When using cork in rooms with high loads and traffic, the front layer is varnished.

There are several varieties - in the form of a material with an adhesive base or slabs (laminate) with a tongue-and-groove lock. The latter may have different thicknesses. Tiles less than 6 mm are laid on any flat surface and fixed with glue. Material up to 12 mm thick can be installed using the floating method on wooden flooring, screed or linoleum.

Table 15. Advantages and disadvantages of cork covering

Summary table of materials for flooring in an apartment

To summarize, it is necessary to indicate which coatings are appropriate in certain areas of the apartment.

Table 16. What coatings are appropriate in certain rooms