Get floored by the range!
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Selection of the right type of flooring makes for realisation of a dream home
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— Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
Walking invitation: Ceramic tiles offer the best compromise between strength and appearance.
Flooring not only lends beauty to your home but also bears most of the wear and tear. So, the selection of the type of flooring is a very critical step while building your dream home.
Strength, appearance and ease of maintenance are the important aspects to be considered while laying the floor. Though other types of flooring like wooden flooring, rubber flooring and laminate flooring are also available, in a country like ours, floo
rings range from plain cement to granite.
Mosaic
In this age of stylish living, plain-cement floors have almost vanished. However, it is the most durable and the easiest to maintain among all the floorings. Mosaic floor combines the strength of a cement-flooring and the appearance of a stone-flooring.
A well-laid mosaic floor with pleasant patterns can be as strong as a cement floor and as visually pleasing as a marble floor. Even if you prefer a costlier flooring for the indoors, mosaic flooring is most practical in places such as corridors and sit-outs.
Marble
The Taj Mahal would not have been a wonder if it were built of any other material. The most beautiful among all floorings, marble is available in many grades and shades. Based on its softness, it is broadly classified intogrades.
Even some of the softer grades are sold at a higher price as they are in high demand purely for their appearance. An experienced worker can help you easily identify the best marble for your budget.
Maintenance
Marble is quite difficult to maintain. It takes a careful and regular maintenance schedule to preserve the gloss for a long period.
Acids and sharp tools should be avoided while cleaning. Oil and other liquid spills should be immediately cleaned as the marble may absorb them, leading to permanent marks.
Granite
Granite is the strongest and most expensive of all stone floorings. Granite looks elegant on large open floors and is more resistant to acids than marble. Hence it is easier to maintain than other stone floorings.
The lower cost of maintenance will offset the additional cost of laying, in the long run.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are available in many shades and innumerable patterns. They offer the best compromise between strength and appearance. Most resistant to acids, they are the easiest to clean and maintain. Ceramic tiles should be preferred over stone flooring if you anticipate heavy activity in your home.
As a thumb rule, bathroom floors and kitchen walls should be laid with ceramic tiles as maintainability scores over appearance in these places of your home.
The ceramic tile patterns get very quickly outdated. So, it is always wise to keep around 25-30 sq. ft. of tiles in stock. They will be handy in the future when you may need them for maintenance work.
Key factor
Irrespective of the type of flooring, certain factors such as the colour and workmanship should also be kept in mind. The shade of the floor is a key factor in balancing the light in a room. Darker shades should be preferred only when there is ample lighting in the room.
On the other hand, dirt marks may be more pronounced on lighter shades. Inaccurate slopes and joints in the flooring, especially in the bathroom, will lead to stagnation and seepage of water.
CHANDRASEKHAR YADAVILLI
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