A beautiful floor immediately transforms the appearance of the apartment and decorates the interior. Manufacturers offer consumers wide choose floor coverings made from different materials, having different appearance and performance characteristics. The most popular are linoleum, laminate, parquet, and ceramic tiles. There are other less commonly used materials. Depending on the design of the house and personal preferences, everyone chooses their own flooring. It’s up to you to decide how to cover the floor in your apartment, and we will tell you the advantages and disadvantages of each type of flooring.

When choosing flooring, everyone is guided by their own criteria. For some, it is important that the material is natural, and they prefer wooden floors or parquet. Someone values ​​practicality and an affordable price and chooses linoleum, and ceramic tiles in the bathroom and kitchen. Well, some people are attracted by laminate for its modern look and wide range. When solving the problem of how to make a floor in an apartment, you will, of course, be faced with choosing a floor covering. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Parquet

Parquet floors never go out of style. However, modern parquet bears little resemblance to similar material known in the last century. Today piece parquet rarely used. You don't have to lay each plank in a herringbone or checkerboard pattern; the manufacturers have done it for you. Buyers are offered large billboards with a design laid out on them. Valuable wood species are used to make such shields.

Piece parquet allows with my own hands create the floor of your dreams

However, if you want to create your own floor design, then you should choose piece parquet. It is made from oak, maple, beech, ash and other durable woods. There are computer programs that allow you to create your own design from parquet planks. In the same program you can calculate the number of slats needed for each color.

Parquet is quite an expensive pleasure, but such floors look representative and solid. However, it should be taken into account that parquet flooring requires special care. This is especially true for block parquet.

Parquet board

This type of flooring is cheaper than parquet, but is also made from natural wood. This material is easier both to install and to further care. The parquet board is a wide single-strip board. It is manufactured with several rows of dies in finishing layer. Models are available with a selected chamfer. Parquet boards come in different shades, which will help you get an individual floor design in your apartment.

The structure of the parquet board

Parquet boards can be scraped, which makes it possible to renew them many times. Parquet boards are laid like a floating floor, that is, using locks and without gluing.

Laminate

This material, created to imitate, as a rule, surfaces made of natural wood. It consists of several layers. The top layer is paper coated with a special composition with an image printed on it.

Laminate structure

Available in 3 classes:

• domestic;
• commercial;
• semi-commercial.

The surface of this material can have not only different patterns, but also different textures:

• brilliant;
• matte;
• smooth;
• raised.

Most often this material in its own way appearance conveys the texture and color of natural wood. However, there is laminate for tiles, stone and even leather. For lovers original designs Manufacturers produce models with multi-colored slats.

Laminate has an affordable price and, due to its ease of installation, allows you to get beautiful floors in a short time. The commercial laminate line offers models with fairly high moisture resistance, but in general this material is not intended for rooms with high humidity and is afraid of water. To increase its service life, laminate flooring should be protected from excess moisture and heavy mechanical stress.

Wood

This flooring is environmentally friendly, has a classic look and fits well into any interior. This material is natural and warm in itself, it is pleasant to walk on barefoot, which attracts many users. Wooden floors are easy to insulate and installation is not difficult. This is usually a multi-layer structure:

• waterproofing;
• rough floor;
• insulation;
• finishing floor

Boards for wooden floors can be made from both budget species (pine, spruce, alder) and more expensive ones (oak, larch, mahogany, wenge).

Wooden floor - warm and comfortable

At proper care such a floor will last at least 30 years.

Linoleum

This is the most common flooring in the residential sector today. Consumers are attracted by the low price and big choice this material. The offered linoleum differs not only in color and applied pattern, but also in surface texture. This is a coating that can be chosen to suit any design.

Modern linoleum is made from high quality polymer materials and is absolutely harmless to human health. Available with or without polyurethane foam.

Laying linoleum does not require special skills

Linoleum is not afraid of moisture. It is easy to install and has a fairly durable coating. With proper preparation of the floor base and the choice of high-quality material, such a coating will serve for many years. A floor covered with linoleum does not require special care.

Ceramic tile

This is an almost irreplaceable material for arranging floors in the bathroom, toilet, kitchen and hallway. Manufacturers offer a wide selection ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware, which have not only different designs, but also different sizes, shapes, and surface textures.

This is an environmentally friendly material that is made from natural materials. The tiled floor is durable and not afraid of moisture. When installed well, such floors have a neat, beautiful appearance and are durable.

Tiles on the bathroom floor are not only beautiful, but also practical

It is important that floors covered with ceramic tiles are very easy to care for.

Cork

This is a natural floor covering, which has the only drawback - it is quite expensive. These floors are durable, warm, and pleasant to walk on barefoot. Cork floors are easy to install and durable. Gently springing underfoot, they thereby reduce the load on the spine, which is extremely beneficial for the human body.

Construction stores offer cork flooring in various colors and patterns.

Self-leveling floors

This the new kind coatings are gaining more and more admirers. It is used as a rough coating for the floor materials described above, and as a finished floor. Particularly popular are self-leveling floors with 3D patterns, which have a realistic three-dimensional image on their surface.

3d floors look very realistic

To give the self-leveling floor additional strength and a decorative effect, it is coated with a layer of polymer or special varnish. Polymer floors are resistant to aggressive substances and mechanical stress. They are easy to care for and durable.

Non-standard approach

Sometimes creating a complete interior composition requires the use of unusual floor materials.

Mats

These are original carpets woven from natural fibers of reed, jute, flax or hemp. Such floors are used to create designs in a minimalist style or for folk interiors. Mats can have different shapes, sizes and colors. They are antistatic and have a massage effect on the foot.

Floor covering "Mat"

As a rule, a self-leveling floor is made under such a coating.

Rough wood effect and color schemes

Nowadays, wooden floors are very fashionable, creating the visual effect of rough wood or an aged surface. Such a floor only seems rough and uncouth; in fact, processing wood in this style requires great skill. These boards feel smooth and carefully processed to the touch.

Today, color contrast is fashionable. The most popular floor colors are very dark, black and almost white, very light colors.

Warm floor

Manufacturers of flooring are constantly working to make them comfortable and convenient for people. A comfortable floor must be warm and pleasant to move on it not only in shoes, but also barefoot.

Warm floors solve the problem of heating a home and make it comfortable for the human body. With the help of the "Warm Floor" system, you can make the floor covering comfortable not only in the room, but also in the corridor, bathroom and on glassed balcony or loggias.

Warm water floor - comfort and convenience!

There are 3 types of heated floors:

• cable;
• film;
• aquatic.

Warm floors can be installed under almost any covering, and allow you to hide pipe connections, wiring and remove radiators from the room.

Insulation and floor repair

The floor should not only be beautiful, but also be warm. Warm floors preserve the health of those living in the house, and also give them coziness and comfort. A properly insulated floor will prevent the formation of condensation and freezing of corners, and protect the house from mold.

Traditionally, several methods of floor insulation are used:

1. Laying stone, mineral or glass wool under the main floor. When creating an insulating “pie,” vapor barrier and waterproofing materials are additionally used.
2. Use of polystyrene foam for insulation. Additionally, a vapor barrier is installed. Seams and joints are covered with putty or mastic.
3. Spraying liquid polyurethane foam, which creates a monolithic coating. This insulating layer has excellent thermal insulation properties.
4. The use of thermal insulation materials based on foamed polyethylene or wood fiber boards.
5. Insulation with special thick linoleum.

You shouldn't skimp on floor repairs. Both during arrangement and during repairs, it is important to follow the stages and sequence of work. By purchasing high-quality materials and following installation technology, you will receive a strong, beautiful and durable floor covering in your home.

Basic interior issues include deciding how to make floors in an apartment, which determines the overall style of each room.

Not only the artistic part is important, but also resistance to wear, ease of cleaning, environmental friendliness and simply a feeling of comfort underfoot.

The desired effect will be achieved by choosing a material that matches its characteristics and following the technology of its installation.

Basic elements of the device

Repair the concrete base before finishing the floor

Regardless of the decision of how to cover the floor in the apartment, whether new floors are laid or the floor in the apartment is replaced with your own hands, the work begins from the concrete base.

The slab floor may already have a high-quality screed, otherwise you will have to make it - concrete it big differences and fill with self-leveling compound. The horizontal plane will provide confident support to all areas and layers of future beautiful floors.

If the floors are not insulated, it is necessary to install insulation

The structure of the floor for an apartment is a sequential alternation of the following levels:

• concrete floor slab;
• waterproofing (for bathroom, kitchen, toilet);
• thermal insulation (at the same time performing the task of sound insulation);
• floor covering (includes additional technological accessories - plinth, ventilation grates for wooden floors on joists).

Determining which floor in the room is better (PVC tiles or parquet) is necessary for each room separately, depending on its purpose. A children's room, a bedroom, a corner for sports activities differ in the loads and intensity of impact on the entire structure down to the very foundation.

Security level

An important step in the work is to calculate what to lay on the screed under the selected floor, what material is best to use as insulation.

Each type has certain characteristics, including the minimum thickness at which they appear in standard values ​​and determine which floors are best made in the apartment.

You need to consider the brand and type of insulation for various floor finishing options based on the following characteristics:

• thermal conductivity (an important indicator for the first floors, cottages with non-residential basement levels with low air temperatures);
• recommended thickness;
• noise absorption;
• water absorption coefficient, vapor permeability;
• fire resistance;
• weight, ability to withstand load (density);
• application technology, consumption per 1 m², amount of waste;
• health safety.

The difference in floor levels between rooms is not desirable (not safe) with the exception of sanitary and hygienic premises in which it is provided building codes in case of water spill accidents.

Material

Combine foamed polyethylene with other materials

Before you make the floor in an apartment with your own hands, you need to calculate the expected effect in comparison with the budget and the availability of the selected material for preparation. different kinds finishes:

In rooms where you plan to install ceramic tiles, it is advisable to use “warm floor” technology.

Surface layer

With all the variety of coatings, you need to figure out which floors are best made for each specific situation (concrete floor or parquet).

So, what to use to cover the floor, what room the material will correspond to, is chosen from the following basic positions:

• wooden board;
• parquet;
• ceramic or polymer tiles;
• laminate;
• linoleum;
• carpet;
• cork sheet.

A visual comparison of performance indicators can be seen from the table:

The presented flooring materials can cover a concrete, wooden base, lined with sheets of plywood or moisture-resistant plasterboard. Manufacturers produce products for finishing the floor in an apartment, having a variety of colors, textures, patterns and entire compositions, panels.

Linoleum

The modern manufacturer offers a wide selection of colors and properties of this finishing material.

It is one of the most popular coatings today. Easy to install, waterproof, fairly affordable price, the range has a wide variety of colors and patterns. It can be insulated with fiber substrates, made on a foamed bottom layer, so that it can be immediately laid on the concrete floor in the apartment.

The material is quite soft, subject to residual deformation from heavy objects, and needs to be treated with care. Of all the options for covering a finished base, this is the fastest.

Linoleum is made using natural or polymer base. According to their purpose, they are divided into 2 types: commercial (intensive loads in office and industrial buildings) and household (non-commercial).

When comparing which flooring to choose, the first type wins in terms of wear resistance, but you need to pay attention to the fact that it was not originally designed for small rooms with poor ventilation.

The commercial type has a higher content of harmful components, so it is not recommended for use in residential areas.

Laminate flooring

Laminate slabs imitate any texture and color

Natural wood has been replaced by floor finishing with multi-layer types of artificial boards with increased performance characteristics. The texture and pattern successfully imitate parquet, stone, valuable wood species and much more.

At the same time, laminate is much more affordable and easier to install than parquet. Standard size is 0.25×1.5 m, the design is prudently equipped with locks that connect the slats into the overall picture of a beautiful floor. The typesetting surface without breaks in area can reach up to 100 m².

For rooms for various purposes When asked which floor to choose, use a material of the appropriate strength class (marked with a two-digit number starting with 2 for domestic needs or 3 for commercial).

Carpet

It is a common decision when choosing which flooring is best for a recreation area or children's (play) room. The fabric is made from synthetic and natural threads.

The pile may be long or absent, like a rug. Rubber, felt or jute are used as the base.

The carpet structure can wrinkle under load, become clogged with dirt, and absorb liquids. Carpet requires careful handling, thorough maintenance and cleaning. Therefore, they should not be used in the hallway or in the kitchen, but rather placed in the living room or bedroom.

Cork covering

Available in 2 types: decorative and technical (for substrate). Available in roll and slab versions. Watch this video about the pros and cons of cork flooring:

Cork has a full range of desirable qualities in all respects, except price. The material is environmentally friendly, has excellent thermal resistance, low sound conductivity, mechanical strength at low thickness.

The roll is unrolled, cut to size, and placed on a base prepared with adhesive. The slab is laid end to end. When laying directly on a concrete floor, a softening underlay is needed to prevent pressure from small particles.

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.

Installation of most decorative coatings requires a level, solid base. 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 big row work related to 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.

Nowadays, the floor structure in a 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. Generates 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 traditional method screed device, a 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 compositions are used, which 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. It takes a long time for the screed to dry (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 an excellent alternative wet screed. This method is also quite inexpensive and uses a small amount of water. The result is a certain mass, which in a circle professional builders called “gartsovka”, which is sand mixed dry with cement and a minimal amount of water, barely moistening 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 certain work experience, difficulties arise with adding optimal quantity water into the screed.
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 multi-storey building, a screed made using this technology is an ideal option. This method can be called a screed conditionally; rather, it is a multi-layer flooring that does not use water.

To form an even horizontal plane, as well as in the manufacture of other types of ties, 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 subject to 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, “living” 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 of 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 the calling card of the house, 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 by 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

Wood flooring is a traditional way of creating a warm, tactile, natural coating. 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

Advantages

Flaws

1. Natural wood is a natural, environmentally friendly and safe material. 2. Wood “breathes”, and therefore influences the creation of an optimal microclimate in the room. 3. With proper care and making the right choice type of wood, the coating will last for many years. 4. The surface can be subjected to various treatments - painting, varnishing, brushing, oiling and waxing. 5. Wooden floors create a cozy, warm atmosphere in the interior.

1. When compared with other materials, wood is more expensive. 2. Natural wood is unstable to mechanical stress and cannot be restored if seriously damaged. 3. Periodic treatment with antiseptic compounds is required. 4. The material is flammable, so it is additionally treated with anti-feathers. 5. Periodic renewal of the decorative layer is required. 6. Wood is afraid of moisture, so it cannot be installed in every room. It is also worthwhile to thoroughly waterproof the base when installing a wooden floor on the first floor above an unheated subfloor.

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 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 varieties 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, this coating has a very long service life.

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

Advantages

Flaws

1. The use of hardwood for the manufacture of dies allows us to obtain a durable, reliable coating. 2. Thanks to the unique natural pattern, the coating has a unique, aesthetic appearance. 3. During repairs, you can replace a separate fragment without disassembling the entire coating. 4. The coating is environmentally friendly and safe. 5. The large thickness of the dies makes them resistant to mechanical stress and allows them to be polished many times. 6. The coating has excellent heat and sound insulation properties.

1. It is the most expensive method of finishing the floor. 2. For installation, you need to hire a specialist with experience in carrying out such work. 3. The material is more demanding than others regarding microclimatic conditions. 4. Like any wood material, it is afraid of moisture.

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

Name and image of Papa Carlo brand material	Average cost as of September 2018, rubles
	880
	680
	920
	2800
	3600
	3600
	2500

Parquet board

Parquet board is a three-layer flooring material with a locking joint, like a laminate, but differs from it in that the front layer, like all the others, is made of natural wood. That's why 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 piece of 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 of parquet boards

Advantages

Flaws

1. The slats are made of natural wood. 2. Affordable cost compared to parquet. 3. Simple installation and strong connection of the lamellas due to the presence of a locking system. 4. A wide variety of shades and types of wood. 5. Variety additional ways processing. 6. Variability of installation methods. 7. Can be used in a “warm floor” system. 8. Nice surface. 9. Sound absorption ability. 10. Durable, even coating that does not require complex maintenance. 11. Possibility of creating a collapsible covering.

1. Vulnerability to moisture. 2. Vulnerability to chemical reagents and overheating when used in a heated floor system. 3. If damaged mechanically, the entire lamella must be replaced.

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

Advantages

Flaws

1. The locking type of connection of the lamellas ensures their tight fit and quick installation. 2. Possibility of creating a prefabricated covering with floating installation. 3. The front layer, resistant to mechanical loads, and the moisture resistance of some models allows the material to be used in hallways and kitchens. 4. Waterproof laminate (PVC) can be used in bathrooms. 5. The coating can be used in any premises, as it is environmentally friendly and safe. 6. Affordable cost and a wide range of colors and textures make this material quite popular. 7. The coating is not afraid of UV and does not require additional processing. 8. Material with special markings can be used in the “warm floor” system.

1. Some varieties are afraid of moisture. 2. It is not a natural material. 3. The surface is not as warm as natural wood. 4. Very sonorous material that requires organization high-quality sound insulation grounds.

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. It has higher performance 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

Advantages	Flaws
1. Low price. 2. A rich variety of colors and imitations various materials and textures. 3. Wear-resistant front layer. 4. Durability. 5. Resistant to moisture. 6. Resistance to mechanical loads. 7. Monolithic coating that does not absorb odors and dirt. 8. Non-slip. 9. Suitable for underfloor heating systems. 10. Does not require complex care.	1. Unnaturalness of the material. 2. There may be a specific odor in the first 2 weeks. 3. Black soles may cause marks. 4. Requires a level base. 5. If damaged, it cannot be repaired.

Before you begin laying linoleum, the base must be prepared. If laying is carried out on a cement screed or reinforced concrete slab, then its surface is cleared 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, delete 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 variety of linoleum is a 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 plate with a lock, and cork backing. 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

Advantages

Flaws

1. The material is environmentally friendly and safe. 2. The material is hypoallergenic with bactericidal properties. 3. Affordable cost compared to other natural coatings. 4. Has sound and heat insulation properties. 5. Not subject to shrinkage and deformation, moisture resistant, retains its dimensions throughout its entire service life. 6. Does not absorb dirt. 7. Resistant to point loads. 8. Has a long service life. 9. Has an antistatic surface. 10. Does not burn, does not support or contribute to the spread of fire. 11. Can have any shade and imitate the textures of various materials. 12. Easy to install.

1. The edges of marmoleum are fragile, which requires careful handling during transportation, storage and installation. 2. The material does not lend itself well to cutting, so it is recommended to cut marmoleum only at the junction with the wall, provided that the cutting area is hidden behind the baseboard.

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 its technical characteristics, it is more suitable than others for rooms with special conditions operation and hygiene requirements for the floor (kitchen, bathroom, hallway).

Table 12. Advantages and disadvantages of tiles

Advantages	Flaws
1. High hardness, density and strength. 2. Hygiene. 3. Hypoallergenic. 4. Moisture resistance. 5. A wide range of shades, patterns, textures, sizes and shapes. 6. Biological passivity. 7. Fire resistance. 8. Dielectricity. 9. High thermal conductivity. 10. Wear resistance. 11. UV resistant. 12. Durability.	1. The material is fragile and therefore requires careful handling during transportation, storage and installation. 2. Not resistant to point impact loads. 3. Characterized by low sound insulation properties. 4. The coating surface is cold and unpleasant to the touch. 5. Glossy varieties slide. 6. Difficult dismantling. 7. Requires experience when installing.

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, therefore optimal place there will be a bathroom for its use.

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 creation. decorative covering.

Table 13. Advantages and disadvantages of self-leveling floor

Carpet

Carpet is a rolled material with different thicknesses and pile heights, shades and patterns, which allows you to choose a covering 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 thickness. 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

Index	Bulk floor	Laminate	Parquet board	Array. board	Cork	Linoleum	Ceram. tile	Carpet coating
Service life, years	10 – 30	5 – 15	15 – 30	Up to 40	Up to 50	3 – 7	5 – 15	1 – 5
Environmental friendliness	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Naturalness	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not really	Yes	Not really
Decorativeness	high	low	low	low	low	low	average	low
Care	easily	average	average	average	average	easily	average	hard
Mechanical resistance load	high	average	average	average	low	average	average	average
Maintainability	high	No	low	low	No	No	No	No
Thermal insulation	low	low	high	high	high	low	low	average
Moisture resistance	high	low	low	low	low	high	high	low
Price	average	average	high	high	high	low	average	average
For which rooms is it recommended?	Hallway Living room Bathroom Kitchen	Hallway Living room Kitchen	Living room Bedroom Children's	Living room Bedroom Children's	Bedroom Children's	Hallway Living room Bathroom Kitchen	Hallway Bathroom Kitchen	Bedroom

Floors and walls in an apartment play an important role. But it is the flooring that sets the stylistic design and performs the function of sound insulation, and also helps to retain heat. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose the right quality flooring.

Peculiarities

From choice flooring material The temperature in the room will depend, as well as some characteristics of the room. In addition, the floor covering greatly influences the stylistic design of the room. Therefore, when choosing, you should weigh both the pros and cons of each floor covering and choose the most suitable one for each specific area.

The flooring allows you to set the basis for the aesthetic design of the premises. In addition, it makes the room more cozy and comfortable for the residents. The choice of flooring varies depending on the purpose of the premises, since individual functional areas of the apartment require different loads and impacts on the coating. That is why It’s better to consider all the options, and only then make a choice in favor of one option or another.

The specifics of flooring for an apartment may vary depending on the floor. For the first one, it is better to choose a moisture-resistant coating. High floors require floors with a light texture. If you are installing flooring in a panel house, then pay attention to models with thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics.

An important feature of flooring installation is the presence of an additional basis. Some materials require a special leveled base or even a subfloor, while others can be laid over plain concrete floors.

Also, some apartment residents prefer insulated floors, while using different technologies insulation and underlayment for coatings.

Kinds

Floor coverings can be hard or elastic. A separate group of wooden floor coverings is distinguished. Different manufacturers present various types of floor coverings, which differ in their functionality, quality and design. Wooden ones include:

• parquet;
• parquet board;

• laminate;
• solid wood;
• cork.

Elastic coatings include:

• linoleum;
• carpet

Hard surfaces include:

• ceramic tile;
• stone floors;

• porcelain stoneware;
• expanded clay;
• self-leveling floor

Each type of flooring should be discussed separately, since they all have important characteristics and properties.

Natural parquet

This classic version, which is traditional and extremely popular. Such a classic never goes out of style. This coating will highlight the high social status owners of the apartment. Parquet is made only from valuable wood species.

As a rule, parquet elements have a natural wood pattern. You can find small-sized versions of piece parquet. They allow you to lay out an interesting composition.

So, with its help you can make a design on the floor yourself, for example, a Christmas tree.

Parquet is made from strong and reliable species, the wood of which is characterized by high density. Oak, beech, maple, ash, and larch are used to make it. This flooring is considered the most durable. It can last for about 50 years if you take proper care of it.

Any parquet is completely environmentally friendly and completely safe. The peculiarity of installing such a floor is that it is necessary to install subfloors underneath it. Only after this will it be possible to lay piece parquet.

Not all apartments can have parquet. An important requirement is compliance with a certain temperature regime and air humidity level.

Parquet is a very expensive and noble flooring option.

Parquet board

This is another option for natural wood flooring. The parquet board differs from the previous type in that it is quite large in size. The difference is the composition of such planks. Thus, the lamellas of a parquet board consist of three layers, securely connected to each other. They have convenient locking fastenings and are easier to install. Their size suggests simple styling and easy dismantling.

Manufacturers present models of various colors and designs, some of them have a ready-made pattern. It is easier to care for parquet boards than for piece models. This coating is quite expensive, but more budget-friendly than piece parquet. The slats can serve more than 20 years, besides, they are not so fastidious in care.

Board covering

Such floors require laying regular boards on joists. It looks simple, but natural. It is not often used in apartments because it is quite heavy. But the big advantage of plank flooring is that it is 100% environmentally friendly and very practical. With its help you can create interesting stylistic solutions for rooms.

The floor is pleasant to the touch and comfortable to walk on barefoot. Plank flooring is more affordable. At the same time, in terms of external characteristics, it is not inferior to other options. wooden floors.

photos

From the traffic jam

Cork floors are considered luxury floor coverings. They are suitable for installation in almost any room, except rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom, if there is no good ventilation. But the cork can only be laid on a hard and flat surface. Most often, plywood is installed under it. Under no circumstances should it be laid on bare concrete floors., otherwise even small particles can ruin the floor covering.

The cork can be decorative. It is presented in the form of rolls or slabs. The top layer is impregnated with a special composition that has moisture-proof properties. Manufacturers supplement cork flooring in the form of slabs with an already applied adhesive composition, which simplifies the installation of this floor covering.

Cork is also used as an option for subfloors. It is placed under linoleum or laminate. In this case, it has a slightly different composition and significantly reduced quality. As a rule, cork provides the necessary level of heat and sound insulation. Such a substrate can be presented in the form of rolls; it is convenient to spread it on the floor.

Cork flooring can be presented in the form of MDF panels. As a rule, these are quite large lamellas, which include other materials, including synthetic ones. Each panel measures approximately 19 by 90 cm. They are convenient and easy to lay on your own. Installation is facilitated by locking fasteners.

Cork is a practical material because it is completely insensitive to temperature changes.

In addition, it can withstand high physical exercise and impact. You can place even the heaviest furniture on it. Cork can be quite interesting in design thanks to modern technologies production. Manufacturers present models in different shades. In addition, it is not a static material, which does not accumulate dust and hair.

Laminate

This is a high-quality and reliable floor covering that can imitate any other types of floors. It can be imitation parquet, natural boards and other wood, tiles, marble, natural stone and even brick. The slats may have different size, but the standard boards are 25 by 150 cm in size. The slats have a locking fastening, which, as a rule, is located either on two or on all four sides of each board.

These lamellas are easy to install and maintain. The laminate board itself includes four layers. Each of them has a certain functional purpose. Together they all make up a high-quality and reliable option floor covering.

The bottom layer is paper soaked in resin, which performs a moisture-proof function. Thanks to this, the laminate board will not be damaged in the event of a flood. The bottom substrates of some models can also perform a heat or sound insulating function. No thresholds are needed for the coating.

The penultimate layer is the most basic and thick, on average its thickness ranges from 5 to 9 mm. It consists of compressed wood, as well as locks built into this level, the basis of which are tenons and grooves.

The next layer is decorative. It is a coating with a pattern that imitates wood and other materials. It is covered with a transparent layer on top, which makes the coating more beautiful and decorative. In addition, it performs protective functions and prevents rapid rubbing and damage to the laminate. As a rule, the transparent layer is made of acrylic or melamine.

Laminate is affordable price and at the same time practical material.

It perfectly conveys the texture of many materials and looks very aesthetically pleasing. The marble version looks elegant.

Even a novice installer can install this flooring option. Laminate can be divided into classes depending on its strength. The higher the class, the higher its strength and thickness. Most often, options from 21 to 33 classes are used for domestic purposes.

Linoleum

This is the most popular flooring in Russia. It is very easy to install and at the same time affordable. There is practically no need to care for it, it is enough just to periodically carry out wet cleaning. The material is completely moisture resistant and not subject to external influences. Such coatings can look very beautiful.

Manufacturers present a variety of options, differing in their patterns and shades. Typically, these flooring products are sold in roll form. You just need to roll them out on the floor. There is also an option in the form of slabs.

Linoleum is installed using a special adhesive, and it can be installed on almost any floor. In the manufacture of linoleum, both natural materials and polymers are used. Models with natural substances are more expensive and therefore less popular. The service life of linoleum is approximately 10 years, but it is most often used in apartments for much longer.

Linoleum can be thin, or it can be insulated with a backing. Foam-based options are also popular. But such a coating has a number of disadvantages. So, it can shrink and change its external qualities when exposed to elevated temperatures. In addition, heavy furniture leaves marks and damage on it.

Linoleum can be laid in absolutely any room, even in an unheated one, for example, on a balcony.

photos

Carpet

Externally, this is a covering similar to carpets, which differs from other floor coverings in a number of features. Models can be soft or quite hard to the touch. They are often placed in children's rooms because they are not at all dangerous. In their production, manufacturers use both natural and artificial materials.

The coating can be presented in the form of rolls or tiles. Sheet models are easy to install yourself without outside help. For installation, only glue is required. The material looks very presentable in appearance. Manufacturers present options that differ in their texture, pile length, color and pattern.

But this coating, while externally presentable, has a number of negative properties. Yes, it has short service life. In addition, it is considered the least water-resistant of all floor coverings. It requires special care and systematic cleaning, otherwise the coating will lose its former luster. The basis of the carpet is jute, felt or rubber.

This coating is completely unsuitable for floors in the hallway or bathroom. Some stains you may not be able to get rid of.

This option is not suitable for allergy sufferers, as it can provoke an allergic reaction.

Ceramic tile

This is a very dense and hard option, which involves covering the floor only in some areas of the apartment. So, it is placed in the bathroom, toilet, hallway, kitchen, and corridors. This coating is cold, so it is not suitable for other rooms. But if you plan to install warm floors, then in other rooms you can make the flooring in the form of tiles.

Ceramic tiles are a versatile option that has a number of advantages. It can be placed on any floor, including on concrete, wood, plywood, drywall, soil. Ceramic tiles can have different designs and patterns.

This flooring is suitable even for classic-style interiors.

The tiles can be matte or glossy. Thanks to its texture, this material is able to hide dust and dirt. In addition, it is quite easy to care for. It is moisture resistant and practical.

Manufacturers present corrugated tiles that you can step on with wet feet. That is why This coating is perfect for the bathroom. You won't have to worry about slipping.

The color scheme of this finishing material can be absolutely any. The tile itself is very strong and durable. These are high-quality vapor barrier and non-flammable floors. The tiles are attached with glue and last a very long time. But the coating is hard and therefore dangerous. It is not comfortable to walk on cold tiles barefoot.

Self-leveling floor

Previously, such a coating was most often used as a subfloor, but new self-leveling floors are excellent decorative coatings. The design involves the presence of three-dimensional drawings and patterns that are covered with a polymer layer. Self-leveling floors can be polyurethane or epoxy. They themselves are high quality and environmentally friendly.

The service life of such floors is quite long. They can look very presentable, especially glossy models with patterns. These are moisture-resistant and easy-to-clean models. Their disadvantage is that Before laying, you need to perfectly level the surface and dry it, otherwise unevenness may appear.

Which ones to choose?

The choice of flooring is a very important component of any renovation. In this case, you should take into account in which functional area or in which room it will be located. For each zone, you need to select materials based on what qualities they have and what loads they can withstand. In addition, the choice of sex should be influenced by the composition of the family.

Some coatings are completely inappropriate for children. If you have small children, then the floors should be less traumatic and completely environmentally friendly. In addition, such floors should be easy to maintain. If you have pets at home, the coating must withstand mechanical stress, such as scratches.

When choosing, you should also evaluate your financial condition, since some flooring options are very expensive and require special care. If your apartment is on the ground floor, then you should purchase the most moisture-resistant materials. This is because The closer the basement is to the apartment, the higher the humidity level.

Not all apartments can install certain types of coatings. Thus, in panel apartments it is not always possible to insulate the floor, since an unacceptable level of load on the interfloor partitions may arise; this is only permissible in good new buildings or private houses. Thus, you will have to choose models that do not involve concrete screed.

Regarding private rooms and functional zones, then there are a number of requirements. So, the hallway area is always the most accessible and dirtiest. It involves a large load on the floor covering and a lot of external influences in the form of moisture, dust and dirt. If you have children, then you will put strollers and children's sleds there, which can damage the coating.

That is why only the hardest and most quality option. Moreover, it should look presentable and complement the interior of the apartment as a whole. The most suitable for such premises would be ceramic tiles. It lasts a very long time and withstands all of the above impacts.

Linoleum is also often placed in the hallway, but the hardest models with an additional backing are purchased. Another option for the hallway is laying laminate flooring. But for this area of ​​the apartment it is better to select durable models of class 31-33.

You can choose other floor coverings for the bedroom. Considering that it is in this room that you will most often walk barefoot, so the covering should be warm and pleasant to the touch. Parquet or parquet boards are perfect for this.

Carpet is very soft and aesthetically pleasing, so it is ideal for the sleeping area. At the same time, it performs well the function of sound insulation, which is so necessary for sleeping quarters. You can lay laminate in this area, but you will have to put rugs near the bed, since without a backing in the form of warm floors, laminate is cold.

Work technology

The floor of the apartment has two layers - an intermediate layer and the floor covering itself. In the thinnest panel houses there is no intermediate layer, and the flooring is laid on a bare surface. For this option, when laying it yourself, it is necessary to smooth the DSP before installation with grout. To do this, it is better to use the thinnest layer of cement screed - the so-called “pie”. This way you can increase the level of noise and heat insulation.

Wooden floors are also used when renovating floors. beam floors as a basis. This way you can make heat and sound insulation. They can be covered with a layer of moisture insulation on top. An intermediate layer is placed on the floor. It may consist of joists, a subfloor, additional insulating and waterproofing substrates, and a thin concrete screed. And on top of these layers you can lay the flooring.

If you choose a wooden floor from planks, then it is placed on beams without a subfloor. They use reinforced concrete products, timber, and metal profiles.

When repairing, the cement screed method is often used. This is one of the simplest types of installation. In this case, a special cement mortar is prepared. Initially, the surface of the floors is cleaned of old concrete. After this, the floor is cleaned of dust and dirt. Then it is important to measure the slope and calculate required volume cement mortar. You can buy the mixture ready-made or make it yourself.

After you have received ready solution, you need to mix it well. Then you can set beacons and guides, which will allow you to fill the floors well and evenly. The cement must be evenly distributed over the entire surface and smoothed to the desired level. The preparation of the base must be carried out while it is still wet and not hardened. This is necessary so that the floors last longer and do not crack. The screed takes about 30 days to dry.

Another option is to lay semi-dry screed. This option dries much faster and at the same time better protects against moisture and does not release heat. It contains much less water and has special fiber fibers that prevent cracking. The technology for laying it is approximately the same as in the previous version.

You can also use the dry screed method. This type of floor can be covered immediately after installation. You need to put polyethylene sheets on the floors, and then fill them with sand and level them. The layer must be compacted and covered with a metal profile. This method is suitable when laying on a strip foundation. Stacked on top gypsum boards and attached to the profile. You can immediately install any floor covering on such a screed.

Insulation

Insulating floors involves fixing wooden joists to polyethylene. Polystyrene foam or mineral wool is laid there. The thickness of such a layer can vary from 5 to 10 cm. This heat-insulating layer is covered on top with plywood or board, and a decorative coating is applied on top.

Another insulation option is dry screed. It's fast and effective method insulate the floors in the apartment.

Underlayment is also a fairly popular method of insulation. It involves laying sheets of foamed polyethylene under a decorative coating. This is not the most effective, but very easy to install method. Since the substrate is quite thin, it allows air to be retained and does not allow it to pass between the plates or lamellas that make up the decorative coating. It involves little sound insulation and insulation. As a rule, such a substrate is used in combination with other protective measures.

Special cotton wool or other materials are often used as a substrate. They do a good job of heat and sound insulation. These insulation materials may include cellulose, shumoplast, rubber, acrylic elements and polystyrene foam.

Another option for the substrate is laying extruded foam plastic. It can even be placed on concrete. To achieve the best effect, the substrate is placed in several layers. You can use any decorative covering on top. It is better if it is of high quality and durable.

Beautiful examples in the interior

In a modern interior, you can make a light floor from parquet or laminate. It is perfect for Provence and classic styles. The shade will be suitable bleached oak. You can complement it with a rug in the shape of an animal skin.

For apartments in classic or modern style, a brown wenge or oak parquet floor is perfect. This coating looks noble and elegant.

You should choose flooring for your apartment based on your financial capabilities and personal preferences. When purchasing a new home or restoring an old one, each of us sees the process of home renovation differently. Some take a radical approach and decide to refurbish the entire living space, while others intend to make do with a simple cosmetic repairs. If you see that more than 30 percent of the room needs repair, then it is better to choose a major type of restoration of an apartment or house. After all, what is visible is only part of what needs to be done. Usually the most severe damage is hidden from the naked eye.

Where to start renovating floors in an apartment: preparatory work

When renovating a room, it is always necessary to first analyze the condition of the floors, walls and ceiling. These major structural elements of your home are fundamental, and their integrity determines the condition of your entire home.

Repairing floors in an apartment, the options for which are presented below, must begin with overhaul throughout the house. This is the only way the renovation you have started will make sense and have an excellent result.

The first step is to level the floors in the apartment, for example, using a self-leveling mixture

You shouldn’t start renovating the floors in your apartment if you don’t have enough time and money. This type of repair is highly costly, and if halfway through it turns out that you have run out of money, then your whole family will be jumping on joists and bags of cement for a long time. Do-it-yourself repairs will help you save a lot of money. But to carry it out correctly, you need to develop a plan in which all stages of the repair work should be clearly defined.

Stages of repairing floors in an apartment:

1. Before starting any repairs, it is necessary to make a sketch of the finished object. Take a pencil, a sheet of paper and a tape measure, draw a surface, and put on it everything you want to do in the future.
2. According to your visions, divide the space into zones. Determine where you will use which finishing material.
3. Arrange future or existing furniture in the order in which it will be placed.
4. Use numbers to number the stages of construction work. They begin with the dismantling of old surfaces, in the middle of the journey you have to replace communications, and the repair ends with laying the floor.
5. Create a cost estimate.

Weigh yours again financial opportunities and determination, read the reviews, these types of work are not cheap. If you decide to make repairs yourself, then it would be useful for you to get advice from a specialist or consult a professional.

Existing types of floors in the apartment: 10 installation options

It's called gender top part ceilings between floors apartment building or house and soil. The quality of floors greatly influences the entire structure of the building; a well-made house can last for decades without requiring replacement or repair.

There are different types of flooring in an apartment. They differ in the type of flooring base and floor covering.

It is better to use a concrete floor as a base for the floor covering.

The floor also has several functions that we sometimes don’t even think about, believing that its main task is to provide us with convenient movement around the apartment. The floor must provide soundproofing, thermal insulation, moisture resistance, load-bearing function and, of course, aesthetic appearance.

Types of floors that exist:

• Wooden beams can be used as a base for the floor;
• Reinforced concrete beams are also suitable for these purposes;
• In modern buildings, a metal profile can be laid for arranging beams;
• For further installation of the floor covering, the space between the beams is filled cement screed, semi-dry or dry;
• You can lay linoleum as a floor covering;
• The wooden floor will be warm and environmentally friendly;
• Properly installed parquet or laminate flooring is often used in modern designs;
• Sometimes builders use PVC tiles;
• To furnish the floors in the hallway or kitchen, you can use ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware;

In luxury homes, it is customary to use marble or granite tiles for flooring in problem rooms.

Which flooring is better for an apartment: what to choose

The specifics of buildings require the use of various building materials. Sometimes, where it is possible to use wooden floor boards, it is completely impossible to equip the floor with ceramic tiles. To change building materials from one to another, it is necessary to completely change the structure of the floors.

Which floor covering is best for an apartment? What do professionals think about this? Like everyone existing species choose your flooring?

Laminate flooring fits well into any interior thanks to a wide variety of colors

To understand this problem and make a choice, you need to carefully study specifications all naturally occurring types of floor coverings.

Properties and characteristics of types of flooring:

• Board. In most cases, this is a planed, tongue-and-groove board, 25-45 mm thick, suitable for laying on the floor. This flooring provides heat and sound insulation and is the most environmentally friendly of all types of flooring.
• Parquet. The principle and technical characteristics of such a floor correspond to a floor made of boards. The only difference is the size of the boards. Due to the fact that the size of the boards may not be large, they can be made from valuable types of wood, which makes the floor better and more durable.
• Laminate flooring is very similar in appearance and installation to parquet, but is made from four-layer fiberboard.
• Linoleum. The most common finishing material. It is easy to install, easy to care for, and its quality is constantly being improved. Apartment owners willingly use this finishing material in their premises.

Tiles of all types are used mainly in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and hallway. This use is due to its special strength and water resistance.

Let's figure out which floor is better to make in the apartment

IN modern apartments The main theme of the renovation is energy saving. To achieve this, their owners take a number of measures to ensure heat retention in the apartment.

What flooring is best to install in an apartment to make it warmer and more economical? Experts recommend installing types of floors where there is space between the base of the floor and the floor covering.

If desired, you can combine flooring, for example, tiles with laminate

Heated floors allow you to save from 25 to 50 percent of heat in the house thanks to the heated floor system. You can even equip it yourself, the main thing is to plan it in advance, even before the start of major floor repairs.

Types of heating systems for floors:

• Water heating;
• Electric heating;
• Infrared heating.

Exactly infrared system heating is the highest quality, affordable and practical for insulating houses in apartments. It fits almost any floor covering.

Wooden floors in an apartment: material features

Ecological purity of food, clothing and building materials is given everything higher value. And not in vain. The objects that surround us, as well as the food we eat, greatly influence our health. That is why modern designers and home owners are increasingly using wood for flooring.

Wooden apartment floors are again rising in the rankings among flooring materials. Designers create a variety of projects, the main idea of ​​which is wooden floors.

To extend the life of a wooden floor, it needs to be painted.

It is not for nothing that the most expensive interior design styles imply the presence of only wooden floors. In the modern world of designer fashion, such a floor indicates good wealth, financial stability and excellent taste of the owner of the house.

Advantages of wooden floors:

• Made from environmentally friendly natural material;
• They have an excellent aesthetic appearance;
• Practical and durable;
• Even small children can easily walk on this floor with bare feet;
• Easy to maintain and repair;
• It is not difficult to do the installation yourself,

There are several types of wood flooring. Parquet and parquet boards are currently considered the most expensive of wooden types. A simpler option is a regular tongue and groove board.

Self-leveling coating for the floor in a room: fashion trends

Laying parquet or laying parquet slabs on a concrete floor is now not difficult for many, as is laying cheaper options. The simplest thing that will cost the least is to make linoleum flooring or cover the floor with laminate. But decorating houses in this way is no longer fashionable.

Self-leveling coating is perfect for rooms designed in modern or high-tech style

Covering the floor in a self-leveling room will not cost you inexpensively, but finishing with their use will make everyone gasp.

If you are building a house from scratch, and want it to be beautiful, and unusual finishing work to make it exclusive, try new way, which is now used to cover the floor - self-leveling.

Self-leveling floors are made from:

• Polyurethane;
• Epoxy-urethane resin;
• Methyl methacrylate;
• Cement-polyurethane mixture.

The most extravagant and unusual are self-leveling floors made of polyurethane and epoxy resins.

Materials: what to make floors from in an apartment (video)

A huge number of materials for flooring give you the opportunity to choose. For different rooms of the house, you can choose different coatings, which will ensure more reliable functionality of the rooms. Your main task is to correctly complete the construction and finishing of floors.