The choice of materials used for flooring will make or break the looks of a building. The right choice of flooring materials can transform an otherwise drab building into an enlivening one. On the contrary, a wrong flooring option can also completely ruin the aesthetics of a building. Moreover, changing flooring is an expensive activity. A lot of time, energy, and money go into it. So getting your flooring right the first time is the best for your pockets.

When it comes to flooring materials, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. Natural materials like wood, granite, and marble are popular options for flooring. Ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles are also commonly used for flooring.

Flooring materials for your house - Tips to choose | Viya Constructions

In this post, we look at 12 factors that you must consider before finalizing the flooring options for your new home. In fact, the same holds good for renovating your old floors as well

General Characteristics

Budget

There is a wide range to choose from when it comes to flooring options. However, you should not get carried away by the looks alone and should pay due attention to the cost of the materials too. The cost of the material used should be in line with the overall cost of the building.

Durability

Your flooring materials should have sufficient resistance to wear, temperature changes, and disintegration with time and decay. This is particularly important in the case of rooms that are likely to experience more traffic. Marble, mosaic, concrete, and tile flooring rank high in this aspect.

Availability

Always keep in mind that you choose tiles that are available in sufficient quantities in the store. Factor in for wastage of tiles also during your purchase.

Suitability to your Home

Appearance

The floor should be pleasant to look at. It should have a certain aesthetic appeal and architectural beauty. It should also gel well with the rest of your home. Marble has cool looks that go well with modern or contemporary houses, whereas wooden floors give a more sophisticated look.

Maintenance

Once the initial fancy of a new house dies out, your home flooring should not be a burden to maintain. Cleaning should be easy and non-time-consuming. Moreover, your floors should have effective resistance against the absorption of oils, grease, etc. Also, the materials used should be such that repairs can be done easily, with minimal cost. Hard materials like tiles, concrete, mosaic, etc require less maintenance compared to materials like wood or glass.

Room size/Purpose

The size and purpose of the room is an important factor in determining the type of flooring. For instance, your bathroom should have anti-slippery flooring, whereas the kitchen should have tougher materials with extra grip. In the same way, for exterior spaces like balconies and patios, use materials that are resistant to dust, sun, and rain. Large tiles would look good for spacious spaces. The same is true for medium-sized rooms also, as large tiles will make a medium-sized room look bigger. However for a small-sized room, always choose small tiles.

Properties of the Materials Used

Colour and style

A wide range of flooring options in varying colours and styles are available today. However, you should make sure that the colour and material that you choose for the floor goes well with the rest of the décor. For example, if you want to highlight a wall or a cabinet in your living room, take adequate care to ensure that the flooring doesn’t dominate and create a distraction.

Dampness resistant

This factor is of particularly high importance in the floor tile used for bathrooms. A damp tile is home to several microorganisms causing diseases to the inmates of the house. So take special care to use flooring materials like tiles, mosaic, granite, etc for your bathrooms. Never choose wood, rubber, or brick floorings in these areas.

Sound Insulation

The flooring materials used should be such that no noise should be produced when users walk on it. For this purpose, it is preferable to use materials with high levels of sound insulation.

Thermal Insulation

Another important aspect, especially in Kerala weather conditions is thermal insulation. The floor tile must not absorb heat during the day and cause the room to remain heated up during the nights. Materials like wood, PVC tiles, etc offer great thermal insulation.

Smoothness

The flooring material should be smooth and have an even surface. However, make sure that this doesn’t make your floor slippery.

Hardness

On the other hand, your floor should also be sufficiently hard that it doesn’t leave imprints, indentation, marks, etc that are likely to be caused due to the movement of furniture, equipment, etc. You can also choose to apply a protective coating on the flooring materials to minimize scratches dents and to lengthen the life of the flooring material.

What are your Options?

Hope this gives a fair idea of what to look for before you decide on your type of flooring. Wooden flooring gives a sophisticated look to your room, whereas natural materials like granite and marble are perfect to keep your rooms cool even in warm weather. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are pocket-friendly options to granite and marble. If you are on a tight budget, concrete or vinyl tiles can be considered.

Additional Reading: Flooring options in Kerala

Read more: Tiling Finishing