The Types of Floors to choose in a comprehensive reform basically depend on what the client already has in mind . There are people who already have it clear before starting the reform and others who let themselves be advised or who decide it at the moment of combining the different materials and colors that intervene in the style that we want to give to the integral reform.
The best floors for homes are those that best suit the needs of each client . For example, the same criteria do not exist when the flat is for rent as when the flat is for oneself. In apartments for rent, it is better to opt for a resistant floor that is aesthetically beautiful, such as ceramics, or also, the now very popular synthetic “laminate parquet” (parquet that imitates the shapes and textures of wood, but is made up of a DM base -a mixture of wood shavings, glues and other components- and the upper part of a more or less resistant plastic material).
The criteria when choosing the color of the floor is very similar to the one mentioned in the first paragraph of this article. It can be a matter of taste or by combination with other elements of the comprehensive reform.
There are many classifications of soil types. We classify them based on the process they are obtained, the resources they need and their carbon footprint due to the manufacturing process.
Types of Natural Soils
Natural soils are those that are “extracted” from nature, in a more or less controlled manner:
- Natural stones such as marble, granite, sandstone, slate, etc.
- Parquet floor or wooden floor, cork, linoleum, esparto grass, etc.
- Floating flooring or floating flooring (wooden on a more or less flexible base)
Types of “Elaborated” Natural Soils
ceramic floors
These soils are mostly made up of natural materials -different types of clay- and other components, and a manufacturing process with more or less energy resources:
- Natural ceramic floor (terracotta)
- Glazed ceramic floor
- stoneware floor
- Porcelain tile floor
- State-of-the-art porcelain flooring (sintered stone)
The latter is obtained from natural materials, and also uses recycled glass in its manufacture.
Types of “Manufactured” Soils
They are pavements that are obtained through a whole manufacturing process, with more or less amount of energy resources:
- Hydraulic mosaic (cement, gravel, sand, dyes…)
- Prefabricated terrazzo (stone conglomerates: stones, cement and dyes)
- Continuous terrazzo (made “in situ”, in the same work)
- Artificial stone (high compaction mortar or concrete, gravel, sand, dyes, resins…)
- vinyl flooring
- rubber flooring
- Textile floors (carpets)
- metal floors
Types of thin layer soils
They are known as “floor finishes” because it is the layer or layers that are placed on top of a base (screed). These floors are applied in thin layers and continuously (it does not have joints), and some are currently very popular:
- microcement floor
- Single-layer cement floors
- Single-layer cement and resin floors
- Multilayer floors, widely used in the industrial sector
- Finishing paints with more or less performance, widely used in the industrial sector
All floors can be interesting depending on the combination with other elements of the comprehensive reform and interior design.
The best type of floor to place in a comprehensive reform is one that meets the 3 essential requirements: utility, beauty and durability.
When choosing a cheaper floor, not only the material must be taken into account. The labor required to place it is also very important. The cheapest floor currently, and which offers acceptable features, is synthetic laminated parquet which is also very easy to install.
A floor that is also very interesting is ceramic or stoneware flooring since it meets the 3 essential requirements quite well. So that it is not expensive (material plus labor) you have to go looking for medium-sized formats (50×50 cm, 60×60, 30×60, etc).
Microcement floors are extraordinarily beautiful but they are expensive (not expensive) because the material and labor have to be very demanding. One drawback of this type of flooring is that it does not allow for occasional repairs or revisions, and above all, it requires a good base (screed). They are suitable for covering any type of consolidated surface, both on floors and walls, and can be perfectly waterproof.