Floor Coverings

Considerations when choosing flooring….. Fairly permanent/long lived choice Durability: Especially high-traffic areas Cost: material quality, installation, and maintenance. Aesthetic: Color, texture, client preferences Acoustic control Codes: Fire and building

Floor Treatments Hard: durable, dent resistant, long lasting Brick, Stone, Marble, Concrete, Tile, Wood Resilient: durable, wears well, quieter to walk on Cork, Rubber, Vinyl Soft: hardest to clean, will wear out, made with woven fibers Carpeting, Area Rugs, Mats

Types of Hard Flooring: Wood, Tile & Concrete

Advantages of Wood flooring: Durable Considered permanent Complements any décor Variety of colors Average to high cost Care: dry mop, mild soap and water, can refinish

Strip - Less than 3” wide, fastened to the subfloor with nails.

Plank – More than 3” wide, fastened to the subfloor with nails or screws. Screws are covered with wood plugs, giving the floor an Early American look.

Parquet – Small pieces of wood arranged in different patterns such as herringbone or basketweave

Tile/Stone Flooring: Durable Easily Cleaned Cold feel Expensive Can Crack/Break

Mexican Tile - Made of clay from earth. Hand shaped and sun dried, limited range of colors. Durable, informal, inexpensive.

Ceramic Tile - Hardest most durable coverings. May be glazed or unglazed, comes in many colors, patterns and textures. Any size or shape.

Flagstone/Slate - Any flat stone that varies in size, thickness, quality. Versatile, durable. Color ranges from soft grays, beiges, reddish brown. Expensive.

Brick - Durable, little upkeep. Many textures, sizes, colors. Transmits moisture and cold readily, absorbs grease unless treated. Absorbs solar energy.

Marble& Granite - Hardest non-resilient material. Gives feeling of elegance. Variety of colors. Very expensive. Use anywhere, especially appropriate with classic styles. Must be sealed.

Resilient Flooring: *Less Expensive *Variety of colors and patterns *Will need to replace sooner than wood or tile flooring *Can imitate any flooring *Damp mopped

Vinyl - Tough, resists stains, durable. Variety of patterns and colors. Comes on rolls or do-it-yourself tiles. Low cost to very expensive. Can be used anywhere. Soap and water, can use special cleaners. No waxing needed.

Soft Flooring: Carpet & Rugs Muffle noises Insulates Cost ranges Provided Cushion

Carpet Large variety of colors and textures. Insulates well, warm, quiet, easier on body Average to high cost. Stain removal with cleaner or shampooing may be needed.

Padding is Necessary For: Shock absorption Insulation Decreasing noise Extend life of carpet

Carpet Quality and Selection: Density -The closeness of yarn. The more dense, the more durable.

Pile – Length of the yarns.

Fiber – A natural or synthetic substance processed into a thread or yarn of continuous length.

Quality Depends On: Fiber Content Construction Depth of Pile

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or lay on and they offer better sound and thermal insulation. They tend to crush and matt though when they are subjected to high levels of foot traffic.

Carpet Fibers: Nylon: Most widely used, strong & durable, resists crushing and matting, good color retention Olefin: Inexpensive, lacks resiliency, easy to clean Polyester: Durable, soft, lacks resiliency, not crush resistant Wool: Long life, great resilience, resists crushing, soil resistant

Carpet Textures: Plush – Upright fibers under 1” More resilient in shorter piles Can matt

Frieze – Informal cut, curly texture because fibers are highly twisted. Shows minimal foot marks, resistant, sturdy, durable

Loop – Uncut, uses thick relatively untwisted yarns. Wears extremely well.

Sculptured – Combine various heights of cut pile and/or level loops. Too much variety can cause poor resiliency. Most effective when the design is subtle.

Calculations Hard Flooring is priced by square foot Carpet/Vinyl is priced by square yard. Calculation formula: Square footage: __ w X __ l = _____ sq. ft. Square yardage: ___ sq. ft. ÷ 9 = ___ sq. yds. (there are 9 sq. feet in a yard)