INTD 50A floor materials and coverings

floor coverings major element in an interior and selection criteria deserve careful consideration: durability required cost of materials, installation, and maintenance aesthetic considerations acoustic noise control insulative/solar absorption needs fire/building codes

floor coverings—selection guidelines hard and resilient floor coverings form a substantial part of the character of an interior select flooring according to the following criteria: beauty harmony graceful aging subfloor preparation life-cycle costing upkeep durability safety

floor coverings—selection guidelines beauty—good design merit & integrity; should be appealing even without other furnishings harmony—as a background for a variety of furnishings—look for neutralized colors, subtle textures & lack of a definite pattern graceful aging—mellowing of the finish through continued use subfloor preparation—supports and enhances the finishing material

floor coverings—selection guidelines life-cycle costing—total cost divided by the number of years of expected use upkeep—maintenance frequency and ease of cleaning durability—ability to withstand traffic safety—slippery?, visual confusion?, avoid extremes of rugged textures or highly polished smooth materials

floor coverings—hard have several advantages—generally they are: strong and durable nonabsorbent & relatively impervious to soiling and staining easy to maintain and clean “timeless” classics versatile disadvantages: high initial cost subfloor preparation rigidity

floor coverings—hard EXAMPLES: flagstone granite limestone marble terrazzo slate travertine ceramic tile mexican tile quarry tile brick concrete wood planks & parquet bamboo laminate

floor coverings—resilient have flexibility or give advantages: lower initial cost warmer to the touch absorb more sound easier on the body dropped items less likely to break less damage to floor if items are dropped wide variety of designs and patterns moderate maintenance depending upon finish and finish durability

floor coverings—resilient disadvantages: may require more maintenance if surface has no protection can be damaged, dented, or torn less durable seams will open and become worn if poorly installed EXAMPLES: cork leather linoleum rubber vinyl—sheet/tile vinyl composition

floor coverings—soft made in many fiber types and come in a wide selection of colors, textures & prices selection guidelines: understand the fibers learn carpet constructions look for guarantees purchase locally compare quality ask for recommendations determine quality take sample to site

floor coverings—soft made in many fiber types and come in a wide selection of colors, textures & prices selection guidelines: select color wisely compare carpet’s lifespan to its aesthetics select a quality padding or underlay quality installation is IMPORTANT upgrade carpeting to higher quality that standard allotment in new construction

floor coverings—soft carpet fibers most are constructed of single fiber however there are an increasing number of blends blends are popular for three reasons: has the positive qualities of each fiber more costly fiber can be extended with the combination of less expensive fibers cross-dyeing effects can be created with one dye—different fibers take dye differently

floor coverings—soft carpet construction woven broadloom—woven or tufted by a machine and are typically 12 ft wide tufted broadloom—make up the majority of carpets today; constructed on a loom using multiple needles knitted—constructed of knitted yarns held together with latex backing; few on the market needlepunch—masses of fibers rather than yarns held together by an interlocking fiber-punching machine; inexpensive

floor coverings—soft carpet textures cut pile—surfaces are sheared to one height or multi-level

floor coverings—soft carpet textures plush

floor coverings—soft carpet textures frieze

floor coverings—soft carpet textures sculptured

floor coverings—soft carpet textures deep pile

floor coverings—soft carpet textures level loop

floor coverings—soft carpet textures random or level tip

floor coverings—soft carpet maintenance appearance and life span of carpet depend on the way that it is maintained keeping carpet clean is the key to good looks and increased life span when dirt, grit or sand settles to the bottom of the pile, wears down fibers more quickly

floor coverings—soft rugs add softness and warmth provide positive acoustical properties give character and richness to interiors area rugs define an area

floor coverings—soft rugs—can be natural/manufactured fibers, machine or man-made, designer or mass produced authentic oriental antique—older than 75 years semiantique—from 25-75 years new—less than 25 years old persian turkish tibetan folk— dhurrie, navajo, rya, rollikan, rag, braided, and hooked european handmade rugs— aubusson, needlepoint