Finish Flooring - Functional Criteria

Floors are flat planes of interior space, that are structured to carry loads
safely.

Since flooring is subject to direct wear and represents a major portion of

a room’s surface area, it should be selected with both functional and
aesthetic criteria in mind.

Durability is of utmost importance because of the wear and the use a

flooring material must withstand. The flooring material should be resistant
to physical abrasion and denting.
Directly related to a flooring’s durability is the ease with which it can be
maintained. For durability as well as ease of maintenance, a flooring
material should be resistant to dirt, moisture, grease, and staining,
especially in work and high trafficked areas.

Foot comfort is related to the degree of resilience a flooring material has

and, to a lesser degree, its warmth.

The warmth of a floor may be real or apparent. A flooring material may be

warmed by radiant heat and kept warm by insulating the floor.
In warm climates, a cool floor surface would be more comfortable than a
warm one.

In areas susceptible to wetting, it is advisable to avoid using hard, slick

flooring materials.

Hard floor surfaces reflect airborne sound originating from within a room,
and amplify impact noise caused by our footwear or the movement of
equipment.
Resilient flooring can cushion some of this impact noise. Soft, or porous
flooring materials reduce impact noise as well as help muffle airborne
sound reaching their surfaces.

Light- coloured flooring will reflect more light falling on its surface and
help make a room seem brighter than a dark textured flooring.

A floor through its colour and pattern texture can play an active role in
determining the character of a space.

A light- coloured floor will enhance the light level within a room, while a
dark floor will absorb much of the light falling on its surface.
A warm, light colour has an elevating effect on a floor, while a warm, dark
floor conveys a sense of security. A cool, light colour suggests
spaciousness and emphasizes the smoothness of polished floors. A
cool, dark colour gives a floor plane depth and weight.

A floor transmits its tactile qualities – its texture and density – directly to
us as we walk across its surface.

The texture and how a material is laid are directly related to the visual
pattern created. It is the visual texture that communicates to us the
nature of the flooring material and the character of the space.
 Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is admired for its warmth, natural appearance and its
attractive blend to comfort, resilience, and durability. It is easy to
maintain, if damaged can be refinished or replaced.

Durable, close-grained species of hardwoods( white and red oak, maple,

birch, and beech) and softwoods ( pine, Douglas fir and others) are used
for wood flooring. The best grades are clear and will minimize or exclude
defects, such as knots, streaks, checks, and torn grain. Wood flooring is
available in boards or manufactured blocks and panels. Board flooring is
typically in the form of narrow strips, although planks are also available in
softwoods.
Parquet blocks consist of strip flooring factory-assembled into squares
with various geometric patterns. Prefinished panels which have the
appearance of traditional strip flooring are another type of factory-made
flooring.

Wood flooring is most often finished with clear polyurethane, varnish, or a

penetrating sealer; the finishes can range from high gloss to satin or mat.
Ideally the finish should enhance the durability of the wood and its
resistance to water, dirt, and staining without concealing the wood’s
natural beauty.

Stains are used to add some colour to the natural tone of the wood
without obscuring the wood grain.
 Tile & Stone Flooring

Tile and stone flooring materials are solid and durable. Depending on the
shape of the individual pieces and the pattern in which they are laid,
these flooring materials can have a cool, formal appearance or can
convey informal feeling to a room.

Ceramic tile used for flooring are the mosaics – relatively small, modular
made of natural clay or porcelain composition. The natural clay type is
unglazed, with muted earth colours; the porcelain can have bright colours
and are vitreous.
Quarry tiles and pavers are larger modular flooring materials. Quarry tiles
are unglazed units of heat-hardened clay; pavers are similar to the
ceramic mosaic tile. Both are practically impervious to moisture, dirt, and
stains.

Stone flooring materials provide a solid, permanent, highly durable floor

surface. Colours range for example from tan, beiges and reddish browns
of flagstone to the greys and black of slate.
A random pattern of flagstone conveys an informal feeling. Slate,
available in square or irregular shapes, can be formal or informal. Marble
lends itself to formal elegance.

Concrete can also be used as a finish flooring surface if smooth and

level. It should be sealed against stains and grease. It can be painted,
stained, or integrally coloured when cast.

Terrazzo is a special type of exposed aggregate finish with mosaic-like

patterns created by the marble chips used.
 Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring materials provide an economical, dense, non-absorbent

flooring surface with relatively good durability and ease of maintenance.

Their degree of resilience enables them to resist permanent indentation

while providing comfort. The degree of comfort provided will depend not
only on the material’s resilience, but also on the type of backing used and
the hardness of the supporting substrate.
Linoleum and vinyl sheets come in rolls. The other resilient flooring
materials are available as tiles. While sheet goods provide a seamless
floor, tiles are easier to install if the floor outline is irregular. Individual
tiles can also be replaced if damaged.

Below are the characteristics of performance:

•Resilience & quietness

•Resistance to indentation
•Resistance to staining, grease and burns
•Ease of maintenance

Wood or concrete substrate for resilient flooring should be clean, dry, flat,
and smooth since any irregularities in the base material would show
through.
 Carpet & Rugs Floor Coverings

Floor coverings as opposed to flooring materials - refer to carpet or rugs.

These soft coverings provide floors with both visual and textural softness,
resilience, and warmth in a wide range of colours and patterns. These
qualities, in turn, enable carpeting to absorb sound, reduce impact noise,
and provide a comfortable and safe surface to walk on. As a group
carpeting is also fairly easy to maintain.
Each room in the house serves specific functions that require you to think
about function as well as fashion.

Kitchens

•High traffic and dirt from the outside entry door.

•Spills are common from cooking, so floors must be easy to clean.
•Non-slip flooring is necessary for safety purposes.

Bathroom
•Waterproof flooring is a must for those sink, toilet and bathtub overflows.
•Washable flooring is important for ease of cleaning.
•Non-slip flooring is necessary for safety purposes.
Living Room

•Focal point and centerpiece of home furnishings in most homes.

•Function varies from family room to formal receiving room.
•Choose flooring to match the room’s function and décor.

Dining Room

•Wear-resistant flooring is a must if the floor is used regularly at mealtime.

•Stain-resistant floors are necessary for any area prone to food spills.
Bedroom

•Floors are usually overshadowed by the bed and coordinating fabrics.

•Traffic is less of a problem here than in other rooms, so stains and wear
should be minimal.
•Consider a neutral flooring that adapts to frequent décor changes. Too
many bright colours can be over-powering.

Hallways and Stairs

•Steady traffic brings dirt and moisture, especially to entry halls.

•Stains and wear are more visible.
•Entry halls are the first part of your home a guest sees, so use this area to
make a bold statement.