Floor coverings

Aesthetic considerations notwithstanding, floor coverings are normally selected on the basis of their durability and ease of maintenance. Therefore, in selecting a floor covering for any given room, you should consider these, special properties and advantages.
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Wood floors
Laminated floors
Cork
Bamboo
Ceramic tiles
Natural stone
Decorative concrete
Vinyl
Carpeting

Wood floors

Wood floors are the darlings of today's new houses. They're available in many styles and, no matter the style of wood floor you're looking for, you're likely to find a version that's pre-finished.
Hardwood

Wood strips are available in a wide variety. Among the most popular: maple, yellow birch, white ash and, of course, oak. Whatever your preference, you can select it in widths ranging from 1 1/2 in. to 3 1/2 in. Note that narrower strips are more stable when subjected to humidity variations.

Generally, wood floors are installed in bedrooms, family/living room, office, dining room and hallways. They never go out of style, they're warm and they can adapt to any style of décor. They can also be stained in order to produce different effects. They're very resistant and require little maintenance. However, you'll need to take the family away for a few days during sanding and the application of the protective varnish. It's therefore important to choose a quality product that won't yellow and will withstand shocks and scratching well. You don't want to have to go through the refinishing process too often!

You can also buy pre-varnished wood strips that are easy to install.
Parquet

Each parquet tile is made of small strips of wood attached to a backing. Parquet is resistant, easy to install and requires little maintenance. It can be installed everywhere except in the kitchen and bathroom, as is the case with most wood floors that don't adapt well to water and humidity.

Some manufacturers sell pre-glued parquet tiles that are very easy to install. Finally, staining parquet can produce charming effects.

Laminated floors

Relatively new on the market, the laminated floor is made of particle board panels covered with a 1/8th in. thick wood veneer. It's gaining in popularity.

Laminated floors have an uncanny resemblance to conventional hardwood floors. Laminated floorboards measure 54 3/8 in. by 7 11/16 in. The thickness is only 5/16 in., which makes them easy to install over existing floors. It resists compression, scratching, abrasives, spike heels, chemical products, stains and cigarette burns.

Easy to maintain, it needs neither waxing nor stripping. Clean the stratified floor with a broom, a damp sponge or a vacuum cleaner. Stubborn stains can be rubbed off with a wet cloth. Never use a saturated cloth or wash by pouring water onto the floor. Stubborn stains such as paint, nail polish, oil, etc. are easily removed with acetone or any alcohol based solvent.

Installing a laminated floor is easy. Among other things, it works well on concrete and is very stable. It doesn't require the building of a subfloor, unless there is a drain that you wish to conserve. Some manufacturers even make strips that are fitted with an acoustic membranes, which eliminates one phase of the installation process.

Floating floors are offer in various finishes such as beech, ash, mahogany, wild cherry, maple, natural oak, moss green and polar white oak.

Cork

Cork comes from the bark of the cork tree and grows in Mediterranean countries. It’s gathered every nine years. The tree isn’t cut down and so, is spared for another harvest. Cork’s qualities are numerous: it acts as both an acoustic and thermal barrier, is damp-proof, hypoallergenic, anti-vibration, rot and fire resistant. It’s a material that doesn’t break and will regain its shape, qualities that make it very durable. As well, it’s recyclable. Cork is available in many textures and colours. It can be stained to satisfy most tastes, multiplying the opportunities to harmonize it with any décor. It’s suitable in any room of the house with the exception of areas where there is a risk of water damage like the bathroom or sauna.

Available as a floating floor or in tiles, cork is easy to install. A few simple tools such as a hammer or a rubber mallet, a small wood block, a lever, a saw, wood or waterproof glue, a pencil and a ruler will do the job. The task does require some effort. Even though the boards or tiles can be purchased pre-varnished, it’s recommended that you lay down a supplementary coat of varnish after installation to assure that all joints are sealed and protected. To avoid altering the colour, the floor should only be washed with mild soap and water. It can be re-varnished, generally every ten to fifteen years.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a member of the grass family and grows mainly in the South-east Asia region. Usually ready for harvest after five to six years, it’s one of the fastest growing plants. It’s also a very good alternative to hardwood flooring, as it’s a quality product that is as, or more, stable and flexible than red oak or maple. However, its properties may vary quite a lot, as there are about 700 varieties of bamboo.

The bamboo is cut, formed into strips and assembled into boards from 36 to 72 inches long. The boards can be purchased with glossy, semi-gloss or matte finishes in two tones: natural or caramel or, simply untreated. In this case, you can stain, varnish and oil the boards according to your tastes, an option that will allow you to perfectly harmonize the flooring with the existing décor and even create your own motifs. Bamboo flooring resists abrasion, chemical products, staining, oil and fire and is impervious to static electricity build-up.

A bamboo floor is installed in the same way as a traditional hardwood floor. A medium level do-it-yourselfer can successfully take on the project. He or she will need, among others, the following tools: a power mitre-saw (with a finishing blade), a bench saw to rip the boards, a pneumatic nailer for hardwood floors and a finishing nailer with compressor, as well as an belt sander to level the sub-floor. Cleaning is done with mild soap and water, using a minimum of water. To be avoided: vinegar, wax and all-purpose cleaners.

Ceramic tiles

The use of ceramic tiles is usually limited to kitchens, bathrooms, entrance halls, the front of the fireplace and solariums. Ceramic tiles are probably so popular because of their durability and ease of maintenance. And because they're available in a practically limitless variety of shapes and colours, they lend themselves to various styles and decors.
You should select tiles in keeping with the use you intend to make of them. Tiles earmarked for the entrance hall and likely to be roughed up must be more resistant than those you're planning to use in the bathroom. Matte enamel finishes are less slippery and better suited to kitchens and bathrooms. On the other hand, you shouldn't use them in the entrance hall because of their low resistance to scratching.

For a few dollars more, you can also get porcelain tiles that are tougher.

Natural stone

These stones, as the name implies, are perfectly natural. They’re quarried and cut into any number of shapes. Stone presents a variety of textures, colours and veining. This characteristic gives it its unique cachet. On the other hand, the product can have imperfections, which underscores the importance of examining each piece so that imperfections don’t create problems during installation.

For the home, natural stone is available in the same dimensions as ceramic tile. They have a polished and smoothed surface. Polishing causes the stone to shine. The colours are enhanced and the fractures emphasized. This is the smoothest finish; it will also require a lot of maintenance to preserve its shine. Thus, it’s not recommended for heavy-traffic areas. In that case, a better choice is a smooth stone with a matte, rougher finish that will be easier to maintain.

There are many varieties of natural stone.
  • Slate, for example, provides an anti-skid and insulating surface that’s strongly resistant to wear. Slate is porous and must be sealed so as not to be damaged by water. Black slate is the most porous of all slates and the most fragile. Lighter coloured tiles stand up to abuse better.
Granite is the hardest and most resistant of all natural stone. It has few pores and does not degrade from the effects of acid substances or other chemicals. On the other hand, it does look austere.
  • Marble is a porous stone and it scratches easily. It’s less solid and resistant to wear than granite. Contrary to slate, dark marble is less porous. Marble should not be installed in dining rooms and other rooms where spills are likely to occur. The most popular marble floorings are Jura, Carrare, travertine and blue stone.
We can install natural stone ourselves over a plywood sub-floor, in the same way as ceramics. On the other hand, installation requires certain special tools such as a water-cooled saw. A natural stone floor needs regular maintenance. Its principal enemy is sand that leaves scratches on the surface. Heavy traffic areas should be protected with a carpet and wash with a mild soap, rinse with clean water and dry quickly.

Decorative concrete

The basic floors in our homes are generally made of concrete – a mixture of cement, sand, air, water and greyish gravel or crushed stone. Not very attractive, you might say. Well guess what? Now it’s possible to give new life to an old concrete slab – in the basement playroom, for example – using coloured self-levelling decorative concrete. The principle is simple, but the actual application of the concrete should be left to the experts, who know how thick to pour it and exactly what procedures to follow.

In integrally coloured concrete, the pigments are added at the basic mixing stage. Concrete can be textured to look like ceramic, brick, or other types of stone. It can also be engraved, or cut with a saw to resemble tiles. More confident do-it-yourselfers might want to paint their own designs on the surface. Some products on the market can be applied to the concrete in the same way as paint, using a roller and brushes, to give an impressive natural stone effect. In high-traffic areas, a sealer should be applied to the concrete to protect the finished surface.

Concrete floors last a lifetime and are very easy to clean with just a little detergent and water.

Vinyl

Vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl are normally used in kitchens, bathrooms and entrance halls. Affordable, vinyl is available in an impressive variety of colours and motifs that often reproduce other forms of floor coverings in very credible ways. They're also easy to install and maintain. One small problem: if you decide to move the furniture around, you're likely to find it will have left marks on your vinyl floor.

If you're planning to install vinyl on a concrete floor, tell your merchant who will recommend a product especially designed for that purpose.

Carpeting

Normally found in the living room, the family room and the bedrooms, carpeting is appreciated for its comfort and durability, as well as for its availability in a wide range of colours. Maintenance, however, is problematic, and carpeting is often accused of being the source of a number of respiratory allergies. Today, carpeting is treated against stains and static.
When taking your decision, remember that you’ll be spending a long time with your choices. Since this is usually a fairly expensive job and the work often upsets the household routine, it’s best to opt for quality from the beginning.
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