Types of Flooring and their Pros and Cons

Floors tend to be an afterthought for a soon-be-homeowner. This is mostly because they believe there is not much variety to choose from, at least floor options that are affordable. In fact, in most Indian homes, the floors consist of the usual materials like ceramic tiles, marble flooring, and so on. It just depends on choosing the right one. 

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So consider this as a guide to the world of floors and wide variety that is available for a one-of-a-kind home. 

What to keep in mind while deciding on flooring

The best way to decide on the type of flooring is to weigh the pros and cons. This would involve considering all the features of floors from durability to tiles prices. To put it more plainly consider this list of features: 

1. Functionality: Functionality is the primary requirement that one has to consider while choosing floor tiles. The tiling can differ depending on which rooms it is present in. For example, bathroom tiles would always be ceramic tiles since ceramic tiles are resistant to water.  
2. Durability: Nothing is worse than having to re-tile one’s floor due to compromised tiles. Therefore, investing in good quality floor tiles that are capable of withstanding climate and other stresses is a must. 
3. Appeal: Floor tiles can contribute a great deal towards the theme or decor that is present in the rest of the house. Thus, the type of floor tile, be it ordered or interlocking tiles style, that one chooses can also depend on the general aesthetic that one is going for. 
4. Eco-friendliness: In case there is a large area that requires flooring, it would be ideal to refrain from completely wooden floor tiles. An example of eco-friendly flooring is vinyl flooring.  
5. Cost and maintenance: It is a known fact that quality comes at a cost. However, at the same time, it is important to have a set budget for floor tiles. With a budget, one can ensure that they are investing in durable floor tile for a reasonable price that will not require too much maintenance in the future.  

Types of flooring 

The types of floor tiles that cover the floors differ depending on the room it is present in. To determine which floor tiles would suit which portion of the house, compartmentalize the house into four separate regions. These are: 

Living and dining room flooring

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Living rooms and dining rooms are usually the most spacious part of the house. Therefore, living room floor tiles should possess a larger surface area. In case one is not sure of what kind of tiles for living room floors would suit the rest of the decor, opt for white or grayscale floor tiles as a neutral option for living room floor tiles. Living room floor tiles can also offer a sense of character and uniqueness to the room especially in the living room. 

Options to choose from: Italian marble tiles, porcelain, and finally terracotta tiles or marble flooring for living room floor tiles. For a cheaper option for living room floor tiles, one can opt for ceramic tiles. 

Rooms and kitchen flooring

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It is advisable to go with smaller floor tiles for rooms and kitchen floor tiles. The reason being that these spaces tend to be smaller and the kitchen floor tiles will have several in-built cabinets and stoves that will take up space on floors. 

The kitchen floor tiles especially should not be light since there can be a significant amount of grime that will accumulate on the kitchen floor tiles. Another tip is that the kitchen floor tiles here should not contain large grout-filled gaps between consecutive kitchen floor tiles as they can be hard to clean. For rooms, one can opt for lighter colors for floors to brighten up the area. 

Options to choose from vitrified tiles in an off-white or gold shade, quarry tiles, sadarahalli granite flooring for kitchen floor tiles and counters, terracotta or ceramic tiles for rooms. There has also been an increase in the use of laminate flooring in bedrooms due to its durability and cost-effectiveness. 

Balcony and open areas flooring

These regions are exposed to the most external elements like rain, sun, and even snow in some cases. These conditions can be extreme and would, therefore, call for durable and stress-resistant tiles for floors. In addition to this, they should be skidproof like ceramic tiles to prevent accidents. For flooring open areas like garden pathways and so on, one could go for more artistically sound options. 

Options to choose from: For balcony floor tiles, one should consider marble flooring tiles, porcelain tiles, or dense ceramic tiles. One can choose from granite flooring or marble flooring tiles for the outdoor regions. To add more color to a garden or driveway, mosaic interlocking tiles are a great option. 

Bathroom tiles

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Bathroom tiles can be some of the most accident-prone areas of a home, if not the most. To reduce the risk of mishaps taking place one can opt for bathroom tiles that have anti-skidding properties like ceramic bathroom tiles. In addition to this, brighter ceramic tiles with smaller surface areas suit bathroom tiles better in comparison to other options. 

Options to choose from water-resistant and durable terracotta tiles for floors, ceramic tiles, or even mosaic tiles for a more unique-looking bathroom tile. 

Listed below are some options you can choose from among different types of floors:

Hard Wood

This flooring consists of large wooden planks made from oak, mahogany, and other species having hardwood.

The pros include: 

• Imparts a natural and beautiful look to a room especially in an interlocking tile pattern.
• Has a long life in pristine condition if it is maintained properly 

The cons include: 

• Requires a high degree of maintenance 
• Tile prices are relatively higher in comparison to other floors. 

Natural stone

This type of flooring involves the use of natural minerals like granite flooring, marble flooring, and even limestone. The advantages of installing these tiles for floors are: 

• Highly durable for regions that have to sustain high traffic
• Can hide stains and dirt lie marble flooring
• Resistant to stress 

The disadvantages include: 

• Expensive option
• Hard to replace 

Bamboo flooring

This is a more niche option for floor tiles. The reason being that it is not common in India. However, it is similar to hardwood floor tiles in that it provides a very natural look and is arranged in an interlocking tiles pattern. 

The pros that come with this flooring are: 

• Less expensive than hardwood floor tiles. 
• Durable and is termite resistant. 

The cons that come with this flooring are: 

• Does not possess too much variety in colors 
• Can absorb water over long exposure 

Linoleum flooring

These floor tiles usually involve a mixture of wood flour, linseed oil, cork, rosins, ground limestone, and more. Therefore, this flooring has become a common occurrence in homes. It is similar to vinyl flooring in that it gives the illusion of being hardwood but is not. 

The advantages of using these floor tiles include: 

• Versatile in nature and can be put in any part of the house
• Tiles prices show that it is a cost-effective option
• Installation is quick and pain-free

The disadvantages are: 

• Vinyl flooring prone to getting dents and scratches in high traffic areas. 
• Can change color slightly if it is exposed to sunlight for a long time. 

Red Oxide flooring

These vintage floors are a staple in all traditional homes across India. Some interior designers still add it to some homes to impart a timeless look to the room. The pros of including this flooring are: 

• Requires little to no maintenance. Household chores like sweeping and mopping are enough for the upkeep of this floor. 
• Is aesthetically pleasing as it provides a vibrant look

The cons that come with this flooring include: 

• Better for indoor regions only 
• Can involve a time-consuming installation process. 

Terrazzo flooring

Terrazzo flooring is an interior designer’s dream material to work with. This flooring is made from a range of materials like quartz, granite, glass, and more. Therefore, it possesses a mosaic pattern. 

The advantages of choosing this flooring include: 

• Unprecedented durability in comparison to other floor tiles
• Low Maintenance and easy to clean

The disadvantages that come with this include: 

• Uncomfortable during the cold season as it cannot retain heat
• Tiles prices can be quite high in this case

Types of tiles for your flooring 

Tiles are one of the most diverse components in a home. There is a range of tiles that suit different parts of the house and can even make a statement like marble flooring. To put this diversity into perspective, here is a list of some of the most common options: 

Concrete tiles

These tiles are made from a mixture of several materials like cement, rocks and granite flooring chips. It is a common type of floor tiles found in Indian homes and as countertops as well. The benefits of this variant include: 

• A mixture of several materials makes it the most durable type of flooring. 
• Easy to clean and maintain

The disadvantages with regards to concrete floor tiles include: 

•  Floor tiles tend to react negatively to moisture 

Anti-skid floor tiles

Installing Anti Skid floor tiles is a surefire way of doing away with accidents that occur much too frequently on wet floors. These tiles possess granules that provide a rough surface. This rough surface can grip the bottom of one’s feet by preventing the formation of a film of small water droplets. 

Tiles made of ceramic tiles, porcelain, natural stone like granite are capable of possessing anti-skid properties. 

Ceramic tiles are a great option since ceramic tiles are also cheap and provide a range of colors and designs to choose from. The ceramic tiles are easy to maintain as well. However, these ceramic floor tiles tend to be more fragile and prone to cracking. 

The porcelain tiles are much more sturdy than ceramic tiles and would thus be the better option. However, they are more expensive. 

Vitrified tiles

Vitrified tiles are a derivative of ceramic tiles. However, vitrified tiles possess less porosity in comparison to ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. vitrified tiles are considered to be similar to marble flooring and granite floorings and are found in the outdoor regions of a home. The reason for this is that vitrified tiles are capable of withstanding harsh climate including snow. 

The pros of using vitrified tiles are many which make it one of the most common types of tiles. However, the downsides are that vitrified tiles can be very dangerous if the floor is wet as vitrified tiles possess little to no grip. In addition to this, vitrified tiles can have a significant impact on the environment as vitrified tiles release carbon dioxide while being manufactured. 

Sadarahalli granite

Extracted from the mines of South India, this granite flooring can impart an expensive look to a room for a relatively low price. These tiles possess high scratch resistance along with a significant level of durability. In addition to this, this granite flooring is capable of withstanding heat and moisture. Thus, it is a common component of kitchen hearths and even floors. 

However, given all its advantages, this tile can also have higher installation costs and may require a longer period to install. It can also be hard to remove spills that are present on the tiles for a longer period.  

Marble flooring

Marble floorings have been praised for the sense of elegance that it possesses. In addition to this, marble flooring is also a material that is capable of adding a regal look to any room, especially a living room. Marble flooring can accommodate radiant floor heating which will ensure that the floor does not get very cold in the winter months. 

However, at the same time, marble flooring can also be very expensive to install especially with large rooms. Marble flooring is a porous stone and will, therefore, require sealing. Marble flooring also does not provide any grip when it is wet.    

Granite or marble flooring - Which is better

When it comes to Granite or marble flooring, it can be a challenge for homeowners to choose between marble flooring and granite flooring. Therefore, a side-by-side comparison between marble flooring and granite flooring will help with this decision. 

The first difference is that granite flooring is more commonly used in the kitchen either as flooring or for the countertop. In essence, granite flooring is more resistant to scratches.  

However, marble flooring is easier to install as it is thinner. When it comes to sealing, granite flooring requires fewer applications of sealant whereas marble flooring requires at least twice a year. It is also easier to clean granite flooring surfaces as granite flooring is less porous. Therefore, it is clear that granite flooring is the better option. 

Thus, one can now make an informed decision regarding the kind of flooring they will invest in. Be it, ceramic tiles or marble every type of flooring has a unique charm to it.