The word floor can mean several different things. Some people might even confuse it with the word parking lot, but they are very different. A floor is simply the lowest surface of an object – be it a building, car or even a vehicle. Flooring varies greatly from simple earth filled dirt in a small cave to multi-layered concrete surfaces created with state-of-art technology.
Floors can be made of any material that will support the weight expected on it. For example, concrete floors can be constructed by applying a thick layer of concrete cement to a wooden frame below grade. This concrete is then carefully layered with gravel, crushed stone or anything else that can withstand the weight. Other types of floors include linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl and carpet. Linoleum and ceramic tile floors are easy to clean, since all you need is a wet mop to wash off the dirt. Carpet and vinyl floors require dry cleaning or a special vacuum cleaner that is designed for cleaning vinyl and carpet.
Vinyl flooring comes in tiles, sheet and rugs. Tile and sheet flooring are fairly easy to install. The problem with these types of flooring is that moisture tends to condense in joints and forms water spots, which can cause damage to the floor. In addition, the adhesive used to glue vinyl, sometimes referred to as interlocking glue, can break down over time and become weaker.
Another type of flooring used in buildings and other places is concrete floor finish. Concrete floors are laid on top of a base foundation that supports the weight of the floor. There are two types of concrete floor finish: concrete paver coating and dry compound coating.
Carpeted carpets are the least expensive floor covering option, followed by tile and jointed carpet. You will find that there is a huge range of colors and textures available, from very thick to very thin. Many people opt for a thicker carpet because it makes a room cozier and more comfortable to occupy. Carpet also insulates a floor better than most other options. However, carpets need to be regularly cleaned or the insulation can wear out and lose its warmth.
Finally, there is floating flooring. Floating flooring is not like conventional flooring in the sense that it does not need to be nailed or stapled to the subfloor. Instead, a rubber under pad is used under the floor to prevent it from moving. As a result, the flooring easily bounces back into place when it becomes accidentally bumped, making it much more attractive than most flooring options.
