5 ideas to change the floor without doing the work

Linoleum

Linoleum has been known for more than 150 years, a natural material that responds to the demand for a more ecological home: the raw materials for its manufacture include linseed oil, wood flour and jute. It can be easily disposed of at the end of its useful life as it is biodegradable. Before, it was installed as a continuous floor, so its application required a professional, but today it is also available in an easy-to-install tile format.

This post aims to explain the most prominent differences between these types of piers. Pavements such as floors, parquet or wooden floors. Confusion over similar concepts about different materials is repeated.

Platform

Strictly speaking, the word platform corresponds to laminate flooring. Traditionally it was a timber of a certain thickness (not less than 10 mm), the position of which was glued either to a perfectly flat support (traditional “parquet”), or fixed to previously laid beams (the platform itself, with a thickness greater than the parquet, about 20 mm). ). Although there may be many varieties, both parquet and flooring are of high quality and generally warm floors.

 

The main drawback is that the floors are delicate, and it is relatively easy to scratch or discolor them. Of course, when it has relatively deteriorated, it can be polished and polished again, to restore its original appearance. Logically, the thicker the wood, the more sanding can be done.

Another problem is that since wood is a living material, changes in temperature and humidity affect it and cause small contractures, which over time become open joints that are difficult to resolve.

It has been about ten years since the large-scale installation of these sidewalks in Spain ceased. They were gradually replaced by floating platforms. This does not mean that they are no longer installed (because they are undoubtedly high-quality floors), but generally only in specific works.

The alternative to flooring and parquet is the floating floor. The word floating in principle refers only to placement. Floating because it is placed on top of a flat backing (could be a pre-existing dock), but without gluing or nailing. They simply go on top (with a little spacer foam). They are boards 180-200 mm long and 15-25 mm wide, assembled together to form a monolithic and compact unit.

wood changes

But not only the position has changed, the wood itself has also undergone a noticeable change. It is no longer particleboard, but a multi-layered piece made up of a base or low profile board with two or more layers of base wood such as plywood or the like. Being only the last layer of noble wood, which will be the layer that gives appearance, texture and color to the product.

The total thickness is between 12 and 16 mm, but unlike conventional systems, the solid wood layer is only 2-6 mm. So it may seem unimportant

If we compare it to the old platforms. On the contrary, polishing processes are applied in manufacturing that improve the work of traditional pallets. They improve it in terms of its quality and the number of layers applied. The end product is more solid and resistant than the traditional system.

This is the floating platform. advantage, its high quality. The drawback, however, is that it can only be sanded once or twice due to the low thickness of the hardwood. A relative disadvantage because it can last for many years before it is necessary to sand it again. As with everything, there are a plethora of thicknesses, finishes, and qualities on the market.

And what are wooden floors?

Well, it’s the same system, same position, similar dimensions (the pieces are usually somewhat smaller). Like the platform, it is a very warm and durable floor. But the material is not wood but synthetic materials. The aesthetic, while similar because it imitates wood, is not the same.

The layers that make up each piece are usually derived from high-density DM wood, with the final layer being a synthetic composite of resin pressed at high pressure. Being a synthetic product, it allows for all kinds of finishes, so imitations of all types of wood are usually found.

There are many qualities, but mainly we should look at the wear resistance, according to which it is divided into five qualities, the following are listed from worst to best: AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, AC-4 and AC- 5. The minimum recommended class for homes is AC-3 (normal use), with AC-4 recommended for commercial buildings (high use) and AC-5 for heavy use (eg shopping malls).

In general, it is a material that is stronger than wood and better resists bumps or scratches (which it behaves exceptionally with), as well as stains. The main enemy (as with wood) is moisture. For this reason, when using water for cleaning, the cloth or mop should be moistened and wrung well, avoiding dripping.

one weak point

The weak point of these piers are the joints, as they are easy to split. It can split from a blow or damage from moisture in the home, and it may split open or arch. At this specific stage, the cheapest adjectives may encounter some kind of problem. Keep in mind that, in addition, repair is not always possible.