FLOORS AND FLOOR
COVERINGS
Flooring is the general term for
a permanent covering of a floor. Floor covering is a term to generically
describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a
walking surface. They may be both
functional and decorative. They play a very large part in the cleaning and
maintenance programme of any establishment.
Preparation before floorings (SUB
FLOOR) - When laying a floor
covering, the underlying floor surface must be dry, flat and level. Solid
concrete, stone or tile floors with a damp problem need to be treated with
damp-proofing compound, uneven solid floors can be smooth-out by spreading a levelling
compound over the top. However, this raises the floor surface and may involve
re-hanging doors. For the neatest effect, remove the skirting boards, and
replace them once the new floor covering is down.
Choosing the right floor...
Choosing the right floor that will give you years of
performance and enrich the charm of any room can be difficult if you don't
understand your floor covering options. Use the comparison chart on the next
page to help you decide which floor covering types may be best for your
situation.
Selection criteria for flooring:
· Appearance (colour, pattern and texture)
· Comfort (insulation, resistance and resilience)
· Durability (life expectancy-wear & tear)
· Ease of cleaning (continuous, preventive)
· Cost (initial cost including laying, maintenance costs)
· Condition of sub-floor (dry, flat, even)
· Safety (which is of great importance to all occupants of the building,
GENERAL CLEANING AND CARE OF
FLOORINGS
Once a floor finish or flooring is laid the treatment it receives is of
tremendous importance, in order to prevent the penetration of dirt and to
provide an easily maintained surface many types of flooring are sealed or
polished.
1.
Seals
(like pot plastic) are applied to a clean, dry floor and gives a non-absorbent,
semi- permanent gloss or finish which will wear in time i.e. 1-2 years approx.
2.
Polishes
are also applied to unsealed floorings when they prevent the penetration of
dirt and spillages. Floor polishes are either spirit based or water based.
·
Spirit
based polishes may be paste or liquid and require buffing when dry to produce a
shine;
·
Water
based polishes, which may water/wax or plastic emulsions, are liquid and dry to
a shiny surface which in some cases can be improved by buffing.
The amount of cleaning required by any flooring will depend largely on the
amount and type of traffic it receives, but some form of daily cleaning will be
necessary, while special and periodic cleaning will be required at less
frequent intervals.
Daily
cleaning entails removing of-
1. Dust and dirt by sweeping, mopping, vacuum cleaning, damp mopping
or washing according to the type of flooring;
2. Resistant marks, normally by rubbing with a damp cloth and fine
abrasive;
3. Stains should be removed as soon as possible, because on drying
they become set and are much difficult to remove.
Special
cleaning may involve-
1. Removing dirt by scrubbing or spray cleaning;
2. Improving polished appearance by buffing or spray buffing;
3. Re – polishing.
Periodic
cleaning of polished floors
involves-
1. Stripping;
2. Re-sealing;
3. Re-polishing.
4. Spray
buffing (Use of diluted emulsion polish or water based ready to use compound)
5. Spray cleaning (Use of a neutral detergent and then scrubbing
is done)
Points to remember
1.
Loose
edges should be attended immediately;
2.
Metal
strips should be placed over the edge of the flooring at doorways, staircases,
etc;
3.
Spillage
should be wiped of as soon as possible;
4.
Excess
water and polish should be avoided during cleaning.
Types of floorings- Ceramic
tiles, Marbles, Granite, Granolithic, Cementitious, laminated floorings, Vinyl
and Linoleum floorings, Hard Wood floorings, Carpets etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF FLOOR FINISHES
|
Hard finishes |
Semi-hard finishes |
Soft floor coverings |
|
Cementitious e.g. terrazzo and granolithic.
Used for basement corridors, store rooms, stairways and laundries. They are
heavy duty floorings. |
Thermoplastic tiles: They are durable, obtainable in variety of colours
and are comparatively cheap flooring; they may be used in bathrooms,
corridors, offices, etc. |
Carpets-woven,
tufted, adhesively bonded, electro statically flocked. |
|
Stone e.g.
marble, slate in slab form. They are all hard wearing. |
Vinyl in tile or
sheet form can be used in a great variety of places, including bathrooms,
corridors, canteens, offices, study bedrooms, hospital wards and corridors. |
|
|
Ceramic tiles – quarry
tiles (used in cloakrooms, kitchens, canteens and food storage areas); and
more decorative hard glazed tiles (used as more decorative floorings, often
used in bathrooms, patios and similar places) |
Rubber in tile or
sheet form can be used for an infinite variety of mats and matting found in
places where protection is required for floor beneath. Front door mats, mats
in front of service lifts, and nosing on stairs. |
|
|
Resin floorings (epoxy,
polyester or polyurethane) with or without vinyl or marble chips set in. may
be used in food handling areas, bathrooms, cloakrooms, corridors and
laundries. |
Linoleum (mixture
of powdered cork, resin, linseed oil and pigments, put on a foundation of
jute canvas and subjected to heat and pressure) in tile or sheet form may be
sealed and/or polished and is used in many places like linen rooms, study
bedrooms, offices, corridors, bathrooms, canteens and hospital wards. |
|
|
Bitumastic (asphalt
rolled on to a solid sub floor in a hot plastic state) lay in situ.
Softens with heat and dents with heavy weights, and is harmed by spirit, oil
and acids but the cost is low. |
Cork (made of
granulated corks and subjected to heat and pressure) in tile or sheet form
can be used in offices, corridors, bathrooms when vinyl surfaced and as
surrounds to carpets. |
|
|
Magnesite finishes
laid in situ or as small blocks. Harmed by water therefore used where
there is little risk of water being split, e.g., linen rooms. |
|
|
|
Wood-hard woods
laid as strip (has resilience and is very suitable for ballroom floors,
gymnasia etc.), block (is used in entrance halls, boardrooms, libraries,
offices etc.) or parquet (is used for prestige areas, foyers, lounges,
boardrooms). |
|
|
CERAMIC TILE: Tiles are a mixture of clays that are
pressed into shape and fired at high temperatures which gives the tile its
hardness. The bisque (body) of ceramic tile may then be glazed, or left
unglazed depending on its intended use.
Types of Tiles (depending on finish of the tile)
·
Glazed Ceramic Tile: Ceramic tile is a natural product made up of clay, a
number of other naturally-occurring minerals and water. Glazed ceramic tile has
a ceramic coating applied to the tile body which gives the tile its color and
finish. Glazed ceramic tile is a popular choice for floors as well as
walls. Some characteristics of glazed ceramic tile are:
1. Durable
2. Easy care
3. Scratch resistant
4. Environmentally friendly
5. Beautiful and Versatile
6. Fire Resistant
7. Water Resistant
·
Unglazed – There is no glazing
or any other coating applied to the tile. Their color is the same on the face
of the tile as it is on the back resulting in very durable tiles that do not
show the effects of heavy traffic. The most common unglazed tiles are the red quarry
tiles or the granite looking porcelain ceramic tiles used in heavy commercial
areas.
·
Saltillo
Tile –
is a Mexican tile made of unprocessed clays.
·
Listello – a narrow tile used to
accent field tiles.
Types of Tiles (depending on
the basis of size of tile)
·
Ceramic
Mosaic Tile
– tiles that are less than 6 inches facial area and may be either porcelain or
natural clay composition and usually are 3/8" or less in thickness.
·
Quarry
Tile –
tiles made from the extrusion process from shale or natural clays and usually
are 6 square inches or more in facial size and can be glazed or unglazed.
·
Paved
Tile –
glazed or unglazed natural clay or porcelain tiles having a facial area of six
square inches or more and made from the dust-pressed method.
·
Wall
Tile – glazed
tiles with that are designed for indoor use and are generally non-vitreous.
Types of tiles (depending on
usage)
·
Group
I:
Tiles that is suitable for residential bathrooms with light foot traffic.
Generally, wall tile products fall into this group. Some wall tiles can be used
on the
·
floor.
·
Group
II:
Tiles that can be used in residential areas, but not areas with high foot
traffic, such as in kitchens, foyers, laundry rooms, etc.
·
Group
III:
Tiles that are recommended for all residential installations with normal foot
traffic.
·
Group
IV:
Tiles that are suited for light to medium commercial applications, such as
offices, sales rooms.
·
Group
V:
Tiles used in heavy commercial traffic areas and are suited for exterior areas,
shopping centers, airports, hotel lobbies, and public walkways.
HARDWOOD FLOORING
Types
of hardwood floorings:
·
Solid Hardwood Floors-are a solid
piece of hardwood cut into wood planks that are generally 3/4" thick.
(Above ground level areas only, not recommended for concrete slabs.)
·
Engineered Hardwood Floors-are several
plies of wood that are glued and laminated together to form a wood plank. Range
in thickness from 1/4" to just over a half inch. (Can be installed almost
anywhere in the home, including over dry concrete slabs.)
·
Long strip Hardwood Floors-are really an
engineered construction but with a long and wider plank. This allows the top
layer to splice 2-3 rows of thin hardwood strips into one plank. Long
strip planks can be glued-down, stapled or floated over a wide variety of
sub-floors and used almost anywhere in the home, including dry basements.
·
Exotic Hardwood Floors-Most exotic
floors are available in engineered wood construction but some are available in solid hardwood planks as well.
Non-slip/ slip-resistant
flooring is flooring designed with material properties
to help reduce slipperiness and increase traction. Extremely critical to
protecting employees, customers, and visitors in both industrial and commercial
facilities, slip-resistant flooring comes in a variety of finishes and textures
specifically designed to reduce slippage on the flooring surface. Some of the
examples of non-slip floorings are:
1. Ceramic
tiles
2. Porcelain
tiles
3. Natural
stones
4. Cement tiles
Anti-static flooring reduces, removes, or
prevents the build-up of static electricity. It is also known as ESD (electrostatic
discharge) flooring. ESD flooring is created from a combination of materials,
including carbon fibers that transfer the electrostatic charge from a person to
the flooring. Thus, reducing the chance of someone creating a static discharge
through physical contact. Such types of flooring are more durable with low
maintenance and ease of cleaning, some of the examples are:
1. Carpet,
2. Vinyl,
3. Rubber
Modern trends in floorings are:
1. Vinyl
2. Carpet
3. Sustainable
floorings
·
Wood flooring
·
Non-toxic cork (cork with linoleum)
·
Carpet (with corn sugar fiber instead of nylon)
·
Engineered wood floors (wood pulp with stone dust)
CARPET
Definition: A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting
of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing.
Advantages
of using carpet
·
Safety: First and
foremost, a carpeted floor is a safer floor. Carpet is inherently slip-
resistant, meaning it’s harder to slip and fall. Also, it helps in hiding many
sub floor irregularities that would not be permitted with hard surface floors.
·
Sound Reduction:
Carpet stifles noise and reduces echoes in three ways; absorbing the impact of
foot traffic, soaking up room sounds and echoes and finally, by blocking sound
from carrying between floors.
·
Warmth &
Insulation: Carpet provides excellent warmth underfoot and acts as an
insulator. The combination of the carpet and its under-padding acts as an
additional layer of insulation, and make carpet much quieter flooring than
other hard surface floors.
·
Ease of Care: Because
carpets trap dust and allergens, they can improve the air quality as long
they’re properly cleaned and vacuumed on a regular basis.
·
Flexibility and Style:
Carpet isn’t limited to just a few colors or grains. It can be available in
many styles, design, color or pattern as per interior of a room.
·
Low Cost: Typically,
carpet costs significantly less than other types of flooring like tile, marble
or hardwood.
·
Warranty: Unlike many
hard surface floorings, most carpeting comes with an extensive manufacturer’s
warranty that covers pile, installation and craftsmanship.
Major
parts (composition) of Carpets:
1.
Underlay/Padding
2.
Backing
3.
Pile
Underlay/
padding (provide strength resilience
and durability): It has numerous purposes ranging from making the
carpet feel better underfoot, to providing extra insulation against heat loss.
It works to protect the carpet backing from the substrate, protecting it from
dust, dirt and moisture. It aids in the soundproofing of a room and protects
the carpet from premature wear. Underlay can be of different types e.g., felt underlay,
foam sheet underlay and rubber waffle underlay.
Backing
(provide strength and stability): The
backing is on the underside of the carpet; it secures the tufts of the pile
& gives additional strength & stability to the carpet. Most carpets
have a double backing; a primary backing, to which the yarn is attached,
& an outer backing called the secondary backing. A layer of adhesive
is sandwiched between the two layers to seal the pile tufts to the primary
backing.
Types of
backing include jute, polypropylene (a synthetic thermoplastic resin), &
foam rubber. For expensive carpeting rubber covered jute is preferred. However,
synthetic backing is more resistant to mildew, odour, &dry rot, &is no
allergic.
Pile (provide feel, look, thickness and hold-up surface to the
carpet):
1) Loop Pile: A pile surface with the looped
yarns left uncut. The loop can vary to any height depending on the pattern
desired. Loop pile is often referred to as the ground wire.
2) Two Level Loop Patterns/ sculptured pile:
This type is an extension of a single-level loop. The second levels of loops
are added to make the carpet bulkier and heavier. Level loop pile is made by
weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet
is very durable and track resistant because of its strong loops. Higher loops
create a more luxurious appearance. Level loop piles with short and densely
packed loops are easy to clean. They prevent dirt from filtering into carpet.
This type of carpet is ideal for high traffic areas.
·
Plush Pile: a cut pile
which has very dense construction. The yarns are equally packed in so tightly
that the yarn ends stand straight up and support each other.
·
Shag pile: Is a tall,
long, loose plush pile with a deep and long surface yarn. This pile ranges from
3⁄4 to 3 inches in height.
4) Cut and Loop Pile: Is a plush pile with a
pattern cut through it and tightly loop yarns. Cut and loop pile combines cut
and looped fibers. It provides a variety of surface textures or sculptured
effects for medium durability. Cut and loop pile carpets are available in solid
or multiple colors. The different levels in this type of carpet can hide dirt
and footprints in formal and informal areas.
5) Twist pile: Also called hard twist or frizé.
This style of carpet features yarn that has been tightly twisted to form a pile
with an irregular textured surface. This hard-wearing texture minimizes
tracking (footprints), shading (irregular light and dark areas in the pile) and
fluffing which makes it a very popular and practical carpet.
Carpet Fibers
Nylon: This is the most popular synthetic carpet fiber used
today. It offers tremendous value, performance, and ease of maintenance. Nylon
provides brilliant colors and hides soil and traffic well. It helps in reducing
dirt and soil’s ability to stick or transfer onto the surface of the carpet.
These specially treated fibers will even bead up liquid spills rather than
allowing soaking in.
Soft Carpet
Fibers:
Some fiber manufacturers are producing fibers that feel as soft as cotton, yet
will outperform many other conventional carpet fibers. The difference is the
nylon filaments are really much finer than the typical filaments (finer
than a strand of hair) but twice as much fibers are packed into the strands of
yarn. This gives these carpets its softness and strength.
Olefin: This fiber is also called polypropylene. Olefin is
extremely popular in Berbers; level loops carpets and outdoor turf products.
Olefin carpets are highly stain, static, mold, and mildew resistant. They can
be used for indoor or outdoor carpets. Olefin's resistance to matting and
crushing is not quite as good as nylon.
Polyester: Gives excellent color clarity with
a soft feel to the carpet. But lacks the durability as of a nylon carpet.
Acrylic: Has a real wool look and appearance, used mainly in
level loops, bath mats, and some velvet carpet styles. Offers good mold and
mildew resistance with low static levels.
Wool: Although somewhat expensive, wool still offers great
bulk, performance and an elegant look. Wool is not stain resistant and can
smell when it gets wet.
Types of carpets
1.
Woven
carpets: this type of carpet
are produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut
pile there are many different coloured yarns being used and the entire process
is capable of producing very intricate patterns from designs that are
pre-determined. Normally, woven is the highest quality of carpet on the market.
Carpet cleaning companies need to be careful when cleaning woven carpet.
2.
Tufted
carpet: This type of carpet is
produced on a tufting machine by using either a single coloured or
sometimes a non-coloured yarn. If non-coloured is being used, then the carpet
will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets that are tufted can either be cut
pile, loop pile, or a combination of both.
Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they
are normally at the lower end of the market.
WOVEN carpet can
be further categorized as
· Wilton carpet: The Wilton carpet is made of a
jacquard loom. A traditional woven Wilton carpets have pile threads that run in
a continuous fashion into the carpet and to produce intricate pattern by lifting
above the surface of the backing with either wires or hooks. Maximum of 5
colours can be used at a time of its weaving. These can further be categorized
as:
1.
Patterned
Wilton- made on a jacquard loom with jacquard apparatus.
2.
Plain
Wilton- is plain without pattern thus having extra jute threads called
“stuffers”.
3.
Cord– these
are plain Wilton carpets with an uncut pile.
4.
Brussels-
these are patterned Wilton carpets which have uncut piles.
1.
Spool: Spool Axminster designs
are made from a chain of spools, with one spool to each row of pile. There are
usually seven threads to the inch across the width, with a pile yarn length per
thread of about 35 feet (11 metres). Spool width varies according to the loom,
the smallest is usually 18 inches (46 centimetres) wide.
2.
Gripper: Gripper Axminster
looms utilize a perforated card system to select the required combination of
different coloured threads per row of pile. There is one card per row, punched
according to the predetermined design, and the possible colour choice for each
tuft is usually one in eight for gripper Axminster. Normally employed on tufted
carpets, by managing different pile height effects and are sometimes emphasized
by alternating the colours and hiding the colour of low pile under adjacent
high pile.
Difference between Axminster
and Wilton carpet The Axminister yarn is woven into each weft and then
cut to the required pile height and then reinserted when that colour is needed
again, whereas Wilton carpet is a continuous strand woven all the way through.
· Oriental carpet: An authentic oriental rug is a handmade carpet that
is either knotted with pile or woven without pile. They are based on
either floral design or geometric design. They are durable but costlier than
other woven carpet.
NON-WOVEN carpet can be
categorised as
These are manufactured by the process in
which pile yarns are inserted/ attached, by means of needles, into a pre-made
backing fabric. They are of 4 types:
· Tufted: In these carpets,
with the help of machine pile yarns are extending across the pre-woven backing
material (like jute), to form loops or tufts. The loops then get anchored under
the jute backing (Hessian) with a hot layer of latex compound. Loops may be
left cut or uncut or mixture of high and low piles cut.
· Berber: These carpets
have short tufts; pile is dense & lopped, characteristically made of
natural un-dyed sheep’s wool. Berber carpets are a modern style of carpet,
distinguished by a loop pile construction type, and usually contain small
flecks of dark color on lighter shades of background colors. They are typically
in a plain color mix with no pattern, and are relatively cheap and durable.
·
Flocked: Flocked carpet is made of Nylon (Polyamide) flock which is glued
onto a fibreglass carrier using PVC glue. Either PVC or other compound products
serve as backing.
· Knitted: These are
produced by interlacing yarns in a series of connected loops. As in woven
carpets the pile & the backing are produced simultaneously. Multiple sets
of needles interlace the pile, backing, & stitching yarns together in one
operation.
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