13 February 2023
Walking firmly on the floor, or what to choose for flooring when finishing your own apartment - part 1 (turnkey apartment finishing Wrocław)
What is the floor in an apartment and how to approach it when planning the finishing of an apartment (turnkey apartment finishing Wrocław)?
Referring to the technical definition, the floor consists of all layers laid from the ceiling, meaning the structural layer. Its final layer, the finishing layer, is the flooring (e.g., parquet, terracotta, etc.).
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However, let’s treat this as a curiosity; for the purposes of this document and the following ones, let’s simplify that when we talk about the FLOOR, we will mean only its upper layer, i.e., the FLOORING.
When planning finishing details with clients, I often get the impression that the topic of the floor is treated as secondary. We usually pay more attention to walls or furniture. Perhaps these elements indeed provide a greater visual effect, or let’s look at it from a more ‘execution’ perspective and consider for a moment whether it will be easier to replace furniture, repaint walls, or change the floor? The answer seems clear... Therefore, I also suggest giving some thought to the floor in the apartment.
In this post (which will consist of two parts), I will briefly describe the options we have to choose from, characterize each of them, and show examples of application in the post's photos.
In this post (which will consist of two parts), I will briefly describe the options we have to choose from, characterize each of them, and show examples of application in the post's photos.
Wooden floor (turnkey apartment finishing Wrocław)
Solid wood floorboards
The natural material is warm to the touch, looks good, and for many, the older such a floor is, the better it looks. The most popular are those made from oak, ash, and exotic species. Solid wood floorboards are made from a single piece of wood, and therefore this type of floor is not suitable for use when underfloor heating is planned.
Engineered wood floorboards (also called wooden panels or Barlinek boards)
Aesthetic and functional qualities are similar. Thanks to the layered construction, they are more durable than solid boards and can be installed when underfloor heating is present.
Traditional parquet
They exude warmth and elegance, made from small blocks, usually joined by tongue and groove and glued to the substrate. The blocks can be arranged in various patterns, including herringbone, squares, brick, or stripes.
Engineered parquet
The parquet equivalent of the above-described engineered floorboard, recommended instead of traditional parquet when underfloor heating is present.
Industrial parquet
A cheaper version of traditional parquet. The physical properties are similar; visually... I leave that to your judgment (see photo no. 5). It will not pass as a finish with underfloor heating.
Cork floor
On the market, you can find cork panels, boards, and carpets, with a nice appearance, durability, hassle-free installation, good acoustic insulation, antistatic properties, and above all, the fact that they are warm and pleasant to the touch. Manufacturers allow the use of cork with underfloor heating.
Laminate panels
They most often imitate the appearance of wooden boards. This is one of the cheapest and most commonly chosen floor coverings. There are also laminates that mimic the look of stone or other materials. An important parameter when choosing them is wear resistance. Labels should indicate ratings from AC1 to AC6; the higher the number, the more resistant the panels are to wear.
Vinyl panels
Good quality ones look very natural, making it difficult to distinguish them from wooden boards at first glance. They can also have a look that imitates other materials (example of use in the kitchen in the photo). Thanks to the matte finish and delicate texture, they are very pleasant to the touch. They are highly resistant to mechanical damage, but – like any panel – they may scratch or wear over time. They are waterproof and work excellently as a floor finish in a living room with an open kitchen. These panels can be used with underfloor heating.
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