Flooring is an important part of interior design. In a factory set up where flooring is subject to a lot of wear and tear, choice of the correct flooring is crucial, since it is a part of the initial investment and is often spread across a large area. One of the most widely used flooring options for this niche is epoxy flooring. This choice revolves around the facts that epoxy flooring is highly durable, requires minimum maintenance and is environmentally friendly. It is hence, the recommended flooring option for both residential buildings and industries. The epoxy floor coatings are usually applied over concrete floors to provide best binding results and aesthetically attractive surfaces.

The term epoxy refers to a form of catalysed plastic. It is basically a resin and is typically a compound of bis phenol-A and a polyamine. Epoxy resin was invented in the 1930s by a Swiss scientist, Dr. Pierre Castam. Generally the polyamines are used to harden the surface or the floor. A catalytic reaction occurs when the resin and hardener come in contact with each other. They bind to each other and create a chemical crosslink that is high in strength. This binding technology is the reason why epoxies can be recoated in a short period of time.

There are three main types of epoxy for flooring. They are 100% solid epoxy, solvent-based and water-based epoxies. Of these three, 100% solids epoxy is the best choice as it performs the best. Water and solvent based epoxies are considered user friendly, but this type of epoxies are not as durable and cannot be applied as a thick coating like the 100% solids ones. The solid epoxies capably meet all the stringent requirements that are to be complied when designing an industrial floor. It offers strong adhesion, excellent chemical resistance and toughness. Further, epoxy floors in general are abrasion resistant, waterproof, heat resistant, and resistant to the action of corrosives like acids and alkalis. They are non-toxic when dry and hence, can be used safely even in residential projects and children play areas.

The practical application on a floor surface takes the following steps. The compounds are mixed in a proper ratio and are applied to the floor to a minimum depth of 2 mm. Usually, an epoxy flooring requires at least seven coats to finally create a glossy and finished surface. It includes a base coat, one or two epoxy coats, a broadcast coat of coloured sand or flakes and a top coat.

The main advantage of epoxy flooring is the ease of maintenance. Concrete floors need appropriate protection and an epoxy floor is the best choice to offer protection against abrasion, chemical attack and thermal shock, which are commonly experienced in an industrial set up. With the advent of technology, further innovations are expected and it is only a matter of time before epoxy flooring solutions find wide application in the residential segment as well.

Ceramic tiles are great for both interior and exterior surfacing. Size, density and finish are the three attributes that are most important when deciding on which type will work best for you. The size depends on the room; larger tiles can visually expand the appearance of a room by having a cleaner finish and less grout lines. Denser materials are more durable and better suited for areas that may get wet. The finish determines the texture, and how slick or abrasive the surface will be. When purchasing tiles, it is important to understand that wall and floor tiles are not interchangeable; you may be able to find matching variations, but floor tiles are denser and usually have a textured surface to make them more slip resistant.

Ceramic tiles are available either glazed or unglazed. The kind you choose depends primarily on where the tiles are destined to go.

Glazed

Glazed ceramics come in high-gloss, semi-gloss and matte finishes. A glossy finish protects the tiles from moisture and stains, and works well in kitchens. However, the gloss also makes glazed tiles more slick than those that are unglazed, and is more easily scratched. Texture and matte finishes offer more friction for walking and hide imperfections or stains.

Unglazed

Unglazed tiles are denser and more slip resistant than glazed, and they work well in outdoor settings. For protection against stains and moisture, unglazed tiles should be sealed. Some tiles are manufactured specifically for the outdoors. These tiles have very little water absorption, and weather defects and scratches are kept to a minimum. They are typically given textured finish for safety, as precipitation, sprinklers, or splashes from a nearby pool can cause outside areas to become slippery.

Natural finishes have also become increasingly popular. While stone flooring can be expensive, tile stone replicas are more affordable and easier to take care off. Tile can be made to look like a variety of material such as marble, sandstone, even hardwood.

The are many ways to give your floors a unique appearance using ceramic tile. Different colors and finish styles can give your tiles a special look, and you can take your creativity even further by having the tiles placed in a decorative pattern, such as a checkerboard or diagonal effect.

Ceramic tiles are a highly versatile flooring option, making them a perfect addition to your home. Understanding what you are looking to get out of your ceramic floor and where it will be located will help you decide which type of tile will work best for you.

VCT tile is widely known as vinyl composite tile. This type of flooring or wall material can be seen more commonly in buildings, hospitals, schools and other big facilities. This is different from the average vinyl tile because the composition of vinyl composite tile has higher levels of vinyl fillers.

This makes VCT a little less durable and resistant to dents and impact damage compared to solid vinyl, but the cost of composite vinyl is definitely more affordable. With the durability and affordability of VCT, it is no wonder that interior designers and contractors recommend this type of flooring material for high traffic areas.

Although vinyl composite tiles, sometimes called vinyl composition tiles, are popular for industrial and commercial applications, these can also be used for homes. In order for you to better understand and appreciate the beauty and practicality of VCT, you might as well get to know its composition. Basically, a vinyl composite tile contains mainly inorganic fillers and polyvinyl esters. The reason why VCT is less flexible or elastic than common vinyl tile is due to organic fillers, which can also boost dimensional stability.

Furthermore, fillers are also helpful in making VCT more resistant to flame and smoke compared to other vinyl products. The types of organic fillers that you can find in VCT include talc, clay and also limestone (calcium carbonate). One thing that you might find interesting is that polyvinyl esters used to make VCTs are also created the same way as PVC pipes. Moreover, polyvinyl esters are composed of ethylene from crude oil and chlorine from NaCL, otherwise known as common salt.

Apart from its stability and strength, vinyl composite tile is a flooring material of choice because it is truly affordable. In fact, you can find vinyl composite tiles for as low as $2 per square foot. Compared to other types of flooring products, VCT is really a great deal.

Lastly, VCT is available in various colors, styles and designs. If you want textured tiles, you can also find those. In fact, if your subflooring has bumps and depressions, using a textured VCT tile can help mask the imperfections on the surface of the subflooring.

There are VCTs that look very much like wood, granite, marble and other conventional types of materials. This means that you really do not have to buy traditional and more expensive flooring materials just to get the look and theme that you plan for your home.