After our 8-part flooring series, we are now summarizing all the floors in this article. This means that we will briefly go over the important details and properties and give you an overview of all the floors covered in our blog. This blog entry is also ideal as a little cheat sheet.
1. Laminate – A development of the Swedes
Laminate was developed in the 1970s and has continued to develop since then. It consists of several layers. The top protective layer protects against impacts and dirt, the decorative layer can take on any look and the bottom carrier plate is pressed with the two upper layers. Since laminate is available in different quality levels, it can be laid in all residential and commercial spaces, except in rooms where the humidity is constantly high. The high humidity can cause the laminate to swell. For more information, click here .
Advantages: well suited for underfloor heating, very durable, easy to clean, available in all different sizes, colors and price ranges
Disadvantages: poor sound insulation, additional impact sound insulation is required
Cleaning & Care: Clean once a week, wipe with a damp cloth, use special cleaner, do not use abrasive cleaners
Mundizio recommends: Laminate and parquet cleaner Pro 480 from Eilfix
2. Parquet – The wooden variant
Wooden floorboards have been used as flooring for many centuries. Here too, the floor consists of several layers, either two or three layers. In contrast to laminate, parquet is glued over the entire surface. This elegant floor is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and children's rooms. Parquet should be avoided in kitchens or bathrooms, as the high humidity can also damage the floor here. Click here to go to the main article.
Advantages: great variety and beautiful appearance, regulates room climate, pollutant-free, resistant, durable, does not contain any allergenic substances
Disadvantages: expensive, not lightfast, reacts to temperature fluctuations
Cleaning & Care: Floor must be sealed, care oils and wax to prevent scratches, vacuum with a gentle vacuum cleaner head, use a slightly damp cloth
Mundizio recommends: Parquet care cleaner Pro 9 from Clean & Clever
3. Linoleum – The recyclable floor
Linoleum is a recyclable floor covering made from jute fabric, linseed oil and cork powder. The most convincing advantage is that almost all of the components of linoleum are renewable. The floor is also naturally antibacterial and has a hygienic effect. Linoleum can be laid in many different areas because linoleum is available in many different thicknesses, patterns and colors. For more information, click here .
Advantages: recyclable, convertible, durable, non-slip, conductive, dissipative, resistant to oils, fats and chemicals, antibacterial
Disadvantages: sensitive to water, not ideal for rooms with high humidity, not colorfast
Cleaning & care: do not use alkaline cleaners, use acidic and neutral cleaners, wipe the floor slightly damp, do not leave puddles, only use soft sponges and cloths, remove dust regularly, vinegar and vegetable oil make the floor shine again
Mundizio recommends: High-performance Floortop cleaning product from Dr. Schnell
4. PVC – Floor – The Flexible
PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride and is a thermoplastic. Plasticizers make the floor flexible, as the raw material is rather hard and brittle. If further additives are added, individual properties can be created. PVC is very versatile , as almost any color, texture, pattern and effect can be applied to the PVC flooring. PVC is ideal for both private and industrial areas. Click here for more information.
Advantages: very high mechanical and chemical resistance, enormous product variety, easy to install, waterproof, non-slip, antistatic
Disadvantages: heavy furniture can leave marks, the material used to be harmful to health
Cleaning & Care: very easy care and cleaning, use lukewarm water and mild cleaner, wipe with a damp cloth, do not wipe, remove dirt and dust weekly, let the floor dry, do not scrub hard or use abrasive cleaners
Mundizio recommends: Universal power cleaner MULTIfris from Dreiturm
5. Carpet – The soft textile floor
Carpets of a certain size were the forerunners of carpeting. These were laid on the floor and carpeting developed from them. The top layer of a carpet is made of yarn and is therefore the visible layer. There are different qualities and materials that can be used as yarn. The backing layer is made of either fleece, textile or foam. Carpeting can be laid very well in bedrooms, living rooms and children's rooms. Carpeting also looks good in hotel rooms or office spaces. Click here for more information.
Advantages: versatile floor, reduces noise, dampens very well, elastic, durable, creates a pleasant room climate, no pollutants, non-slip
Disadvantages: Dirt sticks better to the fibers, stain removal is difficult
Cleaning & Care: regular vacuuming is very important, cleaning using a spray extraction method, do not rub stains too hard, use a damp cloth and dab the stain from the inside out
Mundizio recommends: Carpet and upholstery cleaner PRO7 from Clean and Clever
6. Cork – The sustainable floor
Cork is extracted from the bark of a cork oak tree. The bark is harvested approximately every 10 years. After harvesting, the granules are mixed with a binding agent and pressed into panels. Formaldehyde was often used at the time, but nowadays water-based polyurethane and acrylic resins are used. The 100% sustainable floor can be laid anywhere, except in rooms with high humidity. The floor is also ideal for asthmatics and allergy sufferers, as dust and mites cannot survive on the floor. Click here for more information.
Advantages: sustainable floor, easy to lay, easy to maintain, pliable, flexible, impact and sound-absorbing, flame-retardant, waterproof, usually warm to the feet and can be combined with underfloor heating, suitable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics
Disadvantages: not scratch-resistant, heavy furniture can leave marks, not lightfast, floor can swell in high humidity
Cleaning & Care: Thorough basic cleaning to maintain protection, remove dirt regularly to avoid scratches, use a special cleaner for wet cleaning
Mundizio recommends: Intensive cleaner for parquet & cork from Dr. Schutz
7. Natural stone – the natural floor covering
The natural floor covering goes through countless processing and finishing processes until the final product, the tile, is available. Not every quarry is suitable for further processing, so care must be taken during mining. The special thing about natural stone floors is that each tile can be different and is therefore unique. The marbling and structure is highly dependent on the weather, age and environmental influences. The most popular natural stones for the home are granite, slate, marble, sandstone and limestone. Each of these types of stone has individual properties. Natural stones are ideal for indoor and outdoor use. Click here for detailed information.
Advantages: creates a warm and comfortable living environment, sustainable, ideal for allergy sufferers, stable, robust, perfect for heavily used rooms, no use of chemicals, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, high thermal conductivity, anti-slip
Disadvantages: rather expensive floor, hard floor and therefore not very gentle on the joints, susceptible to scratches, time-consuming cleaning, sensitive to acidic and abrasive cleaners, regular care is important
Cleaning & care: Clean the floor thoroughly, apply impregnation to a dry surface, remembering that each type of stone requires individual impregnation, allow the impregnation to dry well, do not use a high-pressure cleaner, always follow the manufacturer's care instructions, generally use pH-neutral cleaners as the acid can damage the stone
Mundizio recommends: DURO STONE natural and artificial stone cleaner from Dreiturm
8. Tiles – The all-rounder
The diverse tiles can be found in almost every building. Whether ceramic tiles or tiles made of earthenware, stoneware, porcelain stoneware or natural stone, they can be used in all areas. The selection is as diverse as the individual properties. There is a suitable type of tile for every room. Depending on the composition, the raw materials are fired between 1000°C and 1200°C. The firing temperature is crucial for the properties of the tiles, e.g. the higher the firing temperature, the greater the strength. For more information on the properties, click here .
Advantages & Disadvantages: Vary depending on the type of stone
Cleaning & care: carry out basic cleaning after laying, remove cement residue with special cleaners, do not use acid-sensitive cleaners, for smooth and glazed tiles water and dishwashing liquid is sufficient, for high-traffic areas a lye is used
Mundizio recommends: Forex intensive cleaner for stone tiles by Dr. Schnell
In this blog post we have summarized our flooring series. It serves primarily as an overview. In the linked blog entries you will find further detailed information about the respective flooring type. Hopefully we have been able to create a good overview of the many different flooring types with this series!
