Whether in an area of the home that sees high footfall, such as the hallway or kitchen, or in a commercial space, porcelain is the most hardwearing. However, compared to other flooring options such as laminate or carpet, ceramic tiles still represent a durable and hard-wearing choice.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are some of the hardest and most durable tiles available. These tiles are made from a mixture of clay and other natural materials, which are fired at high temperatures to create a hard, dense, and non-porous surface.
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tiles or porcelain tiles are a wise choice for kitchens and bathrooms. The average lifespan of tile flooring is about 20 to 25 years. They are resistant to scratches, dents, stains, flooding, and discoloration from sunlight.
Porcelain tiles
This process makes them dense, less porous and stronger than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles for floors are ideal in high traffic areas as they are resistant to chipping, scratching and stains.
Tile flooring made from har material such as ceramic or porcelain are among the most scratch-resistant flooring you can find. Tile flooring is also one of the most versatile, customizable flooring options with a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and styles.
The solvent-based polyurethanes are the toughest and most hard wearing and have the highest gloss levels of all the timber floor coatings classes.
Oil-Based Polyurethane
For years and years, oil-based polyurethane was one of the most sought-after types of hardwood floor finishes, for several reasons. This type of finish is great for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, offices, or homes with children and/or pets.
Porcelain floor tile is hard and dense enough that it can even be used outdoors, though it's mostly recommended for mild climates. Porcelain is even more heat-resistant than other types of ceramic, and it's also less likely to chip or crack over time.
As long as porcelain tiles are in a good condition before laying and laid correctly then no chipping should occur over time.
Many floor tiles are easy to clean; naturally, some are easier to clean than others. Easy to clean tiles include vinyl, polished porcelain and laminate—the last two are just as easy to clean as vinyl but, usually, much easier to keep clean than vinyl.
As a rule, floor tile is typically 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick.
Although porcelain tile is extremely durable, it does occasionally chip, particularly around the edges. This may not be noticeable with through-body composition, but it is a concern. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials.
If your kitchen requires durable flooring, opt for porcelain or ceramic. Both these options can resist wear and tear and are resistant to spills. These tiles are made by baking at high heat, this gives them the strength to withstand footfall.
Lateral movement describes the event when the subfloor and floor finish expand and contract at different rates which can cause tiles to crack. This is typically caused by environmental reasons such temperate and pressure changes, construction 'settling' or moisture penetration to the subfloor.
Hence, staying in top floor of a high-rise building is practically safer than to be in the open street among the stampede of fear-stricken people. Tall buildings offer maximum security from an earthquake jolt if the areas do not fall in the epicenter of extremely powerful earthquake.
Generally, the best color flooring to hide dirt and dust is light grey or light brown. Dirt and dust are on full display on bright, white floors, while dust tends to show up relatively easily on dark colored floors.
Concrete is one of the most common types of flooring in any outdoor space—and for good reason. It's inexpensive, easy to maintain, and it lasts forever. Basic poured concrete can cost roughly $4–6 per square foot. Concrete pavers are another (slightly more expensive) option.
Hardwood Flooring
It's beautiful, it's durable, and it never goes out of style. Not to mention all of your friends, family, and neighbors aspire to have it, so you'll have your entire network envying your home's flooring design.
Neutral shades such as light brown, gray, and black are timeless classics that will look good for years to come. These hues make a great backdrop for any room in your home, so you can easily accessorize the space without worrying about the color clashing with your floors.
Vitrified tiles are made with a special technique that adds a 3-4mm thick layer above the tile. This additional layer makes the tile stronger and more durable than other tiles available in the market. Moreover, the special coating on vitrified tiles makes them scratch-resistant.
Most dog owners forgo hardwood flooring because it can be easily damaged by dogs' nails. If you're set on hardwood, consider a hard wood variety or engineered hardwood planks, which tend to hold up better. Laminate, vinyl, tile, and carpet have excellent scratch resistance to hold up to the click-clack of claws.