Flooring options one can consider this Monsoon
Maybe the actor in the movie, ‘Toilet Ek prem Katha’, is making a sincere effort to impress his wife by building a toilet. Nevertheless, the choice of tiles used for flooring would make a huge difference.
Indian monsoons can be mean and unsparing and the magnitude of nature’s fury can never be reckoned. For majority of Indian houses, flooring remains a onetime investment; and if that individual lacks the sagacity to make the right choice then the only thing left is to repent.
Why repent when there are enough choices available; ignorance should not be an excuse.
Here are few flooring options that one can consider this Monsoon:
Porcelain or Ceramic:
There is not much of difference in the material – both are made of clay. But the clay used in porcelain tile is heated at a higher temperature. Porcelain tiles are stronger and scratch resistant. The difference between them is visible. Unglazed Ceramic tile can absorb water and then develop cracks whereas porcelain has no such issues of water absorption and cracking up. Porcelain tiles are an ideal choice for bathrooms due to its ability to maintain heat, especially when the morning is cold due to the previous night heavy downpour. Your feet would experience a pleasant warm feeling when you step in the bathroom. If one is looking for beauty and elegance then there is porcelain in marble and Travertine look. This would bring beauty and it’s also ideal for monsoons as there is no danger of acidic rain spoiling your floor which is normally found in Marble and Travertine flooring. If porcelain tiles are used for outdoors, it should remains slip resistant. The smooth tiles during rains can get dangerously slippery. The strength of the tiles can be gauged through its hardness and durability rating called as PEI rating i.e. Porcelain Enamel Institute Rating. A porcelain tile gets a 4 or 5 rating on the other hand a ceramic tile receive a 0 to 3 rating. One advantage of ceramic tile is the ability to withstand humidity. Glazed ceramic tiles contain a protective layer that makes it impervious against water. This trait makes ceramic tile ideal for kitchen and bathroom.
Travertine tile or Marble:
Although with the same DNA . They belong to the family of lime stone . Marble triumphs when it comes to ageing and withstanding weight and pressure . It brings elegance and beauty. But the flip side is maintenance. Such longevity demands high level of maintenance and incessant mopping using various chemicals. These days rainwater can turn acidic due to various pollutants in air. This often leads to discoloring of the white marble. The polluted acidic rains did not spare Taj Mahal, which is also made out of white marble, and it is considered one of the famous monuments in the world. Nevertheless, marble’s durability is encouraging. Hence, it is worth taking a chance. The best precaution is to use pH neutral cleaning solution when acidic rain taints the marble. So whenever you find water spilling from the windows during heavy rains or when you find spilled water on the floor oozing out of wet umbrella left on the floor, it’s advisable to take immediate action and mop the floor using formulated stone cleaner. This might be an old cliché but prevention is always better than cure; the ideal option is to use a marble sealer. This would turn your marble floor into an impenetrable fortress against water and acid. Travertine on the other hand is easy to install and it is long lasting; but remains slippery in wet condition. Therefore, it remains risky for small children and elderly people- even though it’s considered eco-friendly. The installation is not that arduous when compared to marble. The maintenance is less and it’s easy to clean. Similar to marble it is better if sealed.
Concrete Floor:
This option is economical and most preferable in India. It’s a bit heavier than ceramic tile. But the durability along with its availability in myriad styles makes it an ideal option. Furthermore, this man made tile is eco-friendly and it is made out of recycled local material. It is scratch resistant unlike marble. If sealed properly it will remain stain resistant and impenetrable to water. Monsoon normally brings abundant bacteria, viruses and parasites, which causes diarrhea and other respiratory diseases in children. In developing countries like India and Bangladesh dirt flooring was a common option among the poor. A cheaper replacement to concrete led to significant reduction in illness among children and adults. The maintenance is less time consuming.
To conclude there are plenty of options available and what really matters is the cost and design. Your retailer would remain neutral when it comes to porcelain or ceramic. However, your judgment and knowledge matters. For instance, you can find ceramic tiles of a better quality and porcelain of poor quality. Nevertheless, porcelain tiles are stronger. When it comes to marble and travertine, a natural travertine is costlier than a cultured marble. But a natural marble will be costlier than a travertine. Other factors also play a significant role in determining cost like stone quality and geographical region. To overcome this conundrum it is better to keep your options open and make an informed decision.