The floor is subjected to continual stress from furniture, abrasion, liquid stains / spills and varying temperatures. It literally bears the weight of everything within the household, including human traffic. How to determine what will work optimally depends on the home in question and the lifestyle of the occupants, both aesthetics and economics being key. A high outlay on a new floor could become a costly mistake if the wrong choices are made. In today’s residential and corporate interiors, utilising floor space intelligently is of paramount importance. The chosen surface needs careful consideration because the right floor will appeal if it is in sync with a given interior’s other vital features. Ideally, the floor is a platform on which to build the elements of the overall scheme.

This most-used and most-viewed horizontal surface is the closest to eye-level and is therefore an ‘attention seeker superior’ so-to-speak. It can be clad with a variety of hard and soft coverings and the options include: stone, marble, travertine, ceramic tiles, natural terracotta clay tiles, quartz / resin compounds, glass, stainless steel, wood, wood laminates, wood / rattan / bamboo composites, simulated wood laminates, coir, sisal and soft floors such as carpeting, carpet tiles, rugs and modern-day linoleums. Habitat’s annual flooring FOCUS considers the various options and how best to choose and use them. In line with the established format of these much-read features, we ask those in the know – in both the South African and international marketplace – for informed comment.

Soft Options
Carpeting has been the flooring material of choice for South African homeowners for decades. There is a myth that carpet is not easily maintained and is subject to wear, particularly in high traffic areas. However, as a textile floor covering, its construction is vital, i.e. how the upper layer of pile is attached to a backing.
The pile is generally made from wool or a man-made fibre, such as polypropylene, and usually consists of twisted tufts, which are often heat-treated to maintain their structure. Most good quality examples need little more than a weekly vacuuming and a deep-clean once a year.

Again their choice is purpose-driven and traffic levels, plus close access to the exterior, must be considered. Carpeting creates a sense of comfort and luxury in bedrooms and low-traffic reception areas and can be used effectively with other floor coverings like wood and / or natural stone. The vast ranges of weaves (natural or man-made) textural finishes, colour, pattern and pile type options mean that modern carpeting is able to solve virtually every decorating conundrum.

So, what are the vital considerations for a correctly selected soft floor?
Helen De Villiers – marketing services manager of Belgotex Floorcoverings says: ‘Definitely the amount of traffic expected in that particular area is the most vital consideration for any floor as it influences a whole series of other factors including performance and durability, ?wear / maintenance, colour, acoustics / insulation, and the final look.

Hard Assets
Tiles remain a popular flooring option in SA. Most are ceramic or stone, although recent technological advances have resulted in glass tiles for floors. Other than natural terracotta, ceramic tiles are glazed and, as small mosaics, can be laid in various patterns and used as borders ?and inserts.

‘An aspect to tiling that not many people consider is the size of the tile. Fashion trends very often tend to be exaggerated more than practicality and wastage,’ says Angela Van Niekerk from Union Tiles. ‘An area that has many recesses and niches will influence the cutting of the tile; this can make or break the concluded image of the project. We are frequently asked for polished porcelain or a ‘full body’ porcelain tile because these are the latest trends. Seldom is the question posed as to quality, practicality or durability of the product.

July/August 2011 Issue

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