School of Remodeling: How to Choose Finishing Materials
It is believed that spring is a time of renewal, when you really want to take care of yourself and your space and create an exquisite atmosphere in which it is always pleasant to be. An important part is the successful choice of materials. The main thing is to choose an option which will harmoniously fit into the interior, but also will be durable and easy to clean. We will tell you what material is better to choose for an elegant and, at the same time, practical design.
MARBLE
One of the most famous natural materials is marble. The material of monuments and sculptures, present on the exterior and interior of buildings. If you translate the original Greek word “marmaros” it means “brilliant, shining.”
Many of the world’s architectural monuments are made of marble. Such as the ancient Greek temple Parthenon, which is located on the Acropolis of Athens. Or the interiors of the famous St. Paul’s Basilica in Rome and the royal palaces of St. Petersburg.
The main advantage of marble is its appearance. The number and color of its veins may vary from one block to another.
It is impossible to find exactly the same blocks of marble. This makes the material unique. In addition, marble is quite durable, so it is often chosen as a facing material. But, unfortunately, marble is easy to scratch, spoil with acids or alkaline detergents. To avoid such a nuisance, the marble surface must always remain dry. If you have children, animals, or in case you have allergies and have to do wet cleaning often, then it is better to opt for another material.
PARQUET
Another natural material on the list is parquet. According to some sources, the use of this material in the decoration of houses began in ancient times. Later, during the Gothic period in Europe, it found its place in the houses of noble people.
There are at least three reasons why people love parquet:
- Sustainability and aesthetics.
- Heat capacity, parquet retains heat.
- The possibility to restore and return the original appearance.
However, with the passage of time and the development of technology, some of the advantages of parquet have faded a bit. It turned out that this material is easy to damage: by the legs of a sofa or by the claws of the pets. In addition, parquet absorbs odors. So, if there are smokers in the house, or you are trying to get rid of the smell of mold, it is better to pay attention to other finishing materials. The same advice may be suitable for people who plan to install underfloor heating, since parquet reduces its effectiveness.
LAMINATE
Next on our list is a relatively modern material. The first laminate was produced by the Swedish Perstorp Flooring company in 1977. Nowadays the laminate has a wide variety of colors and textures. It can imitate wood and marble, concrete floor and tiles. The choice is only limited by your imagination! In addition, you can lay laminate on your own, unlike parquet or marble. And this material is quite budget-friendly. But the laminate also has some features that you should know of before laying it. For example, if you damage a small piece of laminate, it cannot be restored, like they do it with parquet. You will have to redo the flooring of the entire room.
In addition, laminate flooring has a much shorter lifespan than some other materials, approximately 8-15 years. Finally, if you are thinking about installing an underfloor heating, be careful, since not all types of laminate are suitable for such a task. Before buying, check this information with the manufacturer.
PORCELAIN STONEWARE
To finish our review we would like to talk about one of the most sought-after materials among designers and construction workers: porcelain stoneware. Despite its name including the word “stone”, it does not contain actual stone particles. The basic composition of porcelain stoneware includes natural components:
- Kaolin clays
- Quartz sand
- Feldspar
As well as a synthetic pigment that gives the tiles their color. The mixture is compressed under pressure of > 450 kg/cm2 and then fired at extremely high temperatures (> 1250 °C).
During the production process, porcelain stoneware acquires its unique properties:
- strength and hardness,
- wear and scratch resistance,
- water absorption level close to zero (<0.5%),
- porcelain stoneware does not deform,
- does not lose its properties due to temperature changes and does not fade in the direct sun,
- withstands even aggressive chemical detergents,
- resistant to static and dynamic loads.
This means that it can be safely laid in the bathroom and any other premises with the presence of water and moisture, on the terrace and as garden paths near your summer cottage. Moreover, porcelain stoneware does not absorb odors and is perfect for underfloor heating systems.
With the development of technology, porcelain stoneware manufacturers have learned to recreate the graphics of natural materials with incredible accuracy. From wood to marble, from glass to 3D surfaces, porcelain stoneware thoroughly imitates the details of each prototype to make the graphics look as realistic as possible.
The palette of this material is very diverse. For example, you can choose the marble effect porcelain tiles from the collection Charme Advance. It conveys the aesthetics of marble with dynamic directional veins. Or the minimalistic concrete effect porcelain stoneware Millennium, so laconic and practical. Wood effect tiles from collection Loft capture the beauty of wood. While the Surface tiles imitate the most exclusive materials such as glass, metal, onyx and colored unbaked clay. You can get acquainted with the whole range of Italon products in the “Porcelain stoneware” section. In our article “6 tips to Pick The Perfect Tile”, we talk about what you need to pay attention to before buying a tile.
After we’ve talked about popular finishing materials, you can think about what functions they should perform in your project, before going to the store.
If you are looking for a durable and strong material, pay attention to Italon porcelain stoneware. And to protect yourself from fake knockoff products, make sure to purchase it only at authorized showrooms. For more information on how to find them, check out the “Dealer locator“.
