18 Different Types of Flooring Materials

Flooring is one of the most important decisions you have to make when it comes to decorating your home. Flooring materials are an integral part of your interior design, and your choice of material also determines the difficulty of installation, how you can use your floor, and the kind of maintenance you’ll need to perform. Different types of flooring materials have its unique qualities, functions, benefits and disadvantages. There are many types of flooring according to their uses, required level of finishing and economy.

Also Read: Floor Components: All You Like to Know!

Different types of flooring materials are as under:

01. Tile Flooring:

Tile flooring is very old, common and popular types of flooring. The tiles are mostly coloured and glazed. They are available in many types like vitrified tiles, ceramic tiles, etc.

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02. Stone Flooring:

Stone flooring is natural, beautiful, and always stylish. Natural stone tiles also come in different types like limestone, granite, marble, sandstone, slate, travertine, etc. The naturally cool, hard surface is ideal for warm climates.

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03. Wood Flooring or Timber Flooring:

Wood flooring is a very old type of floor, but it has never been outdated. It is used under special circumstances such as in hilly areas and in damp places. With proper care and maintenance, wood flooring can last a long time.

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04. Terrazzo (Marble Chips) Flooring:

Terrazzo flooring is other types of popular flooring, commonly recommended for bathrooms, dining rooms, offices, hospitals, etc. Terrazzo is a concrete surface with a special type of marble chips embedded in it.

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05. Marble Flooring:

Marble is a natural stone, and when properly finished it can be transformed into beautiful flooring.  Marble flooring is one of the most luxurious and sophisticated floorings to install in a home.

06. Mosaic Flooring:

Mosaic flooring is very old types of flooring. Floor mosaics are made from small round pieces of stones. They form design pattern and give a beautiful look to the room.

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Also Read: Way to Check the Quality of Mosaic Tiles at the Site!

07. PVC Flooring:

PVC means Polyvinyl Chloride. These tiles are colourful, having a very smooth top surface and a rough lower surface. PVC flooring has a shiny, modern appearance and is popular for its cost-effectiveness, quality and durability.

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08. Glass Flooring:

Glass flooring types of the floor are not very common, but can be used in aristocratic buildings both residential and public particularly to have smooth and pleasing surface. Glass flooring is generally bacteria and dirt-resistant.

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09. Laminate Flooring:

Laminate flooring is created by fusing several layers of material together.  It is easy to clean and more durable and can resist scratches and chipping. Laminate flooring is stain free and fades resistant.

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10. Carpet Flooring:

In carpet flooring, the carpet is made from wool or from synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester.  It is the most versatile of all flooring options, featuring more colours and textures than any other types of flooring. It resists moisture, crushing, mildew, etc.

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Also Read: Rugs and Carpet Cleaning Tips for Your Home

11. Brick Flooring:

Brick flooring is one of the oldest types of flooring materials. It is used in courtyards, stores, godowns, etc. Brick flooring is durable and provides sufficiently hard floor surface. It provides a non-slippery and fire resistant surface.

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12. Concrete Flooring:

Concrete flooring is one of the most important floors. It is very commonly used throughout the world for all types of buildings. Concrete flooring is extremely strong and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy equipment such as cars, trucks, etc.

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13. Mud Flooring:

Mud flooring is most suitable for Indian conditions and climates. It is commonly constructed in villages. Mud flooring is cheap and hard. It is fairly impervious, easy to construct and easy to maintain.

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14. Cork Flooring:

It is a natural material obtained from the outer bark of cork oak tree. It is available in the form of coloured tiles or sheets. These types of flooring materials are not commonly used in India.

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15. Acid Resisting Flooring:

In chemical laboratories, acid manufacturing factories, storage battery factory buildings and such other places where the floor is subjected to the actions of acid, such types of floor finishing are used.

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16. Linoleum Flooring:

As per the homeadvisor, linoleum flooring is made of linseed oil, wood or cork powder, and ground stone. It is recyclable material and available in different colours, styles and patterns and resists water easily. It is most commonly used in kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms.

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Also Read: Precautions to Avoid Shade Variation in Tiling

17. Rubber Flooring:

Rubber flooring is not common in India. It is noiseless, comfortable in walking, and very durable. The initial cost of rubber flooring is a little bit high. It gives excellent wearing surface.

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18. Magnesite Flooring:

Magnesite flooring consists of calcined magnesite, magnesium chloride, wood dust, ground quartz or silica and fine powdered wood waste; used as finishing surface on concrete floor slabs.  It is also known as the composition of a jointless floor. These types of flooring, though not very common, is cheap, gives a smooth surface and can be laid jointless on the rough surface as the material is flexible.

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Flooring materials choices are forever growing and a wide range is available to suit your needs. You can choose different types of flooring materials that are hard or soft and pick from a wide a variety of styles and colours.

Also Read:

Make a Right Choice Between Ceramic Tiles and Vitrified Tiles!

Things to Keep in Mind While Buying Ceramic Tiles