TEXTILES & ACCESSORIES

UNIT-I: FLOORS
• A floor is the level base of a room
• Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the
work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to
generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to
provide a walking surface. Both terms are used interchangeably but floor
covering refers more to loose-laid materials.
These are a few important facts you must bear in mind before you finalise the flooring option:

The choice of material for floor covering is affected by factors such as cost, endurance, noise insulation, comfort and
cleaning effort.

Size: You have to keep the size of the house in mind when deciding what kind of floor you want. If you have a small,
compact apartment, something heavy like marble may make it look chaotic. If you have a large house, you can be more
extravagant with your choices.

Colour scheme: You also have to match the floors with the overall colour scheme of the house. So when drawing up the
design plan, decide what colours you intend to have for your walls, furniture, etc. If you have light walls, you could get a
dark wooden floor. If you have dark coloured walls, a light marble floor would look chic.

Weather: This is another vital fact to check beforehand. You should consider the weather in the area where your house is
located while selecting your floor type. If you live in a very humid place that experiences a lot of rainfall, a wooden floor
may not be too ideal. If you live in a place that’s hot and sunny, marble floors may make it tremendously warm indoors
too
Usage: As stated above, some flooring materials are not suited for extremely rough usage. So if you have children and
pets in the house, make sure that you only use sturdy flooring material to prevent frequent repairs.
Noise: Interior noise can be controlled by sealing joints and incorporating sound-absorbing materials.
In general, internal sound-reducing construction should have mass and sound-absorbent material. All joints should be
sealed (to minimise air gaps through which sound might pass), and – as much as possible – the structure between the
linings should be discontinued.
• Bulk insulation helps absorb noise
Noise transmission through wall or roof cavities or between floors can be reduced with bulk insulation – fiberglass,
polyester or wool. Some products are marketed specifically for noise reduction, but even bulk thermal insulation also
has this effect.
Hard flooring
Wood: Many different species of wood are fabricated into wood flooring in two primary forms: plank and
parquet. Hardwoods are typically much more durable than softwoods. Reclaimed lumber has a unique
appearance and is used in green (environmentally responsible) building.

Engineered hardwood has a thin solid wood layer on top with a composite core. It can be a less expensive
option than buying hardwood, but it cannot be sanded and refinished. This flooring typically is installed with a
click-lock method.
Hard flooring (not to be confused with "hardwood") is a family of flooring materials that includes
concrete or cement, ceramic tile, glass tiles, and natural stone products
Cement:

Terrazzo: This is a composite material made up of cement and marble aggregate, it is then mixed and
poured in situ onto a concrete base. It is then ground waxed and polished. It has a mosaic look. It can
also be premade and is available in slabs or tiles. It is very hard wearing, if it is polished or wet it is
very slippery. It is a suitable product to be used with underfloor heating
• It is very useful in commercial situations i.e. malls and shopping centres as it is very durable and
easy to clean.
• Over large expanses control joints are required to reduce the risk of cracking. It is expensive but
worth it in these situations. It can be used to great effect in design work, using brass strips to
define the edges with the use of different colored terrazzo between can be very effective.
• Polyester Resin: Produced by combining polyester resin, aggregates, fillers, glass fibres pigments
and catalyst. It can be laid over a cement screed or plywood. It is a hardwearing product with a
wide colour range.
• Polyurethane Resin: Produced by combining polyurethane resin and fillers. It can be laid over a
cement screed or plywood. It provides a hardwearing non-slip surface available in numerous
textures and colors.
All the hard flooring examples above are jointless liquid floor finishes
• Clay and Ceramic Tile Floors
Clay tiles include all types of floor tile having a basic clay composition, which ranges from cheap
quarry to the more expensive vitreous or semi-vitreous tiles. They are either glazed, having a
glossy surface fused upon their face, or they are unglazed with a duller appearance.
• Ceramic Tiles: Ceramic tiles are made from natural clay that is mixed with water and molded.
Creators apply a glaze to the tile to help protect it from water and scratches, then fire the
clay in a kiln to harden it. Ceramic tiles can come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, but
they must always be glazed for protection.
• Vitrified Tiles: Vitrified tiles are very similar to ceramic tiles, but are made with slightly
different elements. The clay is mixed with quartz and feldspar before it is heated in the kiln.
These extra ingredients melt, creating a glass element inside the tile. This glass component
makes the vitrified files very hard and resistant to any type of absorption.
• Natural Stone Floors
Marble, granite and limestone are the most common floor and tile types that you will encounter.
In most situations it should not be necessary to seal natural stone floors. However, it is recognized
that in some circumstances a seal may be desired to protect the cement or grout and occasionally
to add gloss to the surface. If the floor is subject to heavy traffic it may require resurfacing on a
stringent maintenance schedule. For these occasions, a water-based, acrylic type seal that is
water-white in color while possessing non-yellowing characteristics should be selected.
Semi-hard flooring
• Hardboard: A thin, fibrous sheet board made from softwood pulp, hardwood can be used as a very
inexpensive floor in its own right. It can provide a very good surface on which to lay
flooring. Though, it is not advised for a long term use especially if water gets underneath or seal
wears away.
• Chipboard: Thicker than hardboard, it is available in tongue- and- grooved form for floors or in
sheets and looks rather like cork when sealed. It is an efficient insulator, warm and resilient and is
often used instead of wooden floorboards in new homes
• Vinyl: This comprises of PVC, resin binder, fillers and pigments. It is a very versatile product as it
comes in numerous thicknesses, textures, patterns and colors. It is waterproof, oil and fat resistant,
hardwearing and not effected by most household chemicals.
• As it is flexible it can be coved up walls to create a watertight floor. For non-slip varieties, quartz crystals or
Carborundum are impregnated into the product. This works very well but it makes the floor very difficult to
clean. Depending on the vinyl, some can be welded, which means the joins are also made watertight.
• Vinyl is fixed to a well-prepared substrate free of lumps, bumps and dirt with adhesive.
• Vinyl is quiet and warm underfoot, and can be used with underfloor heating. It is available in sheet and tile
form and for added acoustic benefits some manufactures sell a foam cushion backed product.
• Vinyl is easy to care for, only requiring a sweep / vacuum and a wet mop. Vinyl is waterproof and resistant to
oil and can be used over under- flooring heating.
• Linoleum: Linolium is made up from natural ingredients, linseed oil, ground cork, resin, fillers and
pigments. These are baked slowly at high temperatures and pressed onto a jute or Hessian backing.
• It is a misunderstood product as in its early form it was thin and brittle but with new
production methods and design development it is fast becoming a popular flexible flooring
choice. It is available in numerous color combinations and can be plain, patterned or in a
marbleised look.
• It is warm and quiet underfoot. It requires sealing with a polish as if water penetrates under
the surface it will lift. It comes in sheet or tile form and is fixed to the floor with an adhesive.
• Rubber: Rubber is made from natural or synthetic rubber, fillers and pigments. It is available in
single colours with relief patterns or marbled. It comes in sheet form or tiles cut from sheets. The
sheet form is available with foam rubber backing which provides a form of sound insulation. It has
good wear properties, is resilient and tough, warm and quiet underfoot. It can be loose laid on
concrete.
SOFT FLOORING
A soft floor covering is manufactured as a roll or as flexible tiles, its flexibility distinguishing it from
hard floors such as stone or ceramic tile. Soft flooring is a popular option for many people because
of its comfort and wide range of colors and textures. Knowing the different options will help you
make the best choice.
Carpet: Carpet is a widely used soft floor covering made of wool, nylon, and polyester. It is available
in a broad range of colors and patterns. It can also be purchased in different depths of pile -- the
length of the material used to create the texture. Because carpet is laid on top of a soft pad about
half an inch thick, it is flat and even, regardless of whether the subflooring is level or not
Rugs: a floor covering of thick woven material or animal skin, typically not extending over the entire
floor