Flooring

Small or large, area rugs provide an impermanent means of introducing color, pattern and texture into a project: from hand-knotted rugs in traditional Oriental and Persian designs to wool/silk blend floral print rugs produced with high-tech machinery.

Likely the most comfortable flooring (and the best insulator too), carpeting is widely used everywhere from hotels and homes to educational institutions and commercial settings. Modular carpeting (carpet tiles) allows for more customization and ease of installation than traditional broadloom.

Laminate flooring offers a less expensive alternative to the real thing, often mimicking wood (or stone) flooring in appearance. Multiple layers of synthetic flooring are fused together with a lamination process and topped with a photographic appliqué image under a clear protective layer. The inner core is generally comprised of melamine resin and fiber board compound.

Known for its exceptional strength and raw aesthetic, masonry flooring is made from rugged stone and clay in its authentic versions of marble and slate, or in the manmade flooring of brick or terrazzo. Masonry flooring boasts a higher price point, but its heat retaining and pure aesthetic properties allow this tough flooring to maintain popularity.

Experiments and technical achievements have led to the introduction of new types of specialty flooring. Natural leather tiles, non-slip glass flooring, metallic finishes, and cork alternative flooring are a few specialty flooring solutions for the designers and architects who sincerely want to “think outside of the box”.

A tile floor can be made from strong ceramic, stone, metal and glass tiles – each of which creates a unique aesthetic. Tiling is almost as easy as vinyl flooring to keep clean, and can be seen in both traditional and modern interiors, in museums, hospitals, hospitality projects, offices and homes.

The underlay (underlayment) lies beneath the flooring, fastened to the subfloor, to provide comfort, longevity, insulation against heat, sound and even moisture. Common materials include sponge, rubber, foam, felt, crumb rubber, and plywood. Raised access floors provide a support system, allowing for the passage of mechanical services and electrical wires.

Stain-resistance and durability, vinyl and resilient flooring are available at a variety of price points ranging from affordable to luxurious. The most widely known resilient flooring is made using linoleum, cork, rubber, and of course, vinyl - and each option is a natural shock-absorbing floor that can be made even more comfortable with a subfloor placed underneath.

Wood floors offer a natural aesthetic with a variety of wood grains, finish options, and plank sizes. Comprised of solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring (not to be confused with laminate, vinyl, and veneer), wood flooring is one of the most popular flooring options for projects ranging from urban lofts to hotel lobbies and office spaces.