Flooring it the Indian Way
Flooring is a major feature that sets the
mood of a home. The selection of the right kind of flooring involves thinking
at multiple levels - the most important being the kind of aesthetic disposition
that one has, besides durability, safety, hardiness, and the tactile feel of
the floor. While imported marble, wooden floors and vitrified tiles are quite
popular, there is a growing trend of using Indian marble, granite and other stones.
Types of Indian Stones
Stones available in India can be classified
broadly into the following categories: 1). Marble; 2). Granite; 3). Sandstone;
4) Limestone; 5). Slates and Quartzite. Most stones go by the name of its
source.
Marble: Most marble comes from Rajasthan followed by Gujarat and Madhya
Pradesh. The current varieties from Rajasthan include Rajnagar Marble and Abu
Black. Gujarat produces a variety called Ambaji White while Madhya Pradesh
yields the popular Katni marble.
Granite: Most granite quarries are found in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha. Some of the popular shades are Sadarahalli
Grey, Sira Grey, Magadi Pink, Madurai Gold, Ivory Fantasy, Kashmir White, Jet
Black and Galaxy Black. Granite is dense and hard and therefore makes for
excellent floors for interior and exterior applications.
Sandstone: Many types of sandstone are also great flooring options. Examples
are Dholpur Beige, Agra
Red, White Mint, Kandla Grey, Teak and Rainbow. Natural quarry finish sandstone can be used for landscape paving, pool surrounds, patios
and verandahs. Finished versions can be used for interior spaces.
Limestone: Popular varieties are Jaisalmer Yellow, Eta Gold, Kota Blue and
Cudappah Black. These are available as slabs and tiles and make for excellent
interior flooring applications.
Slate
and Quartzite: Slate stones are sourced from
metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and have strong layer separations. This makes
it tricky to work with and if cut expertly along the layers; they will yield flat
slabs that can be used for flooring. They are available in a variety of colours
and textures. Sources for slate include Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana
and Andhra Pradesh.
Finishes
A variety of finishes are available.
Typically they can be classified as polished and semi-polished. The
semi-polished stones come in various categories: 1). Honed; 2). Leather; 3).
Antique; 4). Flamed 5). Bush-hammered and so on. Finishes can be selected based
on the function and aesthetics. The polished stones are easier to clean and
maintain but cannot be used in areas prone to wetness.
Typical uses
Success of the flooring depends on a deep
understanding of the material properties and the uses that they could be put
to. Here is a typical list of stones that could be used in different spaces.
Entrance
Verandah: Entrance lobbies are subject to a fair
amount of rough use and maximum traffic. Dark coloured granites are a great
choice here. A texture-finished granite (flamed/honed/leather) with anti-skid
properties works great if it is prone to some spray from the rain. Slate and
stones can also be used very well.
Lobby,
Living, Dining: The number of options open up here.
Light coloured flooring (like Eta Gold, Jaisalmer) would look great. If one has
a step down living, it would be advisable to contrast that space with a
darker/lighter coloured stone. This would avoid accidents as it increases the
awareness of differing floor levels. One can also use leather-finished floors
that give a tactile feel if one walks barefoot.
Kitchen
& Bathrooms: Indian kitchens handle a multitude
of spices and oils. It is important for the floor to be dense in nature to
prevent any absorption on spillage. The best option is dark granite. Do not use
Sadarahalli and Sira granite, as they tend to absorb and retain moisture. The same rule applies to bathrooms. All other
stones could be used for wall finishing. It would be advisable to choose an
anti-skid semi-polished finish for bathroom floors.
Bedrooms
& Staircases: In most homes architects would
prefer light coloured stones in bedrooms. Most types of stones would be
suitable for bedrooms and stairs.
Thickness and Calibration
Granite and marble slabs come in 20mm
thickness. Many granite shades come in 10mm thickness as tiles measuring 1 foot
x 2 feet or lesser. Tiles are cheaper than slabs. Stones other than marble and
granite come in smaller sizes (typically 22inches x 22 inches). One must ensure
that these tiles are calibrated for right angle corners and for an almost
uniform thickness. It is also important to ensure that a qualified building
professional inspects the lot for defects before selection and purchase.
Workmen
Ensure that the workmen who would lay the
material are proficient in doing so. A good marble layer may not necessarily be
able to handle slate well and vice versa. It is best to take references from
their clients and visit their finished works before appointing them. It is
worth the time, effort and money.
Sealers and Grouts
Most natural
stones are porous in varying degrees and hence all tiles, stones, grouts
and masonry surfaces may be protected from stains of water/oil/food by applying
a penetrating sealer that also provides a “wet look”. It is also important to
use the right kind of colour matching grouts that last longer than the usual
cement grout.
Natural Materials
It is natural to have variations in colour
and texture between stones or slabs in the same lot. It is advisable to dry lay
the floor in order to ascertain the pattern that emerges. It is best to
celebrate this variety than to shun it in favour of a uniform shade. Much like
how 2 human beings do not resemble each other, it is difficult to find
uniformity in stones – there is beauty nevertheless. This beauty enriches and
endows character to the spaces.
ReplyDeleteGreat and easy-to-understand tutorial, thnx!
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