Industrial Flooring Described

The industrial flooring look which is becoming more popular than the regular modern look includes more bare floors, open spaces and some bare pipes and conduits. Chrome and wrought iron play a significant part in this type of flooring, while bare expanses overlapped with rugs help to bring this look home. You can include antiques in this design trend, but take care not to go overboard. For instance, cow plaques and milk jugs do not fit this interior design intent. Slightly rusty appliances that have been used or are just merely decorative always fit well in the motif. They, however, have to be cleaned of excess rust.

What Flooring Fits This Look?

Almost any kind of flooring will suit this look so long as it is not intended to jump and claim attention. The more popular choices would include laminate, concrete, rubber and cork. Cork and rubber absorb sound, a quality which comes in handy in all interior design intents that use bare floors. Concrete floors are more common in converted warehouses and factories. They are industrial from birth and are strong, and long-lasting. If properly sealed, concrete tend to be uniform and decorative. Depending on your taste and preference, you can maintain the uniformity of the original design, or insert geometric, pictorial or floral accents to the floor.

Rubber offers some excellent padding, sound buffering and water resistance. The relative softness of rubber also goes a long way in preventing shin splints and easing joint strains that result from extended walking on typical hard floors. Rubber can be utilized in all the rooms in your industrial designed house, loft apartment or condominium. Rubber is a "green" element, meaning it is renewable and is as good for the budget as it is for the environment.

Another type of "green" flooring is cork, and it equally matches rubber for its renewability and inexpensiveness. Cork is naturally water-resistant and thus incorporates air pockets that effectively provide padding over a long-term usage. Just like any other type of floor, cork can be damaged. Nonetheless, with proper care and maintenance, it can last longer than vinyl or ceramic tiling.

Hardwood is also quite popular but comparatively expensive. Every so often, quality hardwood laminate are used in one or two rooms to differentiate them from the others in open attic plans. If carpeting is to be used in this look then the color has to be modulated. Lighter color shades tend to easily show stains or dirt than the darker shades, but a lighter shade makes the area feel more open which is fundamental in successful incorporation of the flooring into the industrial look.

The next important decision to be made would be in regards to who will actually install your selected industrial flooring. If it is a big area then you would need to hire a contractor but if it is a small patch, you can consult a local construction specialist to give you guidance on how to go about it. The best option would be to go for a contractor since they will give a much better finish as this is their area of specialization and their involvement offers some sort of warranty. You may also have more important to concentrate on than learn how to lay concrete slabs.