Flooring - Hall Stairs & Landings - Common Areas in Flats
Richard Faulkner
I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
Good quality hardwearing carpet
Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
Ceramic Floor Tiles
Any thoughts welcomed
--
Richard Faulkner
IMM
"Richard Faulkner" <ric...@estate.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
> Hi,
>
> I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
> converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
>
> There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
> muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
>
> Good quality hardwearing carpet
Silly idea.
> Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
Top quality stuff is the business and not that cheap either.
> Ceramic Floor Tiles
Hard wearing but makes a noise and can cause a nuisance.
Best check the fire regs before you decide.
Peter Gray
considering just sanding and sealing them perhaps.
Peter
Alex
news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
How about something like Amtico, that won't break if the morons drop
something big on it? Expensive though.
Alex
Richard Faulkner
Floorboards are fine, but I have done this elsewhere and it would be too
noisy.
--
Richard Faulkner
RichardS
news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
>
> I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
> converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
>
> There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
> muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
>
> Good quality hardwearing carpet
>
hmm, I've lived in flats that have had the communal areas & stairs carpeted
with decent contract stuff. It's warm, welcoming and quiet, BUT can start
to look tired relatively quickly. Stains and scuffs build up over the years
and are difficult to remove and that was the problem. Wear didn't seem to
be an issue in these cases.
> Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
>
Better for ease of maintenance. Scuff marks still a problem though, esp for
things like bike tyres.
> Ceramic Floor Tiles
>
Probably the best bet, though these could break if something heavy was
dropped on them, for instance when tenants leave or move in.
> Any thoughts welcomed
>
Don't think that wooden floors (as suggested by another poster) of either
softwood or hardwood would stand up to the traffic at all well, or rather
the finishes wouldn't. Expensive to fit and maintain too.
One of the better laminates or stone/tile-effect laminates could be a
possiblilty, they're pretty hard wearing. However, will depend upon whether
it fits in with the style and decor of the place.
If you're going to fit a hard sound-reflective floor then things like soft
door closers are a must, IMHO. A heavy fire door slamming shut at all hours
of the day and night isn't something that I would readily want to live with
again.
--
Richard Sampson
email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk
IMM
"RichardS" <noaccess@invalid> wrote in message
news:4110d964$0$9363$afc3...@news.easynet.co.uk...
> "Richard Faulkner" <ric...@estate.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
> > converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
> >
> > There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
> > muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
> >
> > Good quality hardwearing carpet
> >
>
> hmm, I've lived in flats that have had the communal areas & stairs
carpeted
> with decent contract stuff. It's warm, welcoming and quiet, BUT can start
> to look tired relatively quickly. Stains and scuffs build up over the
years
> and are difficult to remove and that was the problem. Wear didn't seem to
> be an issue in these cases.
>
>
> > Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
> >
> Better for ease of maintenance. Scuff marks still a problem though, esp
for
> things like bike tyres.
This will prevent footsteps from being a nuisance. The Amtico look-alikes
are also god for this.
nightjar
"Richard Faulkner" <ric...@estate.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
>
> I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
> converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
>
> There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
> muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
>
> Good quality hardwearing carpet
Industrial grade carpet tiles would be better. When they show signs of wear,
which is inevitable, you only need to replace the affected tiles. The other
way is to include a contracting colour carpet in the high-wear areas, such
as in a semi-circle around doorways. That also allows you to replace a worn
area without having to replace the whole carpet.
> Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
Again, use industrial grade continuous flooring. It usually contains granite
particles, or similar, to provide grip and improve wear. This will be the
easiest to keep clean and almost certainly the hardest wearing. I have some
in my factories that is 15 years old and it still looks good, while epoxy
floor paints, put down at the same time, have had to be replaced.
> Ceramic Floor Tiles
Noisy and liable to damage, particularly if laid on wood.
> Any thoughts welcomed
For the stairs, you could also consider pre-formed metal or GPR step covers,
which incorporate anti-slip coatings or anti-slip strips on the nosings.
They can also have an integral high-visibility nosing. If you choose not to
have a high-visibility nosing, take care to ensure that the stair lighting
is not too flat. It is much safer if the lighting creates a shadow at the
back of the step, with the nosing highlighted.
Colin Bignell
Owain
Crucially, you may have to meet particular requirements if this is a fire
escape route.
The usual thing in refurbed tenement flats in Scotland is 'veitchi' flooring
although this is the name of a contractor. Not sure if it goes over wood
though. It's a slightly rubbery compound that does floors, skirting, and
stair risers and treads in one continuous coat, dries to a non-slip somewhat
marbly appearance that just needs mopping down.
Owain
Richard Faulkner
as we speak.
In message <4110df80$0$10052$afc3...@news.easynet.co.uk>, nightjar
<nightjar@?.uk.com.invalid> writes
>
>"Richard Faulkner" <ric...@estate.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:7z0lEjer...@estate.demon.co.uk...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I've reached the point in a refurbishment of a big Victorian house
>> converted into 7 flats, and need to decide on flooring for common parts.
>>
>> There is obviously a chance that tenants will bring things like bikes,
>> muddy shoes etc. through the common parts, and I have several thoughts:
>>
>> Good quality hardwearing carpet
>
>Industrial grade carpet tiles would be better. When they show signs of wear,
>which is inevitable, you only need to replace the affected tiles. The other
>way is to include a contracting colour carpet in the high-wear areas, such
>as in a semi-circle around doorways. That also allows you to replace a worn
>area without having to replace the whole carpet.
>
I must say that I prefer the idea of carpet from an aesthetic point of
view.
>> Linoleum - like they fit in hospitals etc.
>
>Again, use industrial grade continuous flooring. It usually contains granite
>particles, or similar, to provide grip and improve wear. This will be the
>easiest to keep clean and almost certainly the hardest wearing. I have some
>in my factories that is 15 years old and it still looks good, while epoxy
>floor paints, put down at the same time, have had to be replaced.
>
This sounds favourite, but my supplier suggests that it should be glued
down. This could create difficulties in accessing pipes and wiring under
the floor - which will inevitably be necessary over time.
>> Ceramic Floor Tiles
>
>Noisy and liable to damage, particularly if laid on wood.
I'm reasonably sure these would crack at the joins aswell.
>
>> Any thoughts welcomed
>
>For the stairs, you could also consider pre-formed metal or GPR step covers,
>which incorporate anti-slip coatings or anti-slip strips on the nosings.
>They can also have an integral high-visibility nosing. If you choose not to
>have a high-visibility nosing, take care to ensure that the stair lighting
>is not too flat. It is much safer if the lighting creates a shadow at the
>back of the step, with the nosing highlighted.
>
I was thinking of rubber nosings.
>Colin Bignell
>
>
--
Richard Faulkner
stuart noble
inoffensive, cheap, and virtually indestructible. Does cause problems with
static electricity though. Don't use metal door knobs.
nightjar
...
> >For the stairs, you could also consider pre-formed metal or GPR step
covers,
> >which incorporate anti-slip coatings or anti-slip strips on the nosings.
...
>
> I was thinking of rubber nosings.
I would not trust them not to lift and create a trip hazard. IME separate
nosings have to be made of a rigid material. Again, you can buy them in GRP
or metal.
Colin Bignell
Pete C
Hi,
How about some coir matting as used for marquees:
<http://www.marquee-matting.co.uk/matting.htm>
Pretty cheap, and can be stapled down or stuck down with double sided
tape. If it gets a bit dirty pull it up and turn it over and/or jet
wash it.
If you're lucky it will be available in a width that matches the
hallway, or if there are floorboards these could be sanded and
varnished and the matting used as a runner.
cheers,
Pete.