Is Vinyl the Right Material For Your Home? | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Vinyl is a synthetic material that has been popular for over half a century and has many well-known pros and cons.

Today marks the final instalment in a four-part series which evaluates the suitability of popular materials for interior surfaces. If you’re late to the party don’t worry, here are the posts on marble, wood, and laminate.

What is Vinyl?

Vinyl generally refers to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The world’s third most common plastic. It is employed in a dizzying number of things around you, like PVC pipes, car seats, and even old-school discs for gramophones.

Vinyl owes its popularity to its low cost and ease of installation, with many design options like wood or marble print. But just how well does it fare as an interior surfacing material?

Durability | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

This section describes how well vinyl withstands everyday abuse over the course of its lifespan. From falling objects and discolouration, to more insidious evils like mould and bacteria.

Scratch Hardness: 3/10

Scratch hardness describes how easily a material is scratched. PVC generally has a rating of 3 on the Mohs scale of hardness. A material can only be scratched by another material of equal or higher rating on this scale.

For comparison, a copper penny rates 3, while your fingernail rates 2.5. Consequently, this rating means vinyl floors are easily scuffed or scratched by chair legs or fine grit underfoot.

We recommend darker designs or tougher materials if you’re stickler for floor appearances.

Indentation Hardness: 6/10

Indentation hardness describes how easily a material gets dented by a prolonged force, like the weight of a heavy bookshelf.

PVC is one of the harder commercially-produced plastics and recovers from impacts and extended compressions relatively well. However, it is known to dent permanently from time to time. Beware of dropping heavy loads like tools or gym weights around it.

Ageing: 3/10

Vinyl is generally not a long-term flooring solution. Instead, its low-cost allows it to be replaced as it is damaged. A rather frequent occurrence, considering its low scratch hardness.

Poor Water Resistance | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Vinyl has the advantage of being water-proof, considering it neither absorbs nor reacts with water.

However, depending on how your vinyl flooring is installed. A significant amount of water can seep beneath the vinyl tiles, allowing bacteria or mould to breed in recesses that are almost impossible to clean.

Short of ripping out your entire floor, at least.

Stain & Chemical Resistance | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Vinyl is also infamous for its reaction to rubber. Even the briefest contact with natural rubbers, like those in shoe heels, can permanently discolour the material.

This chemical reactivity extends to certain acids and bases. This means strong household cleaners will discolour and denature your vinyl flooring. Denatured vinyl often starts peeling or cracking.

Things to Note | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Like other cheap materials, vinyl’s strength lies in its replaceability. Vinyl tiles are small and affordable, allowing you to replace damaged sections at will.

However, tile designs that are unusual or near the end of their production life may run out a year or two after you first install them. Thus, it is a necessary burden for owners of vinyl flooring to stockpile a healthy number of tiles for replacement or go with a generic and commonly available design.

Hygiene | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Porosity: 6/10

The number of pores on vinyl is often related to its price and quality. High-quality vinyl is smoother and has fewer pores than cheaper versions.

If you’re a loyal follower of this blog, you might know that no homeowner wants a porous floor. Pores trap dirt and organic debris, giving bacteria and mould room and board to flourish.

Since vinyl doesn’t deal well with strong cleaners, we highly recommend getting high-quality vinyl tiles if you wish to use the material.

Corrosion Resistance: 4/10

Vinyl is tough plastic, but it doesn’t fare well against strong chemical agents such as bleach. If you absolutely must disinfect your vinyl surface with bleach. Ensure that you strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions and dilute your bleach accordingly.

However, do note that even when diluted, strong cleaning chemicals will break down vinyl over time. Do avoid using them too often or leaving them on too long.

Aesthetics | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

This section is about the look and feel of a vinyl floor. Since these properties are perceived so subjectively, this section will omit any scoring. It’s entirely up to you, as a homeowner, to decide if the material’s aesthetics are a pro or con.

Appearance | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

Appearance-wise, vinyl surfaces are versatile and come in many colours and designs. Pricier options also include some texturing, if you’re inclined.

As a plastic, vinyl possesses the ability to absorb vibrations. If you’re fond of playing loud music or working out at home, a vinyl flooring will help maintain a friendly relationship with your neighbours.

Vinyl floorings are also less chilly than marble or ceramic tiles, and quieter than hardwood flooring.

The Big Question | Pros & Cons of Vinyl

At the end of the day, is vinyl the right flooring for you? Here are some things you should consider.

Damaged tiles or frequent replacements. Replacing tiles yourself or putting up with frequent contractor visits. Lastly, storing a heap of tiles at home.

Conclusion

Answering yes to these questions is difficult for most, especially if you’re environmentally conscious.

Unlike other materials, vinyl is inefficient to recycle. Hence, every time you replace a vinyl tile. The old one simply takes up more space at a landfill or contributes to global warming in an incineration plant.

Alternative Solution 

If you’re looking for a material that has synthetic toughness and a huge range of design options. We suggest checking out Metallic Epoxy for your Floors and Countertops.

Aside from a ridiculous resistance to physical damage and chemical attack (Advantages of Metallic Epoxy). Metallic Epoxy can be customised to pretty much any colour and pattern the mind can conjure.

For more on this wonder material, read one of our posts on the subject. If you’ve already heard of it and want more personalised information, drop us a message for a free consultation with an expert.

Check out our other posts on The Best Epoxy Flooring Guide in Singapore and Best Epoxy Floor Maintenance Tips.

More information which you may find useful

1) More of our Services – Click Here

2) View our Past Works – Click Here

3) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

4) Pros & Cons of Hardwood – Click Here

5) Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate – Click Here

6) Pros & Cons of Marble – Click Here

7) Best Interior Surfacing Materials – Click Here

Most Practical Flooring for your Homes | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

A durable premium material or an expendable low-cost material?

Introduction | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

In today’s post, we will explore the most common materials used for floorings and the options you have for repairing or replacing them. While each of these materials has many specific pros and cons. The focus of this post will simply be their durability and ease of repair.

The four key things to consider are; The frequency with which you have to replace or repair the material. The cost in time, money, and convenience. The ease of acquiring the material for replacement, and the environmental impact of upkeep.

Vinyl | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Vinyl comes in large, whole sheets and small tiles. It is a synthetic material that is rubbery and softer than most flooring.

Cost

Prices can range from $4 to over $8 per square foot, depending on quality.

Durability

Thanks to its pliable nature, vinyl is highly resistant to impacts that could chip or crack other materials. However, depending on its quality, it can be very prone to scratches or tears from sandy grit or sharp objects, and dents from heavy objects.

Vinyl can get damaged by standing water if it is not sealed with a waterproof layer that adds significantly to the cost of installation and maintenance. It is also infamous for producing ugly chemical stains when it meets rubber from shoe heels or rubber protectors on furniture legs. Not forgetting it is susceptible to yellowing over time.

These vulnerabilities mean it must be replaced relatively frequently.

Replaceability/Repairability

Vinyl cannot be repaired. The affected tile or sheet must be replaced entirely. As such, unless you have a strong reason otherwise, we strongly recommend getting vinyl tiles over large sheets to reduce the cost of these inevitable and frequent replacements.

Replacing lower quality vinyl tiles is cheap, but terrible for the environment. Since vinyl is rarely recycled or reused and goes straight to incinerators or landfills. You should also consider stocking up on your desired pattern of vinyl tiles in advance since stores might no longer stock them when newer designs become more popular.

Linoleum | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Linoleum is almost identical to vinyl. It is a relatively soft, rubbery material that is made using natural ingredients such as linseed oil and cork powder, and comes in tiles or sheets.

Cost 

It is generally more expensive than vinyl. Between $6 to $10 per square foot.

Durability

Unlike vinyl, linoleum is resistant to scratches and abrasive wear but is weak to chipping. It is also easily damaged by water unless an additional waterproofing layer is applied.

While it does not get stained by rubber like vinyl, linoleum tends to dry up and crack over time as its natural oils degrade. Expect to replace it frequently, though not as frequently as vinyl.

Replaceability/Repairability

Again, like vinyl, linoleum is best installed in tiles. However, homeowners bear less of a moral burden for replacements, since linoleum biodegrades more readily and harmlessly than vinyl.

Hence, they aren’t as bad for the environment. Replacement is generally cheap, depending on the quality of your tiles, but more expensive than vinyl.

Wood Laminate | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Wood Laminate is composed of a compressed wood fibreboard sandwiched between a coated, printed layer on top and a waterproof layer below. It comes in tiles that mimic the pattern of hardwood.

Cost

It is priced from $4 to $10 per square foot.

Durability

Laminate tiles are only as durable as the topmost wear layer. While higher quality tiles have thicker and stronger wear layers. Once the printed layer is exposed, the tiles are prone to unsightly scratches and catastrophic water damage.

Expect to replace relatively often, especially in areas with high foot traffic.

Replaceability/Repairability

Laminate tiles cannot be repaired but are cheap to replace. However, homeowners will run into the same problem of availability if they don’t stock up on replacement tiles beforehand.

Thanks to a special overlapping mechanism in laminate tiles. Replacements are best left to contractors, which will cost you time, money, and the inconvenience of having installers over.

While laminate tiles are largely wood, their synthetic layers contribute to waste in landfills and incinerators.

Ceramic Tiles | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Ceramic tiles are among the most common interior surfacing materials in Singaporean homes. They come in a large variety of colours, patterns, and sizes.

Cost

Most ceramic tiles will set you back $12 to $18 per square foot.

Durability

Glazed ceramic tiles are waterproof while raw ceramic tiles are porous and absorb liquids. This means the former is only stained by strong chemicals such as concentrated bleach or pet urine, while the latter can be stained quite easily.

Ceramic tiles are highly susceptible to chips and cracks from falling objects, both blunt and sharp, but are resistant to light abrasive wear from foot traffic.

Replaceability/Repairability

Chipped or cracked ceramic tiles can be a hazard. Stray shards and splinters will pierce the skin, while broken tiles can result in serious cuts. Hence, replacement of damaged tiles is often more urgent than with other materials.

Replacement is relatively expensive and homeowners who choose fancier designs may run into availability issues without an advanced stocking up of tiles.

Hardwood/Parquet | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Hardwood Floors generally consist of large planks of hardwood while parquet floors consist of small strips of hardwood arranged in a repeating pattern. Both types are almost always protected by a topcoat of varnish for waterproofing and wear resistance.

Cost

Expect to spend between $30 to $50 per square foot.

Durability

While some hardwoods are more water-resistant than others. The protective topcoat is necessary for most wood flooring since exposure to moisture will result in warping.

Depending on the thickness of the topcoat, hardwood floors have varying degrees of chip and scratch resistance. Recoating of the protective layer must be done at least twice a year, failing which expensive replacements costs may be incurred.

Replaceability/Repairability

Damage to the topcoat can be easily repaired if spotted early. Deeper gouges or chips to hardwood can sometimes be rectified by sanding and resurfacing the wood.

However, water damage always requires the replacement of the affected tiles and will incur greater costs. Unless you have the right tools and extensive experience, all these repairs will require the services of a professional.

As you may well know by now, stock up on hardwood tiles in advance in case retailers no longer carry your design.

Marble/Granite | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

These two stones, marble and granite, are a premium option for homeowners. They can come in small tiles or large slabs.

Costs

Costs can range from $30 to $80 per square foot.

Durability

Granite is much harder than marble, but both stones are prone to chips and cracks. Both stones are porous and have low chemical resistance, thus they stain easily and permanently.

Replaceability/Repairability

Floors can be refinished if the scratches or chips are not too deep, but would otherwise cost an incredible amount of money to replace.

Similar to ceramic tiles, repair/replacement is often an urgent matter. Another downside is that marble or granite tiles usually come from a unique slab, to get a small replacement may rather be more tricky than other materials. This may very well result in you living with it or having to replace the entire floor.

Metallic Epoxy | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Metallic Epoxy, is a synthetic material that is poured over a surface and allowed to harden.

Costs

Metallic Epoxy can range from $24 to $50 per square foot depending on the size of the area. We would also strongly recommend the services of an experienced and reputable contractor.

While this will cost more, the quality of the design and installation will be drastically better than with an amateur independent installer. To find out what can go wrong with slipshod epoxy installations, visit our post here.

Durability

Metallic Epoxy surfaces are seamless, waterproof, highly resistant to scratches and chips, and chemical proof to household items.

They are also frequently accompanied by a polyurethane topcoat that provides additional resistance to scratches and impacts. It also helps to greatly increases the material’s durability in the face of daily wear and tear.

Replaceability/Repairability

For shallow scratches and typical wear, the repair is as simple as a re-coating of the polyurethane topcoat.

For deeper gouges that penetrate the epoxy body. Installers can simply refinish* the material and fill in the cuts before applying a new polyurethane topcoat.

To Each Their Own 

Different circumstances call for different flooring solutions, there is no one answer for every problem.

For one individual, an affordable, easily replaceable vinyl floor may be the best option. Whereas a sturdy wood flooring that only requires biannual coatings could be another person’s dream floor.

Conclusion | Best Flooring Guide in Singapore

Those who are in it for the long haul could easily see the hassle and cumulative costs of frequent repairs and replacements. Not forgetting the regular maintenance and the occasional servicing.

The one material that stands out in this list is undoubtedly Metallic Epoxy. At a reasonable price of flooring installation. You could have a flooring that is extremely durable, requires little special care and allows for hassle-free repair options.

You may also be interested in

Find out more about how Metallic Epoxy holds up against these conventional materials in other aspects. Head over to this post for a detailed comparison.

If you need more detailed and personal information about getting your Metallic Epoxy Flooring. Our experts will be happy to provide a free, non-obligatory consultation to answer all your questions.

Check out our other posts on the Best Floor Maintenance Tips or the Best Bathroom Floor Maintenance Tips

More information which you may find useful

1) View our Past Works – Click Here

2) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

3) Metallic Epoxy Floorings – Click Here

4) Metallic Epoxy Art Panels – Click Here

5) Metallic Epoxy Countertops – Click Here

6) Metallic Epoxy Bathroom – Click Here

Is Wood Laminate the Right Material for Your Home? | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate

What are the pros and cons of using a wood laminate in your house? The first step is to identify the material’s composition and the role it plays in the industry.

What is Wood Laminate?

Wood laminate is a multi-layer manufactured material typically consisting of four layers.

A melamine backing layer at the bottom provides some water resistance and structural strength. A layer of compressed wood fibre that gives structure and wear resistance. A printed photographic layer that gives the laminate its appearance. Lastly, final melamine wears layer that protects it from everyday wear and tear.

It is available as small tiles and comes in different grades, from the cheapest AC1 to the most expensive AC5. AC6 grades exist but aren’t widely recognised as a large step up from AC5.

Introduction | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

Laminate flooring has a reputation for being a cheap and convenient flooring option. It costs far less than other materials and can be installed very quickly. Much like vinyl but with the classier option of a hardwood print.

Many homeowners and business owners use it when they wish for a fast, no-frills flooring option at a minimal cost. But its suspiciously low price does bely some major shortcomings.

Without further ado, let’s put this material through our gauntlet of tests in part three of our four-part series on interior materials.

Durability | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

This section describes how well laminate stands up to everyday abuse over the course of its lifespan. From the mundane like falling objects and age-related discolourations, to more insidious evils like mould and bacteria growth.

Scratch Hardness: 3/10

Scratch hardness describes how easily a material is scratched. The wear layer of wood laminate generally has a rating of 3 on the Mohs scale of hardness. A material can only be scratched by another material of equal or higher rating on this scale.

For comparison, a copper penny rates 3, while your fingernail rates 2.5. This means your floor will likely be scuffed or scratched by dragging chair legs or even fine grit underfoot. Wood laminate’s performance here is far from impressive.

Indentation Hardness: 5/10

Indentation hardness describes how easily a material gets dented by a prolonged force, like the weight of a heavy shelf.

While this property varies greatly with the grade of laminate used (AC1 – AC6), no specific data was readily available for indentation hardness. However, there was an abundance of impact resistance data in European tests for laminates. AC1 – AC3 can withstand an impact of a 0.8kg object falling from 1 metre, equivalent to a filled water bottle dropping from waist height. AC4 rates up to 1.5kg from a height of 1 metre, while AC5 rates up to 2kg from 1.2 metres.

Overall, at the highest and most expensive rating. Expect to see dents or chips when dropping anything heavier than a cast-iron pan from waist height.

Ageing: 3/10

Laminate flooring Singapore isn’t widely used as a long-term flooring solution. Thanks to its less than ideal wear resistance and the low cost of replacement. We expect to see some terrible ratings in this section.

Poor Water Resistance | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

While most wood-based floorings have terrible water resistance in general. Hardwood floors and parquet have the benefit of a protective varnish or polyurethane coating for water resistance, while laminate floors do not.

Laminate floorings also have seams between each individual tile that make them vulnerable to any significant amount of water. Once water gets into a seam, the compressed wood fibre layer swells and the affected tiles must be replaced.

Again, terrible water-resistance here.

Discoloration | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

As with most other materials, laminate flooring is prone to discolouration from exposure to sunlight. Having furniture, like sofas or rugs, over a spot all but guarantees a patch of unevenly coloured floor.

Not good, but not the worst thing either.

Things to Note | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

Laminate flooring’s greatest strength in this department is its low cost of replacement. However, your consideration should not stop at cost.

Besides the inconvenience of having contractors in your house on a semi-frequent basis. There is the issue of the availability of replacement materials. Like any other consumer product, laminate tiles can change in design and form over the years. If you install a design or model that was nearing the end of its production life. You can bet that replacement tiles may run out a year or two down the line.

Each design is also produced in 4-5 different patterns to give your floor a generally non repeating design. Having two tiles of the same pattern side by side would be an obvious eyesore. Thus, even if your laminate’s design is still in stock, you absolutely shouldn’t count on specific tile patterns being available.

Hygiene | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

Porosity: 5/10

If you’ve followed our previous posts. You know the spiel, pores are holes, holes trap dirt, bacteria love dirt, and no one loves bacteria.

Wood laminate has an entirely non-porous surface, which calls our rating into question, why not a perfect 10? It’s because seams are an unavoidable part of a wood laminate floor.

While not as bad as grout between ceramic tiles. These seams still trap a significant amount of dirt and make conventional cleaning with water and household cleaners impossible without damaging the floor.

Corrosion Resistance: 5/10

The wear layer of wood laminate is made of melamine resin. It’s similar to that used in plates, cups, and kitchen utensils such as ladles. While the material is known to stain sometimes, it is generally chemically stable and thus corrosion-resistant.

However, our rating still has to take into account the presence of seams. Having the world’s hardest shield doesn’t quite matter if you can be stabbed in the side. Chemicals that seep into seams will cause bloating and require repairs.

Again, this rules out the use of all but the tiniest amounts of liquid cleaners. Limiting you to specific laminate cleaning solutions that may not be optimal.

Aesthetics | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

This section is about the look and feel of wood laminate flooring. Since these properties are perceived so subjectively, this section will omit any scoring. It’s entirely up to you, as a homeowner, to decide if the material’s aesthetics are a pro or con.

Appearance | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

Wood laminates are a cheap alternative to hardwood flooring. While critics believe that wood laminates lack all the depth and character of real wood. Modern advances in design and manufacturing have resulted in wood laminates that give a perception of depth and very finely detailed grain.

Such higher quality laminates are virtually indistinguishable from hardwood at a distance.

Texture | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

Wood laminates have a softer feel underfoot and produce far less noise than hardwood. They are also more moderate in temperature and lack the defects in natural wood that can be felt even beneath a coat of protective varnish.

The Big Question | Pros & Cons of Wood Laminate 

At the end of the day, is a wood laminate the right flooring for you? Here are some things you should consider.

Frequent replacement of damaged tiles and the inconvenience such works entail. Possibility of suboptimal replacements due to a lack of stock. Counter-productively high costs for higher grades of a generally low-durability material.

Conclusion 

Any homeowner who chooses a wood laminate floor must be prepared to fork out for repairs. Not forgetting, bearing the intrusion of contractors whenever any major damage occurs.

Furthermore, to enjoy the benefits of good laminate flooring installation. You’d have to pay a premium for higher grades of laminates. A price point at which you may be better off getting flooring material that is far sturdier and less temporary.

Alternative Solution 

If you’re looking for a material that has the hardiness unique to synthetic products, and the character or depth of a natural material. You may wish to check out Metallic Epoxy.

Besides having elite-tier damage resistance and durability. Metallic Epoxy Interiors have a level of customizability and depth for a design that can’t be found elsewhere.

For a better idea of how the material can benefit you and your family, head over to this post. If you already know about the material and would like a more personal discussion of the nitty-gritty. You may book a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experts.

More information which you may find useful

1) More of our Services – Click Here

2) View our Past Works – Click Here

3) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

4) Pros & Cons of Marble – Click Here

4) Pros & Cons of Vinyl – Click Here

5) Pros & Cons of Hardwood – Click Here

Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Interior Design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete. Shop here and check out our other services here.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Epoxy design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Interior

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Epoxy design

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Interior

The Pros & Cons of Hardwood include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

Pour over the Advantages & Disadvantages of Hardwood, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Bathroom hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Each Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom include two key, this is a clear base and powder. They mix to form a blend, producing a glossy, nice look effect after complete.

The bathroom design ideas, or solid top. They move through the floor as it cures and can with a paintbrush or roller to create effects such as swirls, ripples, craters, or waves. When the Epoxy hardens, these powders are in place, resulting in a beautiful, nice look.

Our Pros & Cons of Hardwood is special due to the nature of the powder holding. Skill and mind are critical to achieving the appearance and feel of the surface.

Is Wood The Right Material For Your Home? | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

For a more detailed understanding of how we judge the materials based on the different scales. Head over to “The Best Interior Surfacing Materials For Your Home: A Prelude | Blog Post #9“.

How will hardwood fare against other classic and modern interior surfacing materials? Not forgetting it has been used for millennia in human construction from the ships of the Trojan War to the Torii gates of feudal Japan.

Introduction | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

While it has many natural weaknesses. When used in tandem with special chemicals and treatments, its shortcomings can become strengths.

Just like marble in our previous post, hardwood is a catchall term for a large collection of similar materials with varying properties. Hardwood consists of wood from trees favoured for its colour and texture, or resistance to elemental damage.

Some of the most common hardwood trees include oak (both red and white), mahogany, and maple.

Top 3 Species of Wood | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Oak is the most common wood used for flooring in North America, due to its abundance and affordability.

Mahogany is a more premium option, considered by many to be the Ferrari of hardwood interiors.

Maple is a balance between the former two, cost-wise. It is also considered one of the toughest hardwoods for interior surfaces, often being used in places like bowling alleys.

We will be exploring the ways hardwood is treated for function as an interior surface while preserving its beauty. Not forgetting how well it holds up to the rigours of everyday life.

Durability | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

This section describes how well wood stands up to abuse in a house over the course of its entire lifespan.

From the mundane, like falling objects and age-related discolourations, to more like mould and bacteria growth. The evaluation in each category applies to hardwood as a material in general.

They will be concluded to different variations of hardwood flooring, such as parquet flooring.

Scratch Hardness: 5.5/10

Scratch hardness describes how easily a material gets scratched.

While many common materials such as glass and steel can be measured on the Mohs scale. Wood is an organic material with different grains and texture instead of a uniform surface throughout.

Thus, the Mohs scale isn’t as meaningful here, when referencing wood itself.

Wood is never used in its raw form for interior surfacing | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

It is usually coated with shellac or other varnishes. On occasions, it is also finished with a polyurethane topcoat similar to that used in epoxy finishes.

For a fair comparison, we will go with the toughest coating commonly used. Polyurethane, which can have a hardness of around 5.5 on the Mohs scale. This is in contrast to epoxy finishing, where the polyurethane topcoat has additional gritty material added for a hardness of up to 7.5.

Hardwood, on the other hand, demands a clearer coating that shows off its texture and patterns at the cost of scratch hardness.

Indentation Hardness: 6.5/10

Indentation hardness describes how easily a material gets dented by an impact or prolonged force. Examples include falling bowling balls or stationary stone shelves.

Wood has a special scale of its own, the Janka scale. The Janka scale measures the force (in Newtons) required to embed a .444-inch diameter (11.28 millimetres) steel ball halfway into a sample of the wood specimen.

Janka Scale Scenario | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

As an example, the most common hardwood, oak, can take around 5000 Newtons of force. This translates to just over 500kg of mass.

Taking this as an example, it takes 500kg of bookshelf pressing down on the surface area of a .444-inch diameter steel ball to press into the wood. Objectively, that is quite a bit of hardness!

Disclaimer on Janka Scale

However, in the real world. Furniture often stands in the same spot for months or years. Pressing into the wood with much less weight but over a far longer period than demonstrated in the Janka test.

So a 100kg bookshelf would eventually achieve, over a few years, what a 500kg bookshelf could in hours or days on an oak floor. As such, we caution readers to take the Janka scale with a pinch of salt.

Using the Janka scale as a relative comparison between hardwoods is more meaningful than comparisons with other materials like stones or synthetics.

Hardest Type of Wood used in Interiors | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Mahogany, the premium wood, rates a whopping 17 000 Newtons, while maple is a respectable 6400 Newtons.

All that being said, we conclude that hardwood, at its hardest, has a relatively robust indentation hardness. This is depended on your price points.

Ageing: 4/10

Wood is a natural product and changes over time as it is exposed to light. Some homeowners appreciate the (ironically) ‘live’ nature of wood. While it matures with the occupants of a household, it can sometimes be an incredibly vexing issue.

Hardwood Ageing Scenario | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

For instance, a sofa arranged in the middle of your living room for many years. When removed, it will reveal a sofa-shaped patch of hardwood flooring many shades lighter than its surrounding.

Since the sofa shaded the floor beneath it, the surrounding hardwood darkened much more. Leaving this bizarre and unsightly crime scene chalk outline of your sofa.

Thus, great foresight and planning is required when you plan your interior layout over a hardwood floor.

Hardwood Maintenance | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Furthermore, the coatings on most hardwood floors are not especially thick. Even polyurethane coatings will require a re-coat every year or two as scratches add up. This adds to maintenance costs and downtime.

While waxing hardwood floors regularly helps increase the time between re-coats, the cost is an inevitability.

Cheaping out on a such essential maintenance will spell drastic consequences for your hardwood. This is a concern especially if the coating wears clean through in certain spots and the hardwood is exposed to moisture.

Hygiene | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

Porosity: 9/10 (Coated), 1/10 (Uncoated)
Hardwood is a relatively high-maintenance material. With a polyurethane coating, it is entirely non-porous and shares the wonderful properties of an epoxy finish.

No dirt or organic waste is trapped in pores, and no bacteria or mould can take hold. We’re giving it a 9 here, because a perfect 10 should have an ultra-hydrophobic, self-cleaning wonder material of some sort.

However, falter even slightly in your re-coating duties. The hardwood will see that you pay the price in blood. Being natural and all, wood is a wildly porous material that is happy to embrace mould and bacteria in a “James-Cameron-Avatar-esque” harmony, much to your chagrin.

Corrosion Resistance: 9/10 (Coated), 1/10 (Uncoated)

Again, a polyurethane coating is a miracle for interior surfaces. Much like epoxy finishing. Coated hardwood will stand up to a large variety of household chemicals and moisture with no sweat.

But fail just once… You get the idea. Wood, being a natural material, does not play well with moisture and corrosive cleaning chemicals. An example is just like your skin against bleach.

Aesthetics | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

This section is all about the looks, feels, and sound of hardwood. Since these properties are perceived so subjectively, this section will omit any scoring.

It’s entirely up to you, as a homeowner, to decide if the following details persuade or dissuade.

In the Eye of the Beholder 

Hardwood is an incredibly varied and lovely material. Often cherished for unique grain and texture across different species of wood. Staining a wood prior to using it further changes its colours to better suit your ideal theme.

Overall, wood comes in too many variations, subtle and dramatic, to call it any one thing. Except incredible, that is.

Temperature-wise, hardwood is a wonderful medium. It is neither too cold nor too warm. However, thicker coatings can present a startlingly chilly surface in the mornings.

Noise Concern 

One common complaint across hardwood flooring is its general noise level. The floor doesn’t emit ghostly moans mourning the loss of forestry. However, falling objects and heavy-footed people can produce clicking and slapping noises that reverberate throughout the house.

Not ideal if you’ve a sleeping toddler or a grumpy spouse.

The Big Question | Pros & Cons of Hardwood

So, is wood right for you? The characteristic look and feel of wood is truly unique to the material. Half-hearted attempts to replicate it with vinyl prints often fall tragically short.

However, the vigilance required in keeping up with maintenance is often off-putting to many homeowners. Any missed coating appointments will shortly be replaced by floor repair appointments.

Conclusion 

If you really see yourself comfortably keeping up with the demanding maintenance schedule and cost of hardwood. We believe that it is a premium material with a wonderful look that will make any home feel classy and comfortable.

Yet, beauty exists in many other forms as well. The natural beauty of rainforests, which are often cut down and replaced by teak plantations, are diminishing every year.

In the instance where you would like to preserve this beauty. Help us save such ecosystems by only choosing wood from certified and sustainable sources that give back to these communities. Alternatively, you may wish to explore Metallic Epoxy Interiors.

Alternative Solution

Metallic Epoxy have absolutely none of the shortfalls of hardwood maintenance. It also allows you to further choose from an incredible array of customisable designs that give your home a unique look.

With safe manufacturing processes and no direct destruction of the environment. Metallic Epoxy is an eco-friendly option to hardwood. If you’d like to find out more about the material, visit our blog post HERE

Else, you can learn more about the benefits of Metallic Epoxy HERE

More information which you may find useful

1) Metallic Epoxy Stress Test – Click Here

2) Pros & Cons of Marble – Click Here

3) Pros & Cons of Vinyl – Click Here

4) View more of our Services – Click Here

Introduction | Advantages of Metallic Epoxy

There are several very compelling reasons that make Metallic Epoxy one of the best premium interior surfacing options. Today marks the start of a two-part series.

We will be exploring these reasons in greater detail than before. Cementing the material’s status as a champion of new-age technology in protecting and beautifying your home.

What is Metallic Epoxy? 

Metallic epoxy consists of the main body of epoxy with ornamental metallic pigments suspended within.

The main body is often coated with a polyurethane topcoat that further protects it from physical and chemical wear. For a more detailed description of how Metallic Epoxy works, read this post.

Built Like a Tank | Advantages of Metallic Epoxy 

There are very few materials that can take physical abuse like Metallic Epoxy. While it won’t take an explosive shell to the face like an actual tank. You will worry far less about scratches, chips, and dents once you see it in action.

Facts Behind the Toughness 

Metallic Epoxy, and indeed the polyurethane coating that protects it, is an elastomeric material. This means it can absorb and disperse physical impact much like rubber. While being more rigid and providing greater support to weight.

This specific property gives it much greater protection from sudden, hard impacts. Examples include, a falling paperweight that might chip or even crack a harder material like marble or ceramic. After all, the tree that can’t bend in a storm will eventually break.

Highly Scratch Resistant | Advantages of Metallic Epoxy

Being elastomeric doesn’t make it a slouch in terms of scratch resistance either. A measured blend of epoxy or polyurethane with an amount of gritty material, known as stone aggregate, gives it a structure that greatly resists scratches.

Metallic Epoxy and polyurethane treated in such a manner rate up to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. In comparison, marble only goes up to 5, and granite up to 6.5.

To find out more about the types of epoxy and their toughness, head over to this post on the types of topcoats we offer.

Highly Chemical Resistant | Advantages of Metallic Epoxy

If resistance to conventional warfare — such as unruly kids and falling objects — wasn’t enough. Enter Metallic Epoxy’s tenacity against chemical attacks.

The material is impervious to all but the most extreme concentrations of household chemicals. Not forgetting a whole list of industrial chemicals to boot. So, just how does it achieve such incredible resilience?

Facts Behind the High Chemical Resistance 

Simple. The answer lies in the chemistry behind epoxy. It is the product of a chemical reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.

As far as physically possible, the two chemicals are combined in stoichiometric quantities. This means the quantities used are exactly enough to achieve the desired chemical reactions, leaving no excess.

While it can take many hours to cure, the bond formed between the chemicals is very strong. Resulting in a fully reacted and highly stable material that has very little ability to interact with any chemical it is introduced to.

Comparing to other Conventional Materials

Marble, in comparison, contains minerals that make it highly susceptible to attack from even the mildest of acids or alkalis. Examples include tomato sauce or even slightly alkaline water.

Exposed hardwood suffers an even worse fate. The slightest moisture causes it to bloat and warp. Not forgetting corrosive chemicals break down its structure.

Highly Heat Resistant | Advantages of Metallic Epoxy

The same properties that Metallic epoxy can thank for its chemical resistance similarly grant it a surprising ability to withstand heat.

The strong bond between Metallic Epoxy’s constituent chemicals prevents it from breaking down when heated. Even up to a whopping 200°C. A lack of unreacted components in any substantial quantity ensures that no harmful chemicals are released within this temperature range.

This allows it to shrug off boiling water and hot oil like water off a duck’s back.

Disclaimer

However, before you go wild and start searing steaks on your tragically gorgeous Metallic Epoxy Countertop. Do consider that a hot frying pan can easily reach upwards of 300°C.

While Metallic Epoxy will endure the occasional cooking accident and come out just a little worse for wear. You should always have a cork or silicone pad handy for resting cookware fresh off the burner.

Comparing to other Conventional Materials

For hardwoods, it goes without saying that hot pans are strictly off-limits. However, you may be surprised to learn that stones such as marble do not weather such extreme heat well either. “My marble counter isn’t going to melt from a hot pan”, you scoff as you roll your eyes.

Certainly, marble weathers heat well enough. But this resistance is only superficial, and sometimes not even then. Stone surfaces often discolour during exposure to high heat.

However, your biggest concern is actually a thermal shock. When cold stone is exposed to extreme heat suddenly. The rapid expansion of small pockets of air within cause it to fracture, creating devastatingly large cracks.

So really, the options in this category are a little narrow. We highly recommend those IKEA cork pads, no matter what kitchen counter you’re rocking.

Stay tuned for more Advantages of Metallic Epoxy coming your way

Just when you think this wonder material can’t get any better. We’re here to tell you that these benefits are just half of what Metallic Epoxy has to offer you.

If you’re still on the fence about Metallic Epoxy, stay tuned for our next post on what else Metallic Epoxy does better than the rest! However, if we’re preaching to the choir, feel free to set up a free, zero-obligations appointment with our consultants to see how best Metallic Epoxy can protect and beautify your home.

Check out The Benefits of a Metallic Epoxy (Part Two)!

More information which you may find useful

1) Is Metallic Epoxy Toxic – Click Here

2) View our Past Works – Click Here

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4) Metallic Epoxy Floorings – Click Here

5) Metallic Epoxy Art Panels – Click Here

6) Metallic Epoxy Countertops – Click Here

7) Metallic Epoxy Bathroom – Click Here