Modern renovations in Portugal and in particular in Porto allow making various types of floor coverings. So customers have access to: parquet, parquet board, laminate, linoleum, quartz vinyl (flutuante spc) and other types.
Let's take a closer look at each of these types. So parquet is traditionally the most expensive and most desirable type of flooring. But at the same time, it is the most expensive option. The fact is that solid wood is very susceptible to moisture and dampness. Therefore, it is necessary to follow a number of actions aimed at minimizing the impact of moisture on the floor. Firstly, parquet is not laid floating, but is laid on special glue so that it is firmly attached to the floor and expansion from temperature or humidity does not allow it to expand more than is permissible. Secondly, parquet must be well protected from the outside. Polyurethane varnish copes well with this. Since it is the synthetic material that does not allow moisture to penetrate the wood.
Recently, the most popular material is parquet board. This is a multilayer material, at the bottom of which there are inexpensive types of wood, and at the top - more expensive and pleasing to the eye types. Unlike solid wood, parquet board is ready for use and does not require varnishing. It is initially covered with all the necessary varnishes. Parquet board can be laid according to the same principle as laminate: floating on a substrate. But unlike parquet, it is a more demanding material. So, we recommend using parquet board indoors only if your room is well ventilated and constant humidity is maintained in it. After all, since parquet board is not rigidly glued to the floor, it is more susceptible to deformation under the influence of changes in humidity and temperature.
Laminate flooring in Porto
We can say roughly the same about laminate. Only, unlike parquet boards, there is less wood. It is rather pressed sawdust covered with a synthetic wear-resistant material. Laminate and parquet boards must be laid with a mandatory gap from the walls of about 1 cm. This is necessary so that the floor can move as a result of exposure to external factors. If these gaps are not observed, then in case of expansion the floor may rest against the walls and begin to swell. This will give the feeling that you are walking on a trampoline.
As for linoleum and quartz vinyl, these are completely synthetic materials that have a small thickness and, to a much greater extent than parquet and laminate, cannot hide the unevenness of the floor, but only emphasize it.
