Different floor finishes one can go for

Floor finishing is one of the crucial stages when building. Ahumuza Jonathan, an engineer with Ranco engineering, says the choice of a particular type of floor finish, depends on the kind of structure being built.
“There are about three categories of building structures. These require different types of floor finishes. For instance, the kind of floor finish used in commercial buildings is different from one used in residential and industrial designed structures,” he says.
Before flooring is done, Ahumuza says, there are a number of things that need to be done.

“Levelling and marking should be done on the wall at 30cm above from the required level. One also has to use long wooden patty items while levelling to make the floor flat,” he advises.
Some of the different floor finishes one can opt for depending on the kind of structure they are constructing include:

Wooden flooring
Wooden flooring is mostly used in residential buildings. It is usually applied in places like the bedrooms, stairs or even in the living room.
When it comes to wooden flooring, Frank Muyamba, an engineer, says different types of wood are used. These, he says, include laminated, grooves, rough, parquet and real wood. A wooden floor, he adds, can help keep the house warm and is lasts for about five or six years.
“In areas that have a very low temperature, this kind of floor is usually suitable since it keeps the house warm,”
John Patrick Muhumuza, an interior designer, says having a wooden floor is in most cases tiresome and expensive much as it may have its own advantages. This is because it needs to be treated every now and again. He also says this kind of floor does not need to be exposed to water all the time. “When it comes to cleaning a wooden floor, it is advisable that one uses a damp cloth or mop. These don’t have to be soaked in water.”

Marble flooring
This is also another type of floor finish that one can opt for. A Marble floor can, however, be expensive for one to use in their house. Muyamba says in this case when building, Mable is usually fitted with cement and is suitable for both the interior and exterior of the house. “Using Mable when finishing your floor can take close to eight or 10 days. One of the advantages of this kind of floor is that it is durable. A Marble floor can last for 25 years,” says Muyamba.

Before laying Marble tiles, thin paste of cement has to be spread and tiles are laid flat pressing them gently on the already laid cement.
A Marble floor, Muyamba says, needs regular maintenance since it can easily be damaged by acidic fluids. It can be dangerous, most especially when it gets wet. This makes it slippery meaning that at that very moment if one is not careful can end up sliding on it causing an accident.

Polished concrete floor
Isaac Mbabazi Kagonyera, an independent floor building expert says this kind of floor usually has concrete that is mechanically refined.
It is commonly used in residential houses although in some cases it is also used in office buildings. This kind of floor according to Kagonyera is built using diamond abrasives and is cheap and durable. However, he says in some cases, it can can cause accidents in the house, especially when it is wet as it gets slippery.

Granite flooring
This is the most durable type of floor finish. Muyamba says this kind of flooring can last for a life time and takes close to three or four years to install. He also says that granite flooring is suitable for the kitchen since it is resistant to oil spills, sugary drinks, and acid. It can also be good for the bathroom. Despite the strength of this kind of floor, it needs regular cleaning. “A Granite floor is mostly polished when cleaning it,” says Muyamba.

Glass flooring
This kind of floor is in most cases used in commercial buildings and in some cases residential buildings.
This kind of floor finish, according to John Patrick Muhumuza, is not that common in Uganda. This, he says, is because it is expensive to install and also maintain. “For one to have this kind of floor means that they would have to import extremely thick glass from abroad which is quite expensive,” says Muhumuza.

He also adds that this kind of floor is durable depending on how and where the structure is built. “Some buildings, most especially those surrounded by plant life like trees with heavy roots, with this kind of floor end up getting damaged within a short period of time,” he says.

Clean a marble floor
David Joel Nabeta, the field manager of Ultra clean and fumigation services says cleaning marble floors calls for regular maintenance because they can easily get stained.
He says mopping helps remove dirty that may scratch the marble.
“It is important to take care of any spills as soon as possible to avoid any stains on the marble stones,” Nabeta advises.
He adds that use of any acidic cleaning solutions on a marble floor will affect its shine that is why soon after mopping dry the floor using a soft towel because water can seep in to the stone causing stains
For your tile floor hot water and vinegar are good at any stains in-between tiles.

Additional reporting by Phionah Nassanga
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