Tiles Granite and parqueting are three different options for
tile, granite and parqueting. Tiles, granite and parqueting all come in various
types.
Granite
Granite is the natural rock and it is harder than marble. Granite is naturally beautiful, harder enough, durable and resistant to seepage if sealed properly.
The advantages and disadvantages of having a granite
flooring is given in the chart below-
| Advantage of Granite | Disadvantage of Granite |
| Comparing between tile and granite, granite is considered more suitable for in-floor heating. | The initial cost is very high |
| Among all options, easiest in maintenance and cleanliness | The surface is slippery, so cannot be used in high traffic and frequent use areas unlike tiles that can be used in high traffic area. (Though tiles also need maintenance) |
| Comparing with tiles and parqueting, they are long-lasting or durable | Though the surface is resistant to scratches and cracks, it is still prone to staining in case of improper sealing. |
| Maintains the resale value of the building | The workmanship should be more professional than any other options available. |
| Gives the living space an excellent look | It is difficult to cut and shape unlike tiles and parqueting that come in readymade shapes. |
| Resistant to cracks, scratches and breaking into pieces also referred as chipping |
Parqueting
Pros of Parqueting
Durable if taken care of properly
Parqueting is durable only when properly taken care of. It
is because most of the parquet use soft wood. You should not use parqueting if you
have naughty children and pets in your house.
Low maintenance cost
Parquet flooring is relatively low maintenance. You
have to clean the surface with soft items like soft brooms or a vacuum cleaner.
If parquet catches any stains, you need to use cleaners. However, the cleaners
should not be abrasive. Parquet just needs polishing once in every 3 to 5
years. Hard wood should be used as parquet material instead of soft wood if the
traffic in the parquet floor is high.
Aesthetically Appealing
Parqueting is aesthetically appealing if you have a good
aesthetic sense. The various patterns used in parqueting are Mosaic, Chevron,
Herringbone, Bordeaux, Chantilly, Parquet de Versailles. The aesthetic appeal
of Granite is not less, but it gives a different appeal. A high quality tile
gives more aesthetic appeal than a low quality granite.
Budget Friendly
Parqueting should be coveted as the most budget friendly option. Parqueting is made out of reclaimed hardwood and they are cheaper than original hardwood. Granite is the most expensive one among all option. The price of granite varies from Rs. 255 to Rs. 770 and it can fluctuate according to season, demand and supply. The cost of most expensive tile is much below Rs.770 per square feet. You can refer to the cost of parqueting section of our blog.
Cons of Parqueting
Not resistant to Moisture
Parqueting is not resistant to moisture. Parqueting should
never come under the contact of hot water and vapor because it can swell and
shrink. If you clean it with water, you have to make sure that it dries
instantly.
Easily Prone to scratch
Parquet is easily prone to scratch. Shoes with pointed soles
could also cause damage to the parqueting if used frequently.
Fading in Sunlight
Parquet loses its color if it is exposed to sunlight for a
long time. The solution is to paint the parquet and painting comes with a cost.
Tiles
The common thing about all tiles is that all tiles are laid
with spacers on place and grouts are inserted as infill. There are different
kinds of tiles. One of the types of Natural stone tiles. Natural stone tiles
are very similar to granite because thick granites are cut to smaller size and
section to make natural stone tiles. So natural stone tile behaves similar to
granites. Among tiles, the cheapest tile is ceramic tile followed by porcelain
tile. The most expensive tile is natural stone tile. You can refer to the price of tiles section if you like.
Advantages of Tiles
Water Resistant
Though tiles and grout are usually not water resistant, waterproof grouts are usually available these days. You have to make sure that the tiles are vitreous or semi-vitreous.
Long-lasting
As compared to Granite, Tiles are also long-lasting. High quality
tiles typically last up to 20 years. Tiles have various classes ranging from I
to V. The class V tiles are the best whereas class I tiles are not good. For an
average home, class III tile or class IV tile can satisfy the need.
Less maintenance
Light cleaning method is good for tiles. The only thing is
strong acids should not be used to clean tiles because grouts can dissolve and
problem of seepage can occur through the gaps between tiles.
Disadvantages of Tiles
Tiles are considered expensive than parquet for similar
degree of satisfaction. Tiles are also more expensive than laminate flooring
and they have been popular in the Nepalese market these days. Tiles are only
cheaper to the expensive granites.
Problem of Grout Maintenance
Tiles are long-lasting, but grout are not. Grout needs to be apply again and again if tiles are cleaned with strong acid or if there is high traffic in tile surface. Tiles are more prone to stains than granite. Unlike Granite, tiles also need frequent cleaning and grout needs to be added over again and again.
Cold Tile Surface
Weight of Tile
Though not more as compared to granite, tiles also weight heavy. They increase the weight of the building. The building needs to be structurally designed for tile finishes.
2 months ago