When designing your dream home and its interiors, every element present in the home plays a crucial role. Every little detail, from your windowpane to the last pillar, can affect the final aesthetics. However, most fail to focus on the flooring. An underestimated aspect of your home, flooring majorly affects the overall look and feel of your interior. You have an array of options to choose from, including stone, marble, tiles, terrazzo and bamboo for flooring. However, if you are an ardent lover of traditional flooring, red oxide flooring is an ideal choice. It is a piece of heritage that you cannot avail as a readymade commercial material; it is an art form.
Red oxide flooring has a close association with the culture and traditions of our country. It’s one of the oldest forms of flooring that we have utilised for several decades and is still around. The flooring method comes with numerous benefits, making it a popular choice among homeowners and construction professionals. With technological advancements, architects, designers and other construction professionals can create magnificent oxide floors in various textures and patterns. Read the blog to know more about the traditional oxide floor properties, types, advantages and disadvantages.
Oxide Flooring: Understanding the Concept
To create oxide flooring, professionals add red or other colour oxide paint or pigments to the substrate (generally cement) and then pack it with an organic sealant. When finished, it gives your floor a rich colour. Though red is the typical and most commonly used colour, you can avail oxides in a spectrum of colours. If you are looking to colour your floor in different shades of red, you can choose from 25 different tones that can be created by blending various shades.
Whether your space has traditional or modern décor, the warm tones of oxide flooring can add character to any room. These floors are easy to maintain and require occasional polishing to maintain the lustre. Most homeowners want a cost effective flooring solution that stands the test of time, for which oxide flooring is an ideal choice. However, your total cost varies depending on various factors, including size and preparation. You can avail the flooring in various styles from classic terracotta tiles to seamless poured concrete.
Colours Available in Oxide Flooring
Homeowners and construction professionals have a plethora of colours in oxide flooring to choose for their homes. If you are not a fan of the red hue and are looking for unique colours, you can opt for other colours too. The various colours that can be availed in oxide flooring solutions include the following:
- Red oxide flooring: Red is the traditional and most prevalent colour option in oxide flooring. It imparts an earthy appearance and pairs well with classic and rustic interiors.
- Grey oxide flooring: A neutral and modern colour which resembles cement or concrete, grey is the most suitable for minimalist interiors. If you want to create a sleek look, grey is your colour.
- Terracotta oxide flooring: It resembles the colour of clay pots. If you want to give your space a traditional or Mediterranean-inspired look, this is the ideal colour for your flooring.
- Blue oxide flooring: A rare colour for colour cement flooring, opt for blue oxide flooring if you want to create a calm and serene atmosphere in your spaces.
- Yellow oxide flooring: If you want to add life and brightness to your dull and boring space, yellow oxide is the right choice. Adding this colour to your cement floor will instantly uplift your area with a sense of joy.
- Black oxide flooring: Want to achieve a dramatic and elegant look? Include the colour in your interior flooring and create a striking contrast with other elements in your space.
- Brown oxide flooring: Do you love to give your space an earthy feel? The brown oxide is the best choice, as it complements both contemporary and traditional architecture.
- Green oxide flooring: If you are a nature lover, green is your colour. Paint your floor in the green oxide colour and feel connected with nature. It’s most suitable for garden or outdoor floorings.
Types of Oxide Flooring
Oxide floors are available in a variety of types and finishes, including the following:
Liquid Red Oxide Coatings for Floors
Experts mix the liquid red coating with cement that you can use to cover any surface. Being non-toxic and non-hazardous, this flooring solution is perfect for public areas and areas that experience high foot traffic. You can spread the paint onto any surface, including concrete, wood, and tile floors. The liquid stains more easily than powder coatings, covering the imperfections effortlessly.
Terracotta Tile Flooring
Choose terracotta tiles with a red or other colour oxide finish for a classic and rustic look. Manufacturers make the tiles from natural clay that offers any space warmth and an earthy feel. They are durable, easy to clean and suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces.
Dry Powder Oxide Floor Coatings
Oxide dry powder is a powder you need to spread over an area requiring coating. Do not forget to coat it with a layer of clear sealant to create a robust and durable surface. With successive layer application, you can apply the powder instantly over concrete or any other suitable surface. You must use a protective sealant as the final layer, guaranteeing a long-lasting, high-performance coat.
Patterned Oxide Tiles
Red oxide flooring tiles have gained popularity over the last few years. Since these tiles come in attractive and gorgeous colours and patterns, they create interesting visual effects and textures. You can choose the tile in various exciting and aesthetically pleasing styles and patterns like basket weave and herringbone. These beautifully patterned tiles allow you to create endless designs and add personality to your space.
Oxide Flooring with Matte Finish
If you are looking for some uniqueness, opt for matte-finished floors. Since these floorings offer a soft, understated look, they complement various décor styles. With this non-reflective solution, you can enhance the beauty of the floors, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
Oxide Flooring with Inlay Designs
Does the simple colour cement flooring look boring? You can create intricate designs or motifs by inlaying different materials (including stones, tiles and small chips) while the oxide flooring is being laid, creating stunning focal points. Whether you love geometric patterns, floral motifs or custom designs, the customisable inlays can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the floors.
Self-Adhesive Backing Layer Oxide Floor Coatings
Experts create the red oxide coating with a liquid that you must spread over the area that requires coating. You then texture the area and lay a self-adhesive backing layer on top of the liquid coat to shield the textured surface area. It protects the area from damage by scrapes, stains and normal wear and tear. The textured layer forms over the treated areas, creating a tough and durable surface finish.
Advantages of Oxide Flooring
Amidst modern flooring solutions, oxide flooring has emerged as a popular choice amongst homeowners and construction professionals for various reasons, including the following:
- Affordability: Oxide flooring solutions are a budget-friendly alternative which can give polished finishes similar to expensive flooring materials such as granite and marble. They are also customisable with various features such as embossing and inlaying.
- Suitable for warm climates: Oxide flooring is ideal for Indian homes which generally experience tropical climates, as it offers a cooler surface during the summer months.
- Longevity: Whether you opt for oxide floors in traditional red colour or in other colours, these flooring solutions are known for their durability and can last for several decades. Over time, you will find that the floor appears smoother and shinier. The best part of this flooring is that they are low-maintenance and resistant to fungus and mould.
- Smoother surface: With this traditional flooring solution, you get a smooth surface which is slip-resistant. You can witness the smoother finish your oxide flooring offers when compared to other popular flooring like granite or marble. If you have small children in your home who love playing, sitting and running on the floor, opt for this flooring, as it is gentle on the feet when you walk barefoot.
Disadvantages of Oxide Flooring
Despite having several advantages, oxide flooring solution comes with numerous disadvantages, including the following:
- Susceptibility to damage: Do you live in a city that receives rainfall throughout the year or experiences high humidity? If yes, oxide flooring is not an ideal choice because these floorings are vulnerable to damage in humid environments. When exposed to areas that receive torrential rain or snow, traditional oxide flooring might experience surface cracks. Therefore, you must ensure to use these floorings for your home’s interior spaces rather than the outdoors.
- Requires skilled labour: One of the common red oxide flooring disadvantages is that installing it is a meticulous process. You must contact professionals skilled in installing such floors, without whom errors can occur. Even a minute error might lead to the development of gaps and cracks, hindering the aura of the space and also leading to problems such as water seepage and eventual structural damage.
Conclusion
Today, most homeowners and experts associated with the construction industry are looking for sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and attractive flooring solutions. If you are one of them, install oxide flooring for your home or in your projects. Besides, instead of deteriorating like other flooring solutions, these traditional floorings become smoother and more aesthetic with time. Brick & Bolt focuses on financial viability and requirements of customers when designing a home, including appropriate flooring solutions. Whether you want a modern or traditional flooring solution such as oxide flooring, the experts associated with Brick & Bolt provide individually tailored solutions. Assuring real time project tracking, transparent communication, quality checks and regular updates on the projects, Brick & Bolt is a leading construction company in India. Contact Brick & Bolt today to build your dream home!