[How to Choose Flooring] Feel it with the soles of your feet! The perfect flooring for you.

Hello, I'm kyu!
I will be writing articles that will be helpful for those who are taking on the challenge of building a house.
If you like the content, please give it a ♡ like!
It encourages me for the next update☆
Please also follow me so you don't miss the continuation!

Introduction

Among the elements that make up a home's interior, the floor occupies a considerable area.

…Is that a bit of an exaggeration?

In a new house without any interior, it's just walls, ceilings, and floors. That's about it.

Once furniture and rugs are moved in, they can be hidden a little, but the floor is an important point that determines the "quality" of the house. No matter how much you dress it up with interior decor, your eyes will inevitably be drawn to the floor that serves as the foundation.

So, what does "good or bad quality" mean?

You all touch the floor casually every day. This time, I will dig deeper into flooring materials.

To all the wives who admire a natural beauty, wait no more! If your floor is lovely, you can go to the convenience store without even putting on makeup.
Come on, from tomorrow, your house will be a "Haru" too!

Let's get started!

1 | Default Flooring

I'm sure you've all had the experience of living in a rental property at least once in your life. Think back to the floor at that time.

Most rental floors are probably what is calledsheet flooring.
It looks like wood grain, but the surface is made of a resin called olefin sheet.

Before I started planning my new home, I was barely conscious of flooring.
My parents' house and my rentals were all sheet flooring. Since it existed as a matter of course, I didn't even think about other options.

However, when I started studying home building and thinking about my own house, I suddenly thought,
"Is sheet flooring resin? Does that mean vinyl? Isn't that kind of unpleasant?"

Just hearing the word resin gives me a somewhat cheap impression. The floor at my parents' house that had deteriorated and peeled off, or the scratched-up floor I saw when moving out.
Looking back, there it is, the sheet flooring. It's like Ken Ishiguro in "Furikaereba Yatsu ga Iru" (Looking Back, He's There).

2 | Various Types of Flooring

So, what kind of floors are there? I will introduce 5 types that those building a house should first understand.

Are there that many types of flooring!? It feels like "No way!" right? But let's do our best!
You want to be Haru too, right?... Right?

There are differences between each, but "which one is the correct answer" depends on the house.
However, you should definitely know the criteria for "why you choose it."

Sheet Flooring

A flooring material often used in the standard specifications (free of charge) of house manufacturers. It is attractive because of its wide variety of designs and low price. Although I'm speaking a bit ill of it this time, it can be a safe choice for many people.

If you really need to reduce costs, it might be okay to use it in rooms or on the second floor where guests are not expected. It is also important to create "places to take it easy".

Veneer and Sawn Veneer Flooring

Flooring made by applying real wood onto plywood. Sawn veneer is relatively thick, while veneer is an extremely thin layer of natural wood. Remember it as: Sawn veneer = thin, veneer = super thin.

Since the surface is real wood, it has a great look and texture, and it is easy to handle due to the stability of the plywood base.
Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference from solid wood flooring even when walking on it barefoot.

Solid Wood Flooring

Cut from a single piece of wood, it is, so to speak, "wood itself." Both its texture and appearance are exceptional. A major strength is that it can be repaired even if it gets scratched.

For small scratches, just drip a little water on them and apply an iron to restore them! Even deep scratches can be made to disappear by sanding them down!

However, it expands and contracts due to humidity, so the skill of the installer is key. If you decide to use solid wood flooring, you should hire a contractor with a proven track record of such installations.

Tile

Tile is in a league of its own compared to other flooring materials.
In terms of beauty, durability, and water resistance, it is incomparable to wood flooring. Living in a house with tiled floors has always been a dream of mine, kyu.

There are many types of tiles, so they can be used to create any atmosphere, from luxurious spaces to inorganic ones.

And surprisingly, they also go well with Japanese-style spaces.
The house that "Shiu" is building has a wonderful Japanese-modern style with tiles. Please take a look.

The downside is its hardness.
Since Japanese people don't wear shoes indoors, walking on tile can inevitably be tiring. If you drop ceramic tableware, there is a high probability it will break. And in winter, it gets freezing cold.

However, there are countermeasures.
First, foot fatigue can be solved by wearing slippers.

Regarding the cold, if you keep the heating on 24 hours a day or use floor heating, it will actually retain heat and become very warm.

As for the tableware... learn the truth of "impermanence"—that all things with form will eventually break. And then, just buy more tableware! Haha

3 | The flooring I chose

I had a strong longing for tile. However, I felt uncomfortable with the idea of drastically changing my current lifestyle, such as using slippers or floor heating, so I ultimately gave up on it.

That was when floor tiles came up.

Honestly, at first, it was a compromise. I had a negative impression of them as a "substitute or inferior version of tile."
However, after seeing actual examples, my impression changed completely. I thought, "This actually looks pretty cool."

What we chose for our home was Sangetsu's Mortestone. With its understated design and texture, it blends perfectly into the space.
The material is PVC. It's different from sheet flooring and is highly durable. While not completely authentic, it had just the right amount of realism.

It's not as sharp as tile, but it doesn't look cheap either. That balance fit our lifestyle.

4 | Cost of floor tiles

We prioritized a sense of unity and used them on all floors.

It cost about 720,000 yen for about 36 tsubo.

Hmm... is this about right?
Honestly, since some people even install them as DIY... surely wood flooring must be much harder to install!
By the way, we received a quote for tile that was double this.

Kyu realized something.
If it were a house builder that specializes in tile, it shouldn't cost this much. Perhaps it's expensive because they don't have much experience or a close relationship with tile craftsmen, except for the entrance dirt floor?
If anyone has received a quote for tile, please give me some information!! *crying*

Well, regardless of whether our floor tiles are expensive or average, there are quite a few experts who say that when building a house, you should be particular about the walls and floors as points worth spending money on.

We have already spent 1.8 million yen on painted walls called Porter's Paint.
I'm already desperate. Let's go all in on the floor too!

Summary

Flooring is a place you touch every day, yet it's something you might overlook if you aren't conscious of it. However, it greatly influences the impression of a house, acting as the "foundation of the space." The flooring materials introduced this time each have clear characteristics.

The important thing is "what you prioritize."
Is it the look, durability, maintenance, or compatibility with your lifestyle?

There is no single correct answer.
However, by having your own criteria for choosing, you will get closer to a choice you won't regret.

We ultimately chose floor tiles.
It was the perfect landing point we found between our longing for tile and our realistic lifestyle.

Walls and floors are the "bare skin" of a house. By being particular about these, the space will be beautifully organized even without relying on interior decor.

If you are going to build a house, please try thinking of the "floor" as the main character for once. It will surely raise the resolution of your home building by one level!