FT NEWS

The hard and soft flooring surfaces of our home can get contaminated due to the presence of food particles, liquid spills and dirt. These contaminants tend to enter the crevices of hard flooring or get trapped in the fibres of carpets to create colonies of microorganism that can rapidly multiply. If you want to achieve a good level of hygiene within your home, then it is advisable to go for antimicrobial flooring materials which can offer protection against different types of microorganisms.

1. Germ-free tiles
Antimicrobial or germ-resistant vitrified and ceramic tiles are a recent innovation. These tiles come with an antimicrobial glaze and are available in different sizes.

• During the process of manufacturing, a glaze compound is added to the tile which inhibits the growth of germs, bacteria, fungus and other microbes. The nanoparticles on the glaze are efficient in preventing the establishment and multiplication of germs, virus and bacteria. These tiles should be laid with a premium grout that is resistant to germs.
• The glaze is composed of materials like magnesium, zinc, silver which have good anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
• Since the germ-free property is in the full upper layer of the tile, even if the tiles are subjected to scratches or abrasion, the antimicrobial property of the glaze layer will come into action. Brands like Kajaria, Orientbell and Johnson have such products on offer.

2. Vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring is available as luxury vinyl flooring and traditional vinyl flooring. Both these varieties of vinyl flooring are waterproof, have a soft feel underfoot and are available in various styles and colours that replicate the natural look of wood, tile or stone.

• The main visible difference between luxury vinyl flooring and traditional vinyl flooring is in its thickness. Luxury vinyl flooring has a thickness of 5 mm and is resistant to wear and tear, while traditional vinyl flooring has a thickness of 1 mm and is prone to damage by scratches.

• During the manufacturing process, protective coatings are applied on the vinyl flooring so that it becomes antimicrobial and repels various microorganisms.
• Antimicrobial additives such as isothiazoline, zinc pyrithione, thiabendazole and silver are used to manufacture antimicrobial luxury vinyl flooring.

3. Antimicrobial carpet
Antimicrobial carpets reduce the number of fungi, bacteria and dust mites which might flourish in the fibres of the carpet. Since the backing of the ordinary carpet is inaccessible, it may trap moisture which causes many microorganisms to flourish and create a musty odour.

Various antimicrobial additives are used to treat the carpets so that they can remain fresh, clean and durable for a longer period of time.

• Antimicrobial carpets are made by introducing silver-based additives into the carpet fibres when they go through the process of extrusion.
• The carpet is also treated with compounds such as zinc pyrithione, thiazbendazole, isothiazoline and silane quat to make the carpet resistant to mould, mildew, bacteria and dust mites.

4. Concrete flooring
Did you know that concrete flooring can be transformed into an antimicrobial floor with the application of a protective coating? Since concrete floors are naturally porous, water seeps into crevices and creates a moist environment which is suitable for microorganisms to thrive.

• Firstly the concrete flooring must go through a pre-treatment with antimicrobial products which penetrate into the concrete to fill the micro-spaces and voids that form a potential source of contamination.The concrete flooring is then coated with a protective coating which includes silver or isothiazoline based compounds.
• The protective coating on concrete creates a surface that is highly durable, easy to clean, non-allergic, skid-resistant, water-resistant and resistant against microbe growth.

5. Cork flooring
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree or Quercus suber. It is a natural antimicrobial material containing a wax-like substance called suberin, which naturally repels microorganisms such as mites, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Although cork flooring is not very popular in India, it can be considered for Indian homes as it is a green building material which is sustainably grown, is biodegradable and eco-friendly in nature.

• The waxy substance suberin forms a water-resistant surface on cork, so there is no moist environment for colonisation by microorganisms, and creates a healthier indoor environment.
• Another advantage of cork flooring is that that it is hypo-allergic in nature as it repels the growth of mould and mildew.
• The best part about cork flooring is that it provides good heat insulation, noise insulation and is soft underfoot with a good cushioning effect. Note that cork floors can get damaged by pet claws or by moving heavy furniture on the flooring.
• This flooring material is produced in the form of tiles where the bottom layer is made of compressed cork, the core is made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) or high-density fibreboard (HDF) and the top layer comprises of good-quality cork.