5 de na cineálacha urláir cloiche is fearr le haghaidh cistineacha, seomraí folctha agus níos mó

Oibreoidh cineálacha éagsúla urláir cloiche i bhformhór na seomraí, cibé an bhfuil teach comhaimseartha nó teach nua-aimseartha agat. Tá tíleanna cloiche nádúrtha i gcistineacha i ndáiríre ar cheann de na cuma is coitianta. Cé go ndéanann siad rogha álainn le haghaidh seomraí folctha agus hallaí freisin. Agus, ní hamháin cuma a fhágann gur rogha láidir urláir cloiche nádúrtha ach an oiread.

From the palest marble and limestone to the darkest slate and granite, the design possibilities of stone flooring are vast and many are very durable, making them one of the best types of flooring materials to choose if you want to add value and character to your property.

AN BHFUIL CHLOCH NÁDÚRTHA MAITH D'URAS CISTÍN?

Soláthróidh urláir cloiche nádúrtha a úsáidtear i gcistineacha stíl agus feidhmiúlacht araon. Is rogha coitianta é eibhir durable, buan, a úsáidtear go minic le haghaidh countertops freisin, agus tabharfaidh aolchloch bailchríoch te rustic agus ní bheidh sé ag caitheamh síos go héasca ach an oiread. Go hidéalach má fhaigheann do spás cistine go leor coise. 

CÉ MHÉAD A CHOSTAS AN LÁRÚ CHLOCH NÁDÚRTHA?

Prices vary enormously and will depend on the grade and quality of the stone. But, this is usually one of the downsides to natural stone flooring as prices compared to other types of floor tiles are elevated. Most stone is newly quarried but reclaimed slabs are available, which, although considered more environmentally friendly, are usually more expensive. Expect to pay upwards of £30 per m² from a high-street or national retailer and up to and over £500 per m² for high-grade or rarer stones. 

Sna SA is féidir leat a bheith ag súil le haon rud a íoc ó $8 go $18 le haghaidh suiteáil amháin. Le níos mó dearaí uathúla a chosnaíonn níos mó.

CÉ IAD AN CHLOCH IS FEARR DO LÁRÚ?

Stone floors are widely considered to add value to a property, but choose wisely as once laid you won’t want to change them for years. The most durable option is granite while many would say that marble is the most popular (albeit expensive) option.

1. EOCHAIR

Ar fáil i speictream leathan dathanna, go minic le specks mianraí nó eibhir veining subtle is rogha solúbtha é is féidir a oiriúnú don chuid is mó de stíleanna tí. Agus toisc go bhfuil sé an-mharthanach oibreoidh sé i limistéir ardthráchta cosúil le halla freisin. Tagann sé i bailchríocha éagsúla, ach is é an fhoirm snasta a nochtann go hiomlán na dathanna agus na patrúin. Réimse dathúil ó shades gorm agus corcra go dtí glas liath agus olóige, agus is minic a chuimsíonn siad marcálacha dearg meirgeach.

Granite floor tiles typically cost from £30 per m²/ $4/sq. ft. ($4 /case)for basic and uniform, black small format tiles. Expect to pay, on average, between £50-£70 per m²/ $14 for larger format tiles, that have a more interesting and colorful finish. The limitless variations of granite flooring colors and textures means that it is hard to put a price on some of the rare examples available. It is very possible to spend in excess of £150 per m²/$200 /sq.ft to find the perfect patterning for your floor.

2. SLÁN

Roinnte go héasca i thiúis éagsúla agus ar fáil le bailchríoch uigeachta, oibríonn sclátaí go maith i limistéir fhliucha mar seomraí folctha agus cistineacha (ag brath ar cé atá ag cócaireacht!).

Slate sits at the cheaper end of the spectrum, costing as little as £10 per m²/$3.49/sq. ft. ($34.89 /case) from a high street or online supplier, up to £50 per m²/$11.00/sq. ft. for interesting colors and textures from specialist suppliers.

3. MARBHADH

Ag tosú ar a shaol mar aolchloch, faoi choinníollacha áirithe criostalaíonn a chuid comhpháirteanna chun na veins a fhoirmiú atá tipiciúil le marmair. Ina fhoirm íon, is féidir é a fháil i raon leathan de shades eile, ó liathanna éagsúla go glas agus dubh.

Marble floors come in at a similar price to granite, with an equal number of variations in color and texture on the market. It's as great in a kitchen as it is in a bathroom. Expect to pay from £50 per m²/$10.99/sq. ft for the most basic tile, to as much as £150 or £200 per m/$77.42/sq. ft. ($232.25 /case)² for decorative tiles or tiles with specialist color-ways and finishes.

4. AOLCHloch

Occurring in many tones, from nearly white to the more common warm honey, as well as rarer greys and dark browns Limestone is often a rustic. Textures range from even-grained stones through to smoother types with fossils and coarser, open-textured varieties. Some can be polished to resemble marble. It can scratch easily as it's quite soft so be careful in kitchens. However, as it's resistant to mold and bacteria, it works really well as a bathroom flooring option.

There is a lot of variation in the price of limestone tiles. The cheapest you will come across are around £30 per m² for a basic option, the average price is between £50 – £80 per m²/ $2-$11 per sq. ft, but much like granite and marble, you can end up spending up to £200 per m²/($200.00 /case)².

5. TRAVERTINE

Tá dromchla scagach ag Travertine le poill bheaga a thugann cuma spúinse dó; grád níos airde, tá níos lú claiseanna ag travertine préimhe le dath níos beoga. Is féidir é a fhoinsiú réidh-líonta ó roinnt soláthróirí; nó ní mór é a líonadh in situ. Nuair a shuiteáiltear i gceart é, tá travertine ar cheann de na clocha is durable le haghaidh seomraí folctha agus cithfholcadáin.

The cheapest travertine options are very affordable, starting from around £15 to £30 per m²/$468/case and giving a similar effect to limestone. The most you will look at spending on travertine tiles is around £70 per m²/ $50.30/sq. ft, $133.02 /case.

CÉN FÁTH CHLOCH NÁDÚRTHA BA CHÓIR DUIT A ROGHNÚ DO DO TILÍ?

Cuirfidh an bailchríoch a roghnaíonn tú isteach ar chuma iomlán do tíleanna agus, mar thoradh air sin, do sheomra. Insíonn an ghluais seo duit cad atá i bailchríocha tíleanna urláir.

• Onórach – a smooth, matt surface for a natural look.
• Tumbled – an aged or distressed finish created by the tumbling process, which uses a machine with water and stones to give softer edges.
• Abhainn – stone, usually slate, is split to expose the natural texture for a rustic look.
• Scuabtha – a finish that is created by stiff bristles for a slightly rough appearance.
• Hammered – the surface has been finished with a pocked effect.
• Cluasach – a description used for stone that has soft, rounded edges.
• Snasta – smoothed for a glossy finish.
• Flamed – a textured, non-reflective surface produced by a flame; sometimes referred to as a thermal finish.

CAD IAD NA MÍBHUNTÁISTÍ A BHFUIL LÁRÚ CHLOCHA?

Is iad na rudaí le breathnú amach dóibh agus tú ag smaoineamh ar urláir cloiche nádúrtha i do theach ná an costas agus an chothabháil. Teastaíonn séalú níos rialta ó roinnt cineálacha cloiche mar go bhfuil siad scagach agus bíonn an baol ann go gclisfidh siad. Ba cheart duit aird a thabhairt freisin ar a n-marthanacht mar go ndéanann roinnt cineálacha urláir cloiche scratch níos éasca ná cinn eile. Ina theannta sin, is féidir leo a bheith an-deacair agus costasach a bhaint.

Is féidir le tíleanna cloiche a bheith fuar agus crua faoi chois, agus ní mór é seo a chur san áireamh agus cinneadh á dhéanamh cén áit ar cheart é a leagan. I seomra aghaidh ó dheas, glacfaidh cloch leis an teocht chomhthimpeallach agus te leis an ghrian, ach má tá seomra aghaidh ó thuaidh agat a d'fhéadfadh a bheith fuar, b'fhéidir nach rogha iontach é urlár cloiche. Dúirt sé seo, is féidir leat urlár cloiche a mhaolú le brat. 

China and glass will almost certainly break if dropped on a solid stone floor. Some polished surfaces can be slippery in bathrooms, but there are textured tiles with non-slip finishes. The best way to find out if a floor covering is suitable for your space is to ask your supplier; if your selected tile isn’t appropriate, they will be able to suggest a similar option that is.

AN BHFUIL TÍLÍ ARDÚLRA CHLOCH COMÓRTAS LE TÉAMH FAOI LÁTHAIR?

Solid stone floor tiles are the perfect partner for underfloor heating because of the ease at which it absorbs and emits heat. This can be especially useful in a bathroom or kitchen. Not only will it feel pleasant under bare feet, but it is also an effective way of reducing the risk of damp because of the constant ambient temperature in the room.

CONAS Tíleanna Urláir Cloiche a Leagadh

It is possible to tile a floor yourself if you're a keen DIYer with the correct tools, time, patience and you don’t mind making one or two mistakes. For the sake of a weekend’s work, you could use the money de chostais suiteála in áiteanna eile. Má shocraíonn tú é a leagan tú féin, déan do chuid obair bhaile ar dtús nó ar a laghad déan gairmí chun an post a mheas duit.

This said, many suppliers recommend professional fitting for natural stone, so if you're not confident in your abilities it may be worth getting the help of a professional if you want the perfect finish – especially if you've spent a lot of money on your natural stone floor tiles. 

Other considerations include whether your joists will take the weight of large tiles or thick flagstones – timber floors may need strengthening. 

CONAS Tíleanna Urláir CHLOCH NÁDÚRTHA A CHOTHABHÁIL

Natural floor tiles will need to be sealed to prevent damage, staining, and to avoid repairing stone floors yourself. Your supplier or installer will be able to recommend the most appropriate products to use and should provide you with advice on looking after your chosen material. Once you have the correct product, cleaning stone floor tiles is a simple job.

Using cleaning products that aren’t recommended can leave behind a film, which can attract dirt and may need chemical removal at a later date. Regular sweeping will keep loose dirt away and, if needed, stone can be professionally cleaned and restored.