The hot summers serve as a challenge for top architects and interior designers in Pakistan to customize design solutions for residential and commercial buildings which shelter the inhabitants from the scorching heat and lowers their energy bills. The rapid advancements in architectural and construction trends and technology has enabled top architects in Pakistan to add a number of distinct features to the design, including thicker external walls, lofty windows, a north-south orientation of the house, roof gardens, use of specific construction materials and surrounding verandahs for ventilation, etc. Similarly, the flooring is one of the main components of any house that not just covers the maximum area but also plays a pivotal role in keeping the house cooler in the summers. If you are planning to build a house or you are looking to change the flooring which keeps the house cooler, here’s a list of options to choose from:
Porcelain Tiles
If you want strong, trendy, and heat-resistant flooring, then porcelain tile is what you are looking for. Porcelain is actually a variation of the basic ceramic tile that is made up of finer particles of clay, ablaze at a higher temperature. Clay is not a heat conductor which makes porcelain highly heat resistant and remains cool in heated summers. Furthermore, because the tiles get fired under excessive heat, it makes them hard and less porous, allowing them to function as a cool flooring surface indoors and outdoors. Porcelain tiles come in a wide range of colors and designs, giving them another edge to be a viable choice for customers. The trending colors used by Interior designers in Lahore include hues of white, beige and brown. These colors help create a calming environment, reduce the effect of the hot weather, and help with creating different interior design schemes. On the other hand, the top porcelain flooring designs used in Pakistan include the Oak tile design that has a timeless wooden look to it, the marble effect tile reflecting an extravagant vibe, and the colorful Maalem décor tiles that bring in a whole splash of colors to the floor.
Epoxy Resin
The coolest and the most popular floors in Pakistan these days are influenced by the international hype about using resin. Epoxy flooring is a type of synthetic resin flooring system that is placed on top of the stable subfloor. Usually, concrete is used to build these subfloors as it is cost-effective, durable, and easy to install. Epoxy is an efficient choice for cool flooring because of two main reasons. The first is the presence of a strong concrete subfloor that reduces the amount of heat traveling up the floor from the ground. And the second factor that keeps epoxy floors cool is its multi-layering system, which consists of several layers of thermosetting resin that are coated, trowelled, and then laid down on the concrete floor to set. As soon as the resin layers cool down and set, they form a strong bond with the subfloor, making them a durable choice for flooring. Architects in Lahore use epoxy floorings because of their heat-resistant nature, durability, and wide range of design possibilities. These floors allow numerous designs to be incorporated into them depending upon the personal preference of the client, ranging from metallic colors, matt finishing, epoxy flaxes, solvent coats, 3d patterns, and epoxy terrazzo flooring. If you like fancy ornamented floors and want it to carry a modern trendy look then epoxy flooring is the one for you.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is an upgraded version of the basic vinyl flooring that was prone to tearing and gouging, making it less durable. The luxury vinyl sheets are structured in the form of rigid planks, with six to eight layers of the same material, adding to the thickness of the flooring, making it more durable, heat resistant, and comfortable to walk on. The top layer of these sheets is the design layer, which carries the embodied image with a shiny finishing coat, allowing the floor to easily reflect heat and stay cool. These floors come in subtle traditional flooring colors that sync with almost all the interior design themes. The available colors include shades of beige, brown, white, grey, and mild tones of rust. Other than being heat and water-resistant, luxury vinyl has numerous other advantages like being budget-friendly, easy to clean, easy to install and maintain, etc. If you want a stylish floor that stays cool in the summers and is easy to pair with any color scheme and décor then go for luxury vinyl flooring as it has a lot to offer in this regard.
Polished Ceramic Tiles
Polished ceramic tiles are made up of clay and are fired under high temperatures twice, to give them a hard and glossy surface. The process of their production and the materials that go into their making allows them to become highly heat resistant. The top polish layer further helps in reflecting direct heat and keeping the surface cooler to walk on. It also locks out the extra moisture, making them nonporous and durable for hot humid climates, like that of Pakistan. Polished ceramic tiles are softer as compared to porcelain tiles, which makes them a cost-effective choice as they are easier to cut and install. These tiles are available in numerous colors and designs. The most popular designs used in Pakistan include Biophilia which incorporates natural hues with a tinge of wood to it, natural stone look with the effect of marble and hard stone, terracotta with a pleasing symmetrical view, and the magical Moroccan design that instantly uplifts the mood of the room. Polished ceramic tiles are a suitable option for you if you want catchy designs on your floor that don’t burn your feet in hot days.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is one of the timeless flooring trends that has remained in the market of Pakistan for several years. Hardwood floors are made up of solid wood pieces that are cut into combinable flat planks to build an even surface. The most popular type of wood used in these floors includes oak, maple, cherry, and walnut. However, unlike other floorings, hardwood cannot be directly installed on the flat ground as wood has to be nailed and requires a proper subfloor. The subfloor used for the installation of hardwood is usually made up of plywood because it is cost-effective, conveniently available, and easier to install. The presence of this extra floor further reduces the amount of heat traveling up the ground. Opting for a wooden floor gives the whole room an aristocratic vibe, resonating a touch of class and luxury. If you want a cozy look for your house, with an elegant feel, then lookup for hardwood flooring options.
In the long summers of Pakistan, investing in the right flooring material can make a big difference to your comfort. Based on your personal preference, space, and style of the house, you can choose any of the flooring options shared above to reduce the impact of the hot summer heat.