skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
PHOTOS
KITCHEN & DININGKitchenModular Kitchen Dining RoomHome Bar
LIVINGLiving RoomHome TheaterHome Office Staircase
BED & BATHBedroomNurseryKid's RoomBathroom
OUTDOORGardenPatioTerrace & BalconyCourtyard
MORE ROOMSPuja Room Wardrobe ExteriorSwimming PoolView All
FIND PROFESSIONALS
DESIGN & RENOVATIONArchitects & Building Designers Interior Designers & Decorators Civil Engineers & Contractors Design-Build Firms Kitchen & Bath Designers Landscape Architects & Contractors Home Builders & Construction CompaniesPhotographersSpecialty Contractors
View All Pros
HOME IMPROVEMENT Furniture & AccessoriesFlooring & CarpetTile, Stone & CountertopBedding & Bath
View All Services
STORIES
LATEST FROM HOUZZ
Houzz ToursKitchen GuidesBathroom Guides Bedroom Guides
Decorating Guides Outdoors Architecture
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
ADVICE
HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
Design DilemmaBefore & After PollsHome Decorating KitchensLiving Rooms
Bedrooms Dining RoomsExterior Lighting PaintBuilding a Home
Floors
Floors
Budget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without Retiling
Top Ideabooks
Budget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without RetilingWhat Is the Cost of Different Types of Flooring Materials?Brick Floors: Could This Durable Material Work for Your Home?Vitrified vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Is Better?
Appears in
Decorating Guides

What Are the Best Antimicrobial Flooring Materials?

Check out these antimicrobial flooring options that ensure good hygiene and prevent the growth of various microorganisms

Pooja Khanna Tyagi
Pooja Khanna Tyagi18 August 2020
Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016 an for architectural poetry in the year 2018. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi and Noida. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392
More
Print
Facebook
Twitter
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.
Bubbles Bathrooms
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.
Fine Floorz
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.
Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design
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.
How to Keep the Carpet Spotless in an Indian Home
housebrand
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.
Direct Flooring Center
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.
Read more:
Which Tiles Are Perfect for Indian Floors?
10 Unique Options for Your Floors

Tell us:
Share your views on antimicrobial flooring. Tell us in Comments below.
Print
Facebook
Twitter
See 3 comments
Explore Related Topics
Floors
Read Related Stories
Budget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without RetilingBudget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without Retiling
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·4
Floors
What Is the Cost of Different Types of Flooring Materials?What Is the Cost of Different Types of Flooring Materials?
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·1
Floors
Brick Floors: Could This Durable Material Work for Your Home?Brick Floors: Could This Durable Material Work for Your Home?
By Lisa Frederick·91
Decorating Ideas
Vitrified vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Is Better?Vitrified vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Is Better?
By Vinita Kunnath·2
Kitchen Guides
6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in India6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in India
By Shristi Nangalia·15
Living Rooms
Polished vs Unpolished Porcelain Tile: Which Is Better?Polished vs Unpolished Porcelain Tile: Which Is Better?
By Rashmi Haralalka·0
Decorating Guides
How to Clean & Maintain Different Types of TilesHow to Clean & Maintain Different Types of Tiles
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·1
Kitchen Guides
10 Ways to Tile Floors10 Ways to Tile Floors
By Debbie Snider·66
Living Rooms
Natural Marble Tiles vs Marble Slabs: Which Is Better?Natural Marble Tiles vs Marble Slabs: Which Is Better?
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·1
Decorating Guides
Hallway Floor Solutions: How to Stop Dirt & Mud in Their TracksHallway Floor Solutions: How to Stop Dirt & Mud in Their Tracks
By Sarah Warwick·18
Living Rooms
Pros & Cons of 5 Popular Kitchen Flooring MaterialsPros & Cons of 5 Popular Kitchen Flooring Materials
By Sam Ferris·365
Kitchen Guides
A Guide To Concrete FloorsA Guide To Concrete Floors
By Rebecca Gross·42
Architecture
7 Natural Stones That Can Give Your Floor a Colourful Twist7 Natural Stones That Can Give Your Floor a Colourful Twist
By Shristi Nangalia·6
More Room Guides
Patterned Floors & Wall Tiles Know How to Command AttentionPatterned Floors & Wall Tiles Know How to Command Attention
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·2
Kitchen Ideas
How to Clean TilesHow to Clean Tiles
By Lisa Loukidis·39
Kitchen Guides
People who liked this story also liked
Budget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without Retiling
Budget-Friendly & Sensible: Ways to Upgrade Floors Without RetilingFull Story
What Is the Cost of Different Types of Flooring Materials?
What Is the Cost of Different Types of Flooring Materials?Full Story
Brick Floors: Could This Durable Material Work for Your Home?
Brick Floors: Could This Durable Material Work for Your Home?Full Story
Vitrified vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Is Better?
Vitrified vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Is Better?Full Story
6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in India
6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in IndiaFull Story
Polished vs Unpolished Porcelain Tile: Which Is Better?
Polished vs Unpolished Porcelain Tile: Which Is Better?Full Story
How to Clean & Maintain Different Types of Tiles
How to Clean & Maintain Different Types of TilesFull Story
10 Ways to Tile Floors
10 Ways to Tile FloorsFull Story
Natural Marble Tiles vs Marble Slabs: Which Is Better?
Natural Marble Tiles vs Marble Slabs: Which Is Better?Full Story
Hallway Floor Solutions: How to Stop Dirt & Mud in Their Tracks
Hallway Floor Solutions: How to Stop Dirt & Mud in Their TracksFull Story
  • India
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms & Privacy
  • © 2022 Houzz Inc.