Stone crystal floor purchase and precautions

Stone crystal flooring is a composite material made from a base material of calcium carbonate powder, polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (or polypropylene), and other materials, followed by surface finishing and processing. This flooring product boasts excellent water resistance, flame retardancy, easy installation, and environmental friendliness. As a new flooring material, stone crystal flooring has only been around for a few years, but its excellent performance has earned widespread recognition in the international market, with sales increasing year by year. Currently, my country has a relatively complete industrial chain encompassing material supply, base material processing, equipment manufacturing, and production.

In 2020, my country's sales of stone-wood polymer composite flooring reached approximately 417 million square meters, primarily exported to Europe and the United States. Exports accounted for 95% of total sales, making a significant contribution to my country's export trade. However, the popularity of stone crystal flooring in China is relatively low, and the domestic market is just beginning, leaving many consumers with little understanding of stone crystal flooring.

In this context, when purchasing stone crystal flooring, consumers need to consider factors such as product design style, usage location, and consumer level, taking into account product features, patterns, size, and quality. Consumers are often distracted by consumer misconceptions. Therefore, it is crucial to guide consumers in identifying high-quality products, selecting suitable products, and gradually establishing scientific and rational consumption habits.

1. How to choose stone crystal floor

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Stone crystal floor purchase

1.1 How to purchase

(1) Select pattern

There are many varieties of patterns on the stone crystal floor, including wood grain, marble grain, stone grain, cloth grain, design patterns, etc., and the colors and patterns are different. Consumers can choose according to their preferences and decoration style.

(2) Select category

Consumers should first select the appropriate product based on the intended use and application. Secondly, they should choose a quartz crystal flooring product with different surface finishes based on personal preferences and spending levels. Currently, quartz crystal flooring is categorized by finish material: thermoplastic resin film finish, thermosetting resin impregnated paper finish, paint finish, and wood veneer finish. Different finish materials have varying wear resistance and application scenarios.

(3) Select specifications and dimensions

Under the premise of meeting aesthetic requirements, choose the appropriate size of stone crystal flooring according to the size of the room, paving method and personal preference. Generally speaking, if the room is large, it is better to choose a large size flooring; if the room is small, it is better to choose a smaller size flooring.

(4) Select high-quality products

Consumers should pay close attention to the quality of stone crystal flooring, especially its dimensional stability, which is crucial for determining whether the floor will warp or deform over time. They should also pay attention to properties such as wear resistance and environmental friendliness. Product quality should meet the requirements of relevant standards such as T/CNFPIA 3004-2019, "Stone Wood Plastic Flooring."

(5) Check labeling and packaging

The label on the packaging of the stone crystal floor you purchase should be printed with the manufacturer's name, address, production date, product name, specifications, quantity, implementation standards, etc. There should be an inspection certificate in the packaging box, and the packaging should be intact and undamaged.

(6) Check the quality inspection report

Ask for a quality inspection report and check whether it is authentic, preferably a recent inspection report.

(7) Request for sales receipt

The sales receipts that merchants should provide to consumers include: product warranty card, certificate of conformity, sales invoice, etc.

(8) After-sales service

Consumers should pay special attention to after-sales service guarantees, including installation, after-sales service content, shelf life and other issues.

1.2 Consumer Misconceptions

As a new type of flooring, consumers may have some misunderstandings when purchasing stone crystal flooring due to their lack of knowledge about the performance and quality of the flooring. These misunderstandings must be paid attention to and avoided in a timely manner.

(1) Misunderstanding that stone crystal flooring is the same as traditional PVC flooring

Stone crystal flooring is made with calcium carbonate powder and polyvinyl chloride as its main raw materials, with calcium carbonate powder accounting for about 75%. PVC flooring refers to boards produced with polyvinyl chloride resin as its main raw material. The raw material ratios of the two are quite different.

(2) Misunderstanding that stone crystal flooring is not environmentally friendly

Stone crystal flooring uses polyvinyl chloride and other polymer materials as the continuous phase to bond calcium carbonate powder together. Its environmental protection indicators meet the requirements of T/CNFPIA 3004-2019 "Stone Wood Plastic Flooring".

(3) Misconception that the thicker the floor, the better

Stone crystal floors are generally thin, with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm. Floors that are too thick are too heavy and have low cost-effectiveness. Therefore, choosing the appropriate floor thickness is the best strategy, and you should not excessively pursue floor thickness.

(4) Misconception that the less calcium carbonate powder in the floor base material, the better

A high content of calcium carbonate powder in stone crystal flooring means that the floor is hard, and a high content of polyvinyl chloride means that the floor is comfortable. Therefore, high-quality stone crystal flooring depends on the scientific ratio of the two.

(5) Misunderstanding that the cheaper the stone crystal floor, the better

High-quality stone crystal flooring requires high-quality raw and auxiliary materials, advanced manufacturing equipment and technology. Therefore, the cheaper the better is not the case. Products with too low a price may not be able to guarantee product quality in terms of raw and auxiliary materials, manufacturing processes, etc.

(6) Focus on purchasing, not laying

When purchasing stone crystal flooring, you need to pay attention not only to the product quality, but also to the installation quality. Good quality products with poor installation quality will seriously affect the use effect and cause quality disputes. Therefore, you must attach great importance to the installation technology and construction team.

2. Precautions and common problems when using stone crystal flooring

2.1 Precautions for use

(1) Stone crystal flooring is currently mainly used for indoor paving in home decoration and public places, and is not suitable for outdoor use.

(2) When installing stone crystal flooring in public places with large traffic, it is recommended to place floor mats at the entrance to prevent hard objects such as sand and small stones from being brought in and scratching the floor.

(3) Although the stone crystal floor has good waterproof performance, it is not recommended to be soaked in water for a long time, so as not to seriously affect the service life of the floor.

(4) All kinds of dirt on the surface of the stone crystal floor should be removed in time. It is prohibited to use hard and rough cleaning tools (such as steel wool, steel brushes, etc.) to avoid scratching the stone crystal floor.

(5) It is forbidden to use strong acid or strong alkali solutions to clean the surface pollutants of the stone crystal floor, so as not to damage the gloss and wear resistance of the floor surface.

(6) Do not place objects with excessively high temperatures on the surface of the stone crystal floor to avoid softening and deformation of the floor.

(7) Stone crystal flooring should be placed horizontally when stored on site or in a warehouse.

(8) Stone crystal floors should be kept away from sunlight to prevent the texture of the floor from becoming soft or the pattern from fading.

(9) When using stone crystal flooring in places with high humidity, it is recommended to use the gluing method.

2.2 Common Problems and Solutions

(1) There are hollows in the floor

Reason: The uneven ground causes hollowing.

Solution: Level the ground before paving.

(2) Arching of the floor surface

Cause: Failure to leave appropriate expansion joints during installation; poor dimensional stability of the floor.

Solution: Reserve appropriate expansion joints; replace the floor with one with good dimensional stability.

(3) The floor joints are not tight and uneven

Reasons: First, the floor size error is large and the processing accuracy is poor; second, the construction workers' operation is not standardized.

Solution: First check whether the product processing accuracy is qualified. If it is unqualified, replace it with a qualified product and proceed with paving. If it is a paving quality problem, require the construction personnel to standardize the operation or replace the construction personnel.

(4) Scratches or other damage to the floor surface

Cause: Improper use, such as hard objects or sharp tools scratching the floor surface.

Solution: Use a dry mop, broom, or vacuum daily to remove debris or grit from the floor surface to avoid scratches. If minor scratches occur, you can lightly polish the floor surface; if deep scratches occur, it is recommended to replace the floor.

Source: National Innovation Alliance for Wood, Stone, and Plastic Composite Materials and Products

Correspondent: Tang Qiheng