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Stone-crystalline flooring is a composite flooring made from a base material of calcium carbonate powder, polyvinyl chloride (or polypropylene), and other polymer materials, through surface finishing and processing. This flooring product boasts excellent water resistance, flame retardancy, easy installation, and environmental friendliness. As a relatively new category of flooring material, stone-crystalline flooring, although only a few years old since its inception, has gained widespread recognition in international markets due to its superior performance, with sales increasing year by year. Currently, my country has basically formed a relatively complete industrial chain encompassing material supply, base material processing, equipment manufacturing, and production.
In 2020, my country's sales volume of stone-wood composite flooring reached approximately 417 million square meters, primarily exported to Europe and the United States, accounting for 95% of total sales and making a significant contribution to my country's export trade. However, the penetration rate of stone-crystalline flooring in China is relatively low, the domestic market is still in its early stages, and many consumers lack understanding of it.
Against this backdrop, when purchasing stone-crystal flooring, consumers need to consider factors such as product design style, intended use, and budget, taking into account aspects like product features, patterns, dimensions, and quality. They are often misled by certain consumer misconceptions. Therefore, it is crucial to guide consumers correctly in recognizing high-quality products, selecting suitable options, and gradually establishing scientific and rational consumption habits.
1. Selection of Stone Crystal Flooring
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Stone Crystal Flooring Selection
1.1 How to choose
(1) Select pattern
Stone crystal flooring comes in a wide variety of patterns, including wood grain, marble grain, stone grain, fabric grain, and design patterns, with different colors and patterns to suit different tastes and decorating styles.
(2) Selecting product categories
Consumers should first choose the appropriate product category based on the intended use and occasion; secondly, they should select different surface decoration materials for stone-ceramic flooring based on personal preferences and budget. Currently, stone-ceramic flooring is categorized by surface material: thermoplastic resin film-faced stone-ceramic flooring, thermosetting resin impregnated paper-faced stone-ceramic flooring, paint-coated stone-ceramic flooring, and wood veneer-faced stone-ceramic flooring, etc. Different surface materials result in different wear resistance and application scenarios.
(3) Select specifications and dimensions
Provided that aesthetic requirements are met, choose the appropriate size of the stone crystal flooring based on the room size, installation method, and personal preference. Generally, larger rooms are better suited to larger flooring sizes, while smaller rooms are better suited to smaller flooring sizes.
(4) Select high-quality products
Consumers should pay close attention to the quality of stone-plastic composite flooring products, especially dimensional stability, as this is a crucial indicator of whether the flooring will warp or deform over long-term use. They should also consider wear resistance and environmental friendliness; the product quality should meet the requirements of relevant standards such as T/CNFPIA 3004-2019 "Stone-Wood Plastic Flooring".
(5) Inspect labeling and packaging
The packaging of purchased stone crystal flooring should include the manufacturer's name, address, production date, product name, specifications, quantity, and applicable standards. The packaging box should contain a certificate of conformity, and the packaging should be intact and undamaged.
(6) Check the quality inspection report
Request a quality inspection report and verify its authenticity; a recent inspection report is preferred.
(7) Request a sales receipt
Merchants should provide consumers with sales receipts, including: product warranty cards, certificates of conformity, sales invoices, etc.
(8) After-sales service
Consumers should pay close attention to after-sales service guarantees, including installation, after-sales service content, and warranty period.
1.2 Common Consumer Misconceptions
As a new type of flooring, stone-crystal flooring may lead to some consumer misunderstandings due to a lack of understanding of its performance and quality. These misunderstandings must be taken seriously and avoided.
(1) Misunderstanding that stone crystal flooring is the same as traditional PVC flooring
Stone-crystal flooring is made primarily from calcium carbonate powder and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with calcium carbonate powder accounting for approximately 75%. PVC flooring, on the other hand, is made primarily from polyvinyl chloride resin. The proportions of the raw materials used in their production differ significantly.
(2) Misconception that stone crystal flooring is not environmentally friendly
Stone-plastic composite flooring uses polyvinyl chloride and other polymer materials as the continuous phase to bond calcium carbonate powder together, and its environmental protection indicators meet the requirements of T/CNFPIA 3004-2019 "Stone-Wood-Plastic Composite Flooring".
(3) Misconception that the thicker the flooring, the better.
Stone crystal flooring is generally thin, with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm being ideal. Flooring that is too thick is too heavy and not cost-effective. Therefore, choosing the appropriate flooring thickness is the best approach, and one should not excessively pursue thick flooring.
(4) Misconception that the less calcium carbonate powder in the flooring substrate, the better.
A high calcium carbonate content in stone-crystal flooring means greater flooring hardness, while a high polyvinyl chloride content means better flooring comfort. Therefore, high-quality stone-crystal flooring depends on the scientific ratio of these two components.
(5) Misconception that the cheaper the price of quartz flooring, the better.
High-quality stone-crystal flooring requires premium raw materials, advanced manufacturing equipment, and technology. Therefore, cheaper is not necessarily better. Products with excessively low prices may not guarantee product quality in terms of raw materials and manufacturing processes.
(6) Focusing only on purchasing, not on installation
When purchasing stone-crystal flooring, it's crucial to consider not only product quality but also installation quality. Even a high-quality product can suffer significant performance issues and lead to disputes if poorly installed. Therefore, it's essential to pay close attention to installation techniques and the work 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 installation in home decoration and public places, and is not suitable for outdoor use.
(2) When installing stone crystal flooring in public places with high traffic, it is recommended to place a doormat at the entrance to prevent hard substances such as sand and small stones from being brought in and scratching the floor.
(3) Although stone crystal flooring has good waterproof performance, it is not recommended to soak it in water for a long time, so as not to seriously affect the service life of the flooring.
(4) All kinds of dirt on the surface of the stone crystal floor should be removed in time. It is forbidden to use hard and rough cleaning tools (such as steel wool, steel brush, etc.) to avoid scratching the stone crystal floor.
(5) Strong acid or strong alkali solutions should not be used to clean the surface contaminants of the stone crystal floor, so as not to damage the gloss and wear resistance of the floor surface.
(6) Do not place items 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 warehouse.
(8) Stone crystal flooring should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent the flooring from softening or the pattern from fading.
(9) When using stone crystal flooring in high humidity environments, it is recommended to use adhesive bonding.
2.2 Common Problems and Solutions
(1) The floor has hollow spots
Cause: Uneven ground surface leads to hollow areas.
Solution: Level the ground before laying the paving.
(2) Arching of the floor surface
Causes: Inadequate expansion joints were not left during installation; poor dimensional stability of the flooring.
Solution: Reserve appropriate expansion joints; replace with flooring that has good dimensional stability.
(3) The floor joints are not tight and the floor is uneven.
Reasons: First, the flooring dimensions had large errors and the processing precision was poor; second, the construction workers' operations were not standardized.
Solution: First, check if the product's processing precision is up to standard. If not, replace it with a qualified product and proceed with the installation. If the problem is with the installation quality, require the construction personnel to operate according to regulations or replace the construction personnel.
(4) Scratches or other damage appear on the floor surface
Cause: Improper use, such as scratching the floor surface with hard objects or sharp tools.
Solution: Clean the floor surface of debris or grit with a dry mop, broom, or vacuum cleaner daily to prevent scratches. For minor scratches, lightly polish the floor surface; for deep scratches, replacement of the flooring is recommended.
Source: National Innovation Alliance for Wood-Stone-Plastic Composites and Products
Correspondent: Tang Qiheng