Red oxide is a flooring option that carries an element of old-world nostalgia but has now assumed relevance again! People are increasingly becoming aware of how sustainable, simple and aesthetically appealing red oxide is. Here’s why red oxide flooring is still a versatile choice for your home and here’s what you should keep in mind before choosing it for your home.

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Royal and traditional

You might remember red oxide floors from visits to your grandparent’s house. Red oxide flooring, however, is not a thing of the past anymore. First introduced by Portuguese and Italian traders in Kerala, the flooring has been around for ages. Though it lost its popularity as contemporary flooring materials emerged, it’s making a comeback owing to its aesthetic appeal and pocket-friendly nature. Technically cement oxide flooring that is red in colour, and it is the kind of flooring that effortlessly easily adds character to your home.

Pros of red oxide flooring

A cost-effective and durable flooring option, red oxide floors look elegant and are easy to maintain. Regular sweeping and mopping are enough to keep it in good condition for years. These cool-looking red oxide floors are ideal for homes located in warm or tropical locations. The finished floors usually have a lustrous finish that gets better with time.

Cons of red oxide flooring

Laying oxide floors is an incredibly tedious job and has to be done with no interruptions in one continuous stretch. Only experienced masons can skillfully lay the floors. Exposure to extreme weather will lead to cracks; therefore, it’s best suited for indoors.

How Are Red Oxide Floors Laid?

For laying red oxide floors, the first step is to mix dry cement and oxide. Next, slowly add water to get a slurry-like consistency. For one part oxide, up to three parts of grey cement will give a dark red hue. Increasing the quantity of cement will result in a lighter shade.

Laying red oxide or red cement floor is a labour-intensive process requiring expert masons for a flawless finish. 

Day 1: After application, the floor needs constant moistening — sprinkling water every two hours does the trick. 

Day 2: Allow a thin water column to stand on the surface. This helps in identifying white spots. 

Once it is cured, it should be allowed to dry for at least four days. Finally, apply wax and wait for three days until the floor absorbs it fully.

Red Oxide Flooring in Myriad Shades and Colours

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Different shades of red

If red oxide flooring has caught your fancy but you aren’t really keen on red floors, worry not! Avail the flooring in other shades, including green, blue, yellow and black. The red pigment itself has around 20 to 25 variants. Be careful with the quality of coloured oxides prior to installation, however, since poor-quality oxides result in patchy flooring over time.

Red Oxide Tiles

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Flooring  tiles in red oxide

As mentioned above, red oxide flooring, while elegant, can be quite difficult to implement. This is mainly due to the lack of skilled labour. This problem has a readily available work-around, in the form of red oxide tiles, which have become quite popular over the last few years.  

These tiles come in beautiful colours and patterns, giving you the exact look that you desire for your floors. At the same time, they do not require highly skilled labour or in-situ implementation, making them a convenient alternative to red oxide floors.

Red Oxide for the Terrace

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Potted plants add some charm to the overall look

If you think that red oxide floors can only be used within your home, think again! This timeless flooring style looks amazing in terraces, balconies and the porch. The endless red flooring coupled with some potted plants can transform the entire look of your outdoor spaces.

Red Oxide Flooring Cost

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Giving spaces an old-world charm

As we mentioned earlier, cost-wise, red oxide flooring is way cheaper than many other options. The cost ranges anywhere between ₹80 and 90 per square foot.

If colours and materials speak of an era, red oxide floors will transport you back to a time when great pride went into building homes. For this reason, several parts of South India, especially Kerala, coastal Karnataka and interior Tamil Nadu have seen an upsurge in the usage of oxides over the past decade. We expect this trend to continue as more people come to appreciate the true value of this humble material.

How Can Livspace Help You?

Want to hop on the red oxide flooring trend? Let Livspace help you. Book a consultation with our talented designers for quality and safe interiors. You can learn more about our COVID-19 protocols here.

Want to know more about flooring? Here are some suggestions:

12 Types of Flooring – Which is the Best Option for you?

8 Kinds of Kitchen Flooring for Any Home.

Write to us at editor@livspace.com