I and A Mag Oct19

Fab Floors
From traditional wooden boards to soft carpet, funky rubber to classic stone, flooring is
fundamental to the look and feel of a room.
What flooring where?
Flooring must be practical. For the hall and probably the
living room, too, the toughest, most durable flooring is best,
while a more delicate type will be fine in a spare bedroom.
For kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and conservatories,
consider how well it will withstand spills, splashes and general
humidity. Choose the right flooring for each space and it will
both look good and last.
Timber
Beautiful and hard-wearing, timber floorboards are available
in a range of colours and patterns. It is often possible to
recondition an existing wood floor by mending or replacing
damaged boards and sanding carefully, then finishing it with
oil, wax or lacquer. If not, choose new hardwood from an
environmentally friendly source or seek out recycled boards
from an architectural salvage yard – these have the advantage
of years of beautiful patina. Solid-wood engineered boards
are cross-bonded for stability (meaning they won’t warp or
move, which solid timber is prone to), making them a good
choice with underfloor heating, while cheaper, but less longlasting,
are either a multi-layered or veneered wood floor,
where the surface is a thin layer of hardwood attached to a
base of cheaper wood, MDF, cork or plywood, or a wood-effect
laminate floor, in which a photograph of wood is bonded to a
chipboard base and protected with a high-pressure laminate
surface.
Carpet
Soft, warm and quiet underfoot, carpet comes in two main
types: woven, which is harder-wearing and more
expensive, and tufted, the durability of which is
related to its pile height and density. Carpets are
classified for light, moderate, general, heavy and
extra-heavy domestic use. Select a tough carpet
for a hallway: perhaps an 80:20 (wool:nylon) twist
classified for heavy domestic, while for a living
room a combination of a luxury look with a robust
performance, such as a loop or velvet pile, would be
best. A spare bedroom carpet could be more delicate
– a velvet or Saxony classified for light domestic use,
for example. For a seamless look, lay carpet suitable
for general use throughout. Carpets are inadvisable
in kitchens and bathrooms.
Natural fibres
In a wide range of colours and weaves, sisal, coir,
seagrass, rush and jute are warm and soundproof
and, often, good value for money. The rougher the
surface, the more hard-wearing it will be – so sisal
and coir may feel uncomfortable underfoot at first.
Jute has the softest feel, but is the least durable. A
stain inhibitor is advisable.
Hard surfaces
Sandstone, limestone, granite, marble and terrazzo
are expensive floorings that last a lifetime and have
a beautiful, individual grain and patina. In areas that
might become wet and slippery choose a version that is matt
or slightly textured – sanded for a rough finish, or riven for an
attractive, hand-split effect. Ceramic tiles are heat- and waterresistant,
hard-wearing and low maintenance. They vary widely
in price and come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and designs.
Unglazed terracotta tiles (or quarry tiles) are rugged and nonslip.
Sheet flooring
Softer and warmer than stone or timber, sheet floor coverings
– vinyl, linoleum and cork – are relatively inexpensive and very
easy to clean. Lino is a traditional material made from natural
ingredients, while vinyl is a PVC-based man-made material,
which comes in a huge range of textures and patterns. Cork
is hard-wearing, resilient to water and offers an interesting,
natural look. Rubber, good-looking, practical and tactile, is
available in smooth or textured designs, the latter ideal for
bathrooms. Rubber floors should be laid professionally.
What Lies Beneath
The success of any flooring depends on the sub-floor
underneath. It must be level and dry, with no protruding nails.
A good quality underlay will prolong carpet life and add
comfort and insulation, while laying thin sheets of board may
be necessary to prepare for sheet flooring such as vinyl or
lino. Before laying heavy stone tiles, the sub-floor may need
reinforcing – check with your builder or a structural engineer if
in doubt. Tiles are best laid onto a smooth concrete or cementbased
backer board.
by Kathrine Sorrell
Image: Made from hard-wearing honed limestone, this tumbled stone creates a
modern rustic vibe, with fossilisation and markings adding to its look and feel. It can
be laid in all rooms and is suitable for use with underfloor heating. Tumbled Med-Grey
limestone, from £49.08 per square metre, Indigenous: 01993 824 200; indigenous.co.uk.
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