Flooring Ideas For Your Home

Here, we look at some of the most popular types of flooring being chosen by homes today.

Carpets

What?

A popular option for bedrooms and living-rooms, carpets are still the top choice of flooring for most UK homes. 

Why?

They give a cosy and luxurious feel to the room, and have good sound and heat insulating properties.

How?

Carpets are available in a number of different materials including polyester, nylon, acrylic, and most expensively, wool, and with varying textures which increase or decrease the formality of the look. The nature of the material means that a huge selection of colours and patterns is on offer to the buyer, and a truly personalised and co-ordinated appearance can be created according to personal taste. 

Beware!

The downside of carpets is they can be especially subject to wear and tear, particularly where children or pets are involved! Carpet tiles are a relatively new offering and especially suitable for areas with high traffic or spillage as worn tiles can simply be replaced to maintain the overall look.

Underfloor heating

What?

This is a heating system installed neatly underneath a conventional floor that uses a combination of convected and radiant heat thus maintaining a comfortable and stable temperature throughout the room. Initially popular in bathrooms, this type of flooring is now found throughout the house and in extensions such as conservatories. 

Why?

A particular advantage of installing this in your home is the significant space-savings made. It removes the need to have radiators on the wall, freeing up more room for storage or wall displays. It is also very energy-efficient, making up to 15% savings on a typical conventional heating bill. Because of its design, the heat is emitted in a more even way, and the control system usually allows for adjustment of temperatures in individual rooms.

How?

It comes in two main types, electric mat, or hot-water systems. The latter uses heated water from the boiler which is channelled through water pipes laid into the floor. Although it is more disruptive and expensive to install, the running costs of the hot-water system are cheaper than for the electric system. The original underfloor heating system used electric cables embedded into the floor, and this has evolved into a design using roll mats meshed with electric heating elements that are simply laid under a conventional floor covering. These are connected to a power supply and thermostat.

Beware!

Check that you receive good advice regarding what floor type and insulation to use above the heating system.

Real wood flooring

What?

A beautiful and natural type of flooring, wooden floors work well in both contemporary and traditional homes, and are usually chosen for the kitchen and living-room areas.

Why?

Considered an investment for your home, real wood flooring lasts a long time, and grows old gracefully. It adds a unique and stylish look to any home.

How?

Typically supplied as long planks, this type of flooring is usually easy to install. Reclaimed wooden flooring is more of a challenge and specialist advice should be sought. A good selection of wood types is available depending on your taste and budget, including maple, oak, beech, and walnut. 

Beware!

Good on-going care will help maintain the longevity of your floors!