How to choose Hard flooring

Insight Be inspired by Katherine Cook’s stone and wood floors, and select one for your home

From timber, porcelain and tiles to stone, vinyl or concrete, hard flooring is a practical, stylish solution that can add character to your home. But there are several things to consider before taking the plunge.

Choose the right material

All flooring needs a strong, level subfloor, so if yours isn’t flat, you will need to use a levelling compound first. A kitchen floor needs to be tough, hardwearing and long-lasting, and also needs to work with the rest of the scheme. Natural stone, slate tiles or painted boards look great in classic kitchens, while matt porcelain tiles or engineered wood suit modern rooms. If your kitchen has an industrial feel, then poured, polished concrete or practical rubber are chic and unusual choices. A solid wood floor is naturally beautiful, but can swell and warp, so treat it well and choose a durable variety, such as bamboo. For flooring that can take spilt milk in its stride, the best options are porcelain and ceramic tiles or well-sealed stone. Engineered wood is pre-treated, rigid and a more forgiving surface for dropped plates, while luxury vinyl is easy to clean.

Added protection

Some sitting rooms and bedrooms still boast original wood flooring, which can be sanded to level it out and remove varnish. Be sure to treat boards with oil or lacquer after sanding.

For a bathroom, vinyl flooring is lowmaintenance and excellent value. Waterresistant and easy to clean, the latest luxury vinyl flooring also wins on style, effectively emulating natural materials, such as timber and stone. Buy the best you can afford and consider cushioned vinyl, which is softer underfoot and can still be used with underfloor heating.

Factor in fitting costs, including expenses for underlays, fixatives, grout and adhesive, as well as labour. Also make sure to buy the correct cleaning and protection products, and use a good quality wood-floor sealer in bathrooms.

expert eye ‘Limestone is good for a kitchen floor as it’s very hard-wearing and easy to clean. Natural stone flooring retains heat and will naturally adjust to the temperature of the room, but for added warmth, underfloor heating can be installed beneath the stone’ John Forde, beswick stone