An Introduction to Flooring Type
There are so many floors out there, and we understand that choosing the right one can seem overwhelming. That’s why, to help guide you through the process, we’ve created the easiest, clearest introduction to flooring on the internet!
The Room Compatibility Chart
First, let’s start with the room you’re covering. In practice, most floors can go in most rooms, but some need to be looked after more than others. To explain this, we’ve created the grid below. Simply pick your room(s) and see which floors are best for you!
Our Range Of Floors
Not sure which type of flooring is right for you? Read our guides to find out the key differences between each type of flooring.
Solid Wood Floors
Solid wood flooring is cut from a single, beautiful piece of timber. This makes for a pure, simple and authentic wooden floor. Because of their sensitivity to moisture and heat, they aren't suitable for every room but, given their ability to be sanded many times, they can last for generations.
Solid Wood Flooring Guide
We have a real soft-spot for solid wood flooring as it makes for a beautiful floor and is the most established and traditional option for your home. Solid wood boards are cut from a single piece of timber; there’s no construction involved and no layers – just a simple, solid piece of wood from top to bottom.
What makes solid wood such a good choice is its longevity. If it starts to suffer from wear and tear over the years it can just be sanded down and refinished to look as good as new. This handy process can be carried out many times, meaning solid wooden floors can last much longer than any other floor – generations longer, in some cases. Because of this quality, solid wood floors come with impressive warranties.
Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered wood flooring is made of layers. The top layer is a veneer of solid wood which gives you that authentic look and feel. The other layers are designed to resist changes in moisture and heat, which means you can lay these floors in nearly any room.
Engineered Wood Flooring Guide
We think engineered floors are the best thing to happen to flooring since sliced wood. Why? Well, engineered floors look and feel just like solid wood, but you can lay them in areas where solid wood can’t go – like kitchens, basements and conservatories. The clever people behind these floors have done this by making engineered flooring out of multiple layers.
The top layer is the fancy looking bit: a beautiful veneer of solid wood. It’s the bit you can feel and touch and it’s the most important choice to make when choosing your engineered floor.
The second layer is the clever bit: a strong, supportive layer that can be made of plywood, HDF or a soft wood. All three materials work the same, so all you need to know is that they prevent the top layer from warping.
This is then all finished off with a stabilizing back layer. The result? A floor which looks amazing but doesn’t buckle in areas of changing moisture.
Laminate Floors
Laminate flooring looks just like real wood or stone, but the image you see is actually a photo. This means that they can come in a wide range of visually stunning designs which can be shaped as planks or tiles. These floors are highly resistant to splashes and scratches which makes them fantastically versatile.
What's your ideal floor? If it's one that's strong, versatile, and really good looking, we know something that's right up your street - laminate flooring! We have put together everything you need to know about laminate flooring in our collection of guides. We cover what laminate flooring is, how to install it, how to maintain it and everything else in between.
Firstly, lets look at the basics...
What is Laminate Flooring Made Of?
Laminate flooring is made from High-Density Fireboard (HDF), covered with a high-definition photo and finished with a tough melamine wear layer.
Types of Laminate Flooring
Our laminate flooring is available in a wide range of effects. Popular effects include tile, natural oak and beveled edge. And styles include single plank and multi-strip laminates. There are thicknesses from 7mm to 12mm. Plus, a full range of colors and natural tones including white, grey, browns and black are available. So you're sure to find the perfect fit for your home.
The Benefits of Laminate in Your Home
The HDF is resistant to changes in temperature and moisture, the photo can replicate any flooring material, and the wear layer protects this flooring from scratches and dents. It's a pretty impressive combination which means you can lay laminate flooring in nearly any room in the house. And many laminate options are suitable for underfloor heating. Oh, and to show off, it's also really affordable.
Not sure which rooms are most suitable for laminate flooring? Check out our room suitability guide.
Laminate AC Ratings
Are you wondering how durable laminate flooring is? Laminate flooring toughness is measured with an AC rating which ranges from 1 to 5. AC1-AC2 rated floors are more suited to domestic settings. AC3-AC5 are more suitable for commercial areas. The more traffic your floor will experience, the higher the AC rating you should choose to ensure it is long-lasting. You can find the AC rating of each laminate flooring type on each product page.
What to Consider When Buying Laminate
How much traffic does your room endure? Look for laminate with a high AC rating for high traffic areas.
Quality – for long-lasting laminate, choose a high thickness.
The size of your space – to make a small room look larger, choose wide planks and lighter colours such as light, white and grey.
Interior design – ensure the color and effect you choose matches your walls and furniture.
Do you require underfloor heating? Most laminate is suitable for underfloor heating systems; check each product page for our "suitable with underfloor heating" certification.
Budget – depending on your budget we have affordable laminate for everyone.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Our vinyl flooring comes in the form of thick, luxury tiles. They are super tough and totally waterproof, meaning they can be laid in any room in the house. Like laminate, the top layer is a photo, giving you a huge choice over the look and style of your floor.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring is the strongman of the flooring world – there’s simply no floor as tough. But being tough doesn't stop it looking pretty: its photographic top layer can mimic a wide range of other materials, whether that’s wood, stone or ceramic.
LVT flooring is made from PVC, which is what gives it that extra strength. It's 100% waterproof, can be used with underfloor heating and has a tough scratch-resistant wear layer. Like we said, there’s no floor as tough!
The difference between LVT and normal vinyl is that they are sold as individual tiles – no need to mess around with those big, cumbersome sheets. This means that you can choose how you want to lay out your floor, giving you a wealth of design possibilities. If you fancy, you can combine two totally different styles of tile or customize them with feature strips (which create a grouting effect).