You’re absolutely right that flooring is a foundational element in any home’s interior design, significantly impacting both its aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. When building or renovating, taking the time to choose the right floor for each room’s specific needs and desired feel is crucial.
Here’s a breakdown of different flooring types, their characteristics, and functionality, drawing on the insights provided:
What You Should Know About Types of Flooring
The floor is a major part of your home and interior; it affects both the impression and feel of a room. So, if you’re building or refurbishing a house, it’s worth spending a little extra time finding the perfect floor. As well as looking good, a floor needs to have certain functions depending on the room. Read on for more information about different types of floors and their functionality.
Wood Floor and Parquet Floor
Wood floors are available in many beautiful species, including popular choices like oak, ash, birch, and walnut. Solid wood floors are renowned for their durability and exceptionally long lifespan, primarily because they can be sanded and refinished multiple times over decades, restoring their original beauty. Parquet floors, made from smaller pieces of wood arranged in patterns (like herringbone or chevron), also offer durability and the ability to be sanded, depending on the thickness of their surface layer.
You can lay wood floors in most parts of a house due to their durable characteristics and the warmth they bring to a space, both visually and to the touch, compared to many other materials. However, you should never lay wooden floors in bathrooms or areas with high moisture levels because the moisture will cause the wood to warp, swell, or discolour over time, leading to significant damage.
Laminate Flooring
Most laminate floors have a bottom layer made of wood fibres (such as high-density fibreboard) and a clear, durable plastic surface layer (the wear layer) over a printed decorative layer. These floors often feature mechanical click-lock joints, similar to some wood floors, which makes them relatively easy to lay for DIY enthusiasts. The surface layer is available in countless designs, often convincingly imitating natural wood or stone. Laminate flooring is generally durable and resistant to scratches, stains, and fading. However, since the surface layer is plastic, you cannot refinish it by sanding; any significant damage typically requires replacing the planks. It’s also important to note that while many modern laminates offer some water resistance, traditional laminates are still susceptible to water damage if moisture penetrates the core, causing swelling. Look for “waterproof” or “water-resistant” ranges specifically designed for kitchens and bathrooms.
Vinyl Flooring
Like laminate flooring, vinyl floors are available in many variations, from sheets to planks (LVP) and tiles (LVT). They have a similar layered construction, typically featuring a durable clear wear layer, a decor layer (with printed designs), a rigid or flexible vinyl core, and a backing layer, sometimes with a fibreglass reinforcement. Vinyl is known for being soft to the touch and effectively dampens sound, making it a great choice for noisy environments like children’s rooms or apartments. You can also find them in many kitchens and bathrooms, as they can withstand water and moisture very well, with many modern LVT products being fully waterproof.
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum floors are often made from renewable, natural materials like linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, cork dust, and mineral fillers, typically on a jute backing. This type of flooring is highly durable and eco-friendly. Like vinyl, linoleum is soft underfoot and possesses excellent sound-absorbing qualities. However, despite being relatively water-resistant, linoleum doesn’t typically suit persistently wet or moist environments where standing water is common, as prolonged exposure can cause issues if seams are not perfectly sealed or if the material’s surface isn’t properly maintained. It’s an excellent choice for general living areas, kitchens (with careful installation), and hallways.
Stone and Tile Flooring
Floors made from natural stone (such as marble, granite, or slate) and ceramic or porcelain tiles are exceptionally durable and hard-wearing. They are ideal for high-traffic areas and wet environments like bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways due to their inherent water resistance. If you choose a stone or tile floor, especially in colder climates like the UK, you should definitely consider installing underfloor heating. This is crucial because these materials retain cold well, making them feel quite chilly underfoot without heating. Some stone floors can be harder to keep free of stains, depending on their porosity and colour, requiring proper sealing and specific cleaning agents.
Textile Flooring (Carpet)
Textile floors, commonly known as carpeting, used to be a very common feature in UK homes. After a dip in popularity in favour of hard surfaces, they are on the rise again, with many people choosing to put carpeting in parts of their home, particularly bedrooms and living areas. These floors are soft, warm, and comfortable to walk on, and they effectively absorb sound, contributing to a quieter and cosier atmosphere. A significant drawback with textile floors is that they can be harder to clean than hard surfaces and attract dust, mites, and allergens, requiring regular and thorough vacuuming and professional cleaning. They are also unsuitable for wet areas.