I have been asked many times about the suitability of products for the home and where are they suitable for so I thought it would be a good time to write down my thoughts. We sell 5 product groups; Solid Wood, Engineered Wood, Laminate Flooring, Vinyl Tiles and Natural Carpets. The easiest way to explain it is, not to recommend what is suitable, but to recommend what isn't .... Ok, here goes.
Solid wooden flooring is as described and therefore is affected most by the condition it lives in. One important point to remember is wood and water aren't the best of companions. Strange to think that really if you consider every boat built before 1900 was made from wood, but never the less they're not. So we have to protect any solid wood flooring as best we can from moisture. Moisture can be absorbed from beneath or above the floor, so important considerations are, where in the home is it likely to be affected most. Kitchens and Bathrooms are the first thought, but I would actually promote installing solid wood in these areas. I myself have a wooden flooring in my own bathroom (even with two young children who seem to think that bath-time is both inside and outside the bath!) but you need to look after the flooring and be careful of moisture penetrating the floor from above, surface water from spills, hot running baths produce lots of airborne moisture so put the extractor on. The areas of most concern would be conservatories and basements as these areas are difficult to control the climate. Another NO NO is underfloor heating systems.............no matter what the underfloor heating guys tell you.
One of the huge advantages of an engineered floor is it's suitability. As a cross ply construction, when the boards try and move about (because of mositure) the layers pull against themselves therefore keeping the product more stable. As this product is that much more stable it is recommended for conservatories basements even over underfloor heating systems. The same rules apply for looking after your engineered wooden floor as with solid wood floors in these areas; remember the golden rule "wood and water don't mix"
Laminate Flooring is much the same as engineered wooden flooring very stable in all areas but as it has a HDF (High Density Fibre Board) which is made from wood pulp it will still expained if exposed to water. One thing to consider with a laminate floor, are the different grades of laminates available; from cheap as chips to good quality. In my opinion you get what you pay for in life, and this is true with the type of flooring. Please bear in mind that all our products are middle to top range floors and will as such, perform to that standard. Laminate floors were designed as a price-point product and should be considered as a price point alterntative to the real thing.
Vinyl Flooring is the exception to the rule for our products as it's not a natural product. Due to it's very construction it is 100% water proof. Therefore it's ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, wet rooms, poolside etc. In fact, it's suitable for any area of the home. I would however be careful if installing on a staircase as the vinyl tiles we sell aren't safety flooring.
And finally...Natural Carpets ... This product range is becoming more and more popular and I can see why. When installed in the right area it looks stunning. You do have to be selective on what type of carpet is suitable for where. I don't want to write a big long list for each product, but in general terms, Coir, Jute, Wool and Sisal are'nt suitable for bathrooms or kitchens. Seagrass & Mountain Grass are also not suitable for kitchen or bathrooms but the important one to aviod is the stairs as theis product can be slippery. Some Wool Boucles are also unsuitable for stairs as the weave opens up on the edge of the stair leaving an unattractive finish. The easiest way to make sure your natural carpet is suitable for your area is to check the particulars on the product before buying it.
I hope you find this information helpful in selecting your floor.
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