If you are looking to install new flooring in your home or commercial premises, finding the right material to fit your needs, budgets and requirements is an important part of the renovation planning process. To help you find a solution that is both practical, durable and goes well with your interior design ideas, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 most popular types of flooring materials you should consider for your project. With the pros and cons to weigh, as well as a number of other deciding factors discussed, this handy guide is all you need to make an informed decision on the right flooring material to add to your shopping list. Read along to get started.
Choosing The Best Type of Flooring For Different Spaces
When you are trying to decide what are the best types of flooring materials, you should always take into account the space where you’ll like the new floor installed. Based on the different ways a room is used, the selection of the best flooring materials will vary.
The Best Flooring for Your Home By Room
Your domestic flooring choices are defined by the requirements of each space, so for a quick list, here are the most popular choices by room:
- Bedroom: With comfort and style being the leading factors for bedroom flooring, carpet is the frontrunner with wood, vinyl or laminate amongst the rest of the favourites
- Kitchen: When it comes to the kitchen, you need a flooring material that is easy to clean and can handle the occasional water spill, so vinyl, tiles and laminate are all good options
- Living Room: The living room is an extremely versatile space, so you can go for all types of flooring, as long as they match your vision for the decor and atmosphere of your home
- Stairs and Landings: Carpet is the UK’s most popular choice for staircases, as harder materials produce a lot more noise when walked on, which is something you probably want to avoid at home, especially if you have a big family
- Bathroom: Bathrooms are particularly wet and damp, so carpets and timber can become hard to maintain and clean, sustaining damage over time. This is why your best choice of flooring is tiles or vinyl as they both do very well in wet conditions.
The Best Flooring for Your Business
Commercial flooring is different from residential flooring as it is exposed to much heavier foot traffic and sometimes includes the use of moving machinery, so it has to be heavy-duty with enhanced durability qualities. Also, the ease of maintenance is important, as cleaning a commercial property can be more challenging too. Some of the best types of flooring for commercial properties are:
- Vinyl: Resilient to foot traffic, hygienic and easy to clean, and famous for its durability, vinyl is the perfect flooring solution for a commercial environment, whether that’s a hospital or a shop floor
- Commercial Carpet Tiles: Carpet tiling offers you the great aesthetic of a beautiful carpet without the wastage caused by trying to fit large rolls of carpet over oddly shaped spaces and raised floors. Also, carpet tiles are better for long-term maintenance, as they are easier to replace if damage occurs in specific areas
- Safety Flooring: If your workplace is exposed to risk factors, such as slips and falls, you should definitely consider special safety flooring. Usually made of rubber or vinyl, it offers better slip resistance and lasts longer
10 Best Types of Flooring Materials in the UK
When it comes to types of flooring materials, there are some well-known favourites that you can come across in millions of UK properties. Below we’ll take a peek at some of the most common ones and we’ll discuss what makes them great, as well as any considerations you should keep in mind when making your final decision.
1. Timber (Solid and Engineered Wood)
A wooden floor provides a classic look to any space, bringing about a cosy, rustic atmosphere to any room. However, you should always take into consideration the fact that timber is prone to water damage, so it shouldn’t be used in wet areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens. You can choose between solid wood flooring where each floorboard is made of a single piece of wood or engineered hardwood flooring where each board is created by glueing together several layers of laminated timber. Solid wood flooring is an expensive material but it is durable and has the potential to raise the value of your property. It also helps keep warmer temperatures in the room, as it has good insulation qualities. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is better for DIY enthusiasts as it’s cheaper and easier to install, but it isn’t as long-lasting as real wood, it can’t be refinished multiple times and it sounds hollow when walked on, which can be off-putting for some homeowners.
2. Carpet
Carpets are part of the traditional look of the British home and there is a good reason why. Made of various types of carpet pile, such as wool, nylon or polyester, carpet flooring has both sound and heat insulating properties, which results in a warmer home, both in look and temperature. All carpets are made of an upper layer of pile and a bottom layer of carpet backing but there is a wide variety of styles, textures and colours to choose from. Selecting the right type of carpet will be an entirely separate buying decision you will have to make. As with any type of flooring material, carpet has its cons too. Carpets can be notoriously hard to clean and maintain, as they are prone to stains and dust, as well as water and damp damage.
3. Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is one of the most practical flooring solutions you can choose as it’s inexpensive and easy to install, as well as easy to clean and water-resistant. It’s fixed to the floor using glue and can be both in tiles or rolls, depending on the requirements of your project. With an endless range of colours and styles to choose from, vinyl allows you to get creative with the look of your home. You could even choose variations that resemble tiles, stone or wood to have the aesthetic of another material with the properties of vinyl. Being a preferred DIY solution, vinyl flooring isn’t as desirable as wood flooring when it comes to selling your property. So, if you are looking to increase the value of your house, it’s not going to bring you the same ROI you may hope for.
4. Laminate
Laminate flooring is a cost-effective and practical flooring solution. Made of compressed fibreboard planks, a laminated floor is easy to install and maintain. One of its main advantages is that it’s incredibly resistant to scratching, which makes it a good choice for corridors and other areas that are heavily trafficked. Laminate also gives you plenty of options when it comes to the finish, as it is usually designed to imitate the look of natural flooring. However, as durable as it may be, most laminate flooring isn’t waterproof and it is susceptible to water damage if the base layer gets wet. Also, walking on laminate produces a hollow sound which may sound plastic-y – something you won’t experience with solid wood, for example. And one last thing to consider with laminate is that it can get rather slippery when wet, so it’s probably not the best option for kitchens or bathrooms.
5. Tiles
It comes as no surprise that tiles are arguably the most popular type of flooring material for bathrooms and kitchens. Hardwearing and waterproof by nature, they are the ideal choice for wet environments. They are easy to clean and difficult to damage once installed, so once you’ve picked your favourite look and style, you can enjoy them for a long time. On the downside, porcelain and ceramic tiles can be difficult to install, especially, if you have no experience. There is a lot of prep work required, plus, the tiles can break, chip or crack during the process, so you may face some wastage. That, combined with the fact that tiles are not the cheapest material, is something to consider when planning your costs.
6. Natural Stone
Natural stone flooring, such as marble, granite, marble and sandstone, despite technically being a type of tiling, deserves its own section, as it’s quite different from porcelain or ceramic tiles. Stone is a higher-end option that comes with a hefty price tag but also offers a more sophisticated aesthetic and can increase the value of your home. Apart from the cost, the cons of using natural stone are the same as those of cheaper tiling – it’s hard to install and it can keep your floor cold, so you should take the climate into consideration. Stone is also harder to maintain but it compensates in style.
7. Cork
If you are looking for a warm, flexible, water-resistant type of flooring material, cork is definitely one to consider. It’s practical for usage in wet, damp spaces, such as bathrooms and basements. Plus, cork is a renewable material, so it’s good for those who would like to reduce their environmental footprint. In terms of the visual aspect, cork has a similar warm appeal to wood. It’s also inexpensive, as well as a good sound and fire-proofing solution, so it’s a winner all around. The downside of cork is that much like carpets, it’s prone to wear and tear. Furniture and other objects are likely to leave an imprint on the floor.
8. Bamboo
Speaking of renewable materials and environmentally-friendly flooring options, bamboo is the next item on our list. As a fast-growing plant, bamboo is a lot more sustainable than solid wood but has the same aesthetic properties, so it’s a wonderful alternative choice to look into if you like the classic wooden floor look. However, similar to wood, bamboo isn’t the cheapest material on the market, so if you are working on a tight budget, it might not be the best choice for you. Plus, bamboo should be kept away from wet areas, as it’s susceptible to water damage, such as swelling and cupping.
9. Poured Floors
There are many poured flooring options available, ranging from concrete and poured resin to asphalt and polymer. These are most commonly used in commercial properties as they are durable and highly waterproof. In terms of home applications, poured flooring isn’t as widely spread as most of the other types of flooring material on this list. Traditionally, people would only consider concrete floors in their home garage or the basement. However, nowadays, with the rising popularity of modernist interior design, the smooth, durable features of poured floors have been introduced in other areas of the house, such as the living room or the kitchen. Bear in mind though, that pouring liquid flooring can be expensive and time-consuming. Also, you are likely to need a professional’s touch to get the finish as smooth as possible.
10. Rubber
Rubber flooring also comes in at the more unconventional end of the flooring options range when it comes to domestic installations. Due to its practicality and durability, rubber is a common choice for restaurants, dance floors and other public areas that see a lot of foot traffic. However, homeowners have also begun to look at rubber flooring because of these same reasons. In addition to that, rubber has excellent soundproofing qualities which makes it an awesome choice for a kid’s playroom, for example. That being said, rubber flooring, whether it’s made of natural, synthetic or recycled rubber, is prone to staining, especially when oils are involved, so it’s best to stay away from it if you’re looking to improve your kitchen.
5 Tips for Choosing the Right Type of Flooring
Now that we’ve looked at some of the most popular types of flooring you can choose from, here are 5 tips on how to choose the right solution for your building project:
- Stay Stylish: The look of your floor can completely change the atmosphere of the room it’s in, so you should consider the overall style of your interior design to ensure everything matches
- Know Your Budget: Flooring can be expensive, so once you know what you want your space to look like, it’s important to investigate the cost of different flooring materials before making your final choice
- Location Matters: Never forget to weigh the pros and cons of each flooring material in the context of the room it will be used in
- Consider Your Skill Set: Are you a DIY type of person or would you rather have a professional take care of your floor? Some materials are easier to install and maintain than others, so if you are not particularly handy, you may want to consider those.
- Never Buy Before You Test: To make sure you are happy with the look and feel of the flooring material you’ve chosen, or if you’re in-between options, the best way to go about this is to get flooring samples and see what really fits your space
Move Flooring Orders with Confidence
Whether your customers choose carpet, vinyl, laminate, tiles, or commercial flooring, dependable delivery plays a major role in the service they receive from your business.
ADP Distribution supports flooring retailers with transport between warehouses, retail sites, and customer properties across the UK and mainland Europe.
Alongside distribution, we provide warehousing and fulfilment services, giving you a practical logistics partner who can help keep varied flooring ranges organised, available, and ready for delivery.
