Flooring specialist

Flooring Specialists tend to get more work for kitchen flooring than any other room in the house.

Understandable - after all, the kitchen is usually the busiest room in the house.

Kitchen flooring has to be practical, easy to clean and hard wearing, yes, all the sensible things; but that doesn't mean it has to be boring and dull. Kitchens often perform a range of roles, sometimes a gateway to other rooms, sometimes joined to other rooms such as a dining room; but also as a general meet, greet, party and chill out room.

So careful planning is important; creating a cohesive finish. It's a good idea to choose your floor at the same time as your cabinetry, putting together a palette of colours and materials. You might choose neutral tiles in large formats, or those with pattern and texture to add a burst of colour to your kitchen flooring.

Stone or wood are popular choices. A current trend is 'mimica' porcelains, which re-create the look of natural materials. Advancements in digital imaging technology mean flooring which mimics the look of wood, stone, and even concrete can be produced, offering a more hardwearing, affordable option.

Things the flooring specialist will consider include:

What material to use

Your flooring specialist may recommend porcelain tiles because they are hard-wearing, waterproof, stain resistant and scratchproof, as well as easy to clean. Natural stone will last a lifetime if properly installed and treated, but it's porous and must be sealed. Solid and engineered wood floors are warm and offer character, but tend to be less durable (although solid floors can often be refinished).

Flooring specialists and underfloor heating

You will need to agree at early stage with your flooring specialist if you want underfloor heating. Generally, porcelain and stone tiles are fine with underfloor heating, but wood floors are not always suitable (wood generally prefers stable conditions). So talk this through with your flooring specialist, be clear on the costs and the implications for flooring materials.

Discuss patterns

Patterned and shaped tiles are useful to create zones like underneath tables. Natural colours and distressed looks are great for the vintage patchwork effect, while parquet patterns in stained and textured timbers are a modern take on this traditional and elegant floor.

Underneath the floor

The sub-floors need to be clean, dry, and level. Most suppliers recommend using an experienced flooring specialist, especially when working with natural stone.

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