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hen it comes to planning a new kitchen, cabinetry, worktops and appliances are often prioritised, but

selecting the right flooring – and having it installed properly – is equally important. A kitchen floor needs to be tough, hard-wearing and long-lasting, and of course, it’s also a design feature. There are plenty of options, each type with its unique characteristics. A natural stone floor should last a lifetime and acquire

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a lovely patina over time, but it’s much noisier than, say, man-made vinyl or rubber. Wood planks are a timeless classic and need regular maintenance, while tiled floors can offer huge variety but can be cold underfoot. If you have an open-plan scheme, you may want to use contrasting materials to define zones, or else use the same floor throughout for a seamless space. A qualified fitter can advise on suitable substrates, quantities and any special finishes or treatments that will extend your floor’s lifespan.

Add a sense of history and rich character with these handsculpted Pierre Du Mont flagstones. Priced around £594sq m, Paris Ceramics

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POPULAR OPTIONS Tiles

Ceramic designs are tough, hard-wearing and 100 per cent waterproof, while porcelain is denser, stronger and available in larger slabs with a crisp, square edge. Porcelain is also suitable for outdoors, making a seamless transition between indoors and out a possibility. Renewed interest in tiled flooring has led to a fresh wave of products, including impressive stone replicas, 3D-effect geometric patterns and French-style ceramics in chic, subdued shades. Wood-effect tiles are also on-trend, thanks to improved inkjetprinting technology, and the fact that they are cheaper, tougher and easier to keep clean than the real thing. Another emerging design is patchwork tiles (try Piazza Tiles and Mandarin Stone), which have distinct vintage overtones – great for giving definition to a dining area.

Wood

Timber flooring is timeless and luxurious and unlike most tiles and ceramics, wood has a natural warmth, making it comfortable underfoot. For the kitchen, experts recommend FSC-certified hardwoods such as oak, teak or iroko, properly sealed for a wear-resistant, smooth and easy-to-clean surface. Some

come presealed with a wax, oil or lacquer. A hardwood veneer is probably a better option for small, poorly ventilated and steamy kitchens. Looking almost identical to solid boards, a good-quality engineered floor is made up of a top and bottom layer and an inner section, with the grain running at right angles so it locks the natural movement of wood. It’s then topped in your timber of choice. ‘With engineered boards, the floor expands and contracts as a complete surface, making it more stable,’ explains Harvey Booth of Kährs. ‘Combined with a quality joint, this eliminates the risk of any gaps or problems associated with humidity.’ Just like solid wood, engineered boards can be sanded or stained. They tend to be less expensive, although a good-quality version may cost the same. A wood-laminate floor (MDF laminated with a photo of wood) is cheaper still.

Stone

Solid and tactile, natural stone floors are tough, won’t harbour dust and are easy to maintain. Limestone, slate, granite, sandstone, marble and travertine (a type of marble) come in many sizes, formats and finishes. A honed, matt finish will create an anti-slip surface, while

sealing. Some materials, such as terracotta, need to be waxed every six to 12 months.

Smooth flooring

Lightweight, warm and waterproof, vinyl is available in a wealth of colours and patterns in sheets or tiles (known as LVT or luxury vinyl tiles) that can be used to create an almost seamless surface. This tough, practical and relatively low-cost option is great for the kitchen. Be aware that there are different grades of vinyl – the thicker the ‘wear layer’, the more durable

‘SEEING A SMALL SAMPLE DOESN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY OF HOW YOUR WOOD FLOOR WILL LOOK. IT’S IMPORTANT TO ASK HOW LONG THE BOARDS WILL BE, WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF KNOTS AND IF SAP IS PRESENT IN THE BOARD – A GOOD-QUALITY FLOOR WILL HAVE NO SAP’ Adam Robertson, MD, Urbane Living a tumbled, antiqued effect is very popular at the moment. ‘The softer corners and slightly distressed faces of a tumbled finish are ideal for achieving a rustic look that only gets better with time,’ says Jo O’Grady, managing director of Stone Age. ‘In more contemporary homes, there’s an increase in demand for smooth, honed stone with sawn edges cut in big sizes. These larger-sized formats are a great choice if you want to create the illusion of more space.’ Limestone remains a firm favourite for the kitchen, be it a textured, creamy hue, a dappled dove grey or a beautiful handpainted design from Decorum Est. Less expensive stones from Egypt and Turkey are making their way onto the market, too. Underfloor heating systems can be fitted with stone flooring, which along with terracotta and slate, conducts heat incredibly well due to its dense composition. Nearly all natural stone floors will need two coats of

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and stain-resistant the floor. As a guideline, aim for a thickness of 0.5mm and above. A good-quality vinyl has a thickness of at least 2.5mm and is backed by a long guarantee. ‘LVT offers incredible realism, low maintenance and water resistance,’ says Philiep Caryn of Quick-Step. ‘Bigger kitchens will get away with more dramatic dark slate and wood effects, while smaller rooms are better off with lighter limestones to maximise the feeling of space.’ Linoleum is often confused with a synthetic vinyl but is, in fact, made from natural materials. It’s hygienic, easy to clean, warm and quiet underfoot, and doesn’t harbour dust mites, so it’s ideal for allergy sufferers. Panels and squares simply click together, and both vinyls and linos cost from around £35sq m. Rubber flooring is another option. It’s soft and warm, tough, practical, anti-slip and waterproof, and comes in strong, vivid and neutral colours.

THIS PAGE These vintage/encaustic-style ceramic tiles have a subtle riven texture for extra slip-resistance. Bristol floor tiles, 515 x 257mm, £15sq m, Tile Mountain OPPOSITE PAGE Cork floors are quiet, durable and eco-friendly, and this one from Urbane Living comes in a range of colours including Originals Dawn (shown), priced £34sq m. Fired Earth’s solid-oak parquetry planks in a Seashell finish (below left), around £75sq m, have been laid in a stylish herringbone pattern

Essential reclaimed oak light grey luxury vinyl from Quick-Step’s Livyn collection, £26.99sq m, replicates the look of real wood

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Advice | Finishes

CONTEMPORARY CHOICES Poured floors

Concrete surfaces are unashamedly industrial, but they’re also a practical option for the kitchen. A poured concrete floor creates a seamless finish and can be applied to almost any substrate and over underfloor heating. Steyson and White+Reid say their wet-cast concrete floors work best at 10cm thick and take three days to lay followed by a day of buffing and sealing. Floors are finished with a sanding or grinding machine for a smooth, flat surface, which is then sealed to prevent chips and scratches. If the natural grey of the concrete is too harsh, different colours and stains can be added to the material mix. Floors start from around £120sq m. A modern-day alternative is micro-top concrete, where a 3mm-thick layer of cement and polymers is trowelled on in multiple layers over the course of a few days, for a long-lasting and water-resistant finish. This thinner concrete overlay negates the need for digging a deep hole in the floor using heavy industrial equipment. The neutral base shade can be coloured and decorated with graphic stencils and metallic patterns, and even recoloured in the future

by sanding down the surface and applying a different pigment. Poured resin floors are even sleeker and look similar to concrete but are extremely durable, quiet and come in any shade. They are roughly 7-8mm deep and cost around £180sq m. Try Puur Floors, Senso and The Resin Floor Company.

Reclaimed materials

Salvaged flooring is having something of a moment, tapping into the modern trend for sustainability. Whether it’s oak beams recovered from old American barns or Burmese teak parquet reclaimed from the V&A, salvaged wood boards bear the unique marks of time. ‘You can’t get more green than buying reclaimed timber flooring,’ says Nick Newman of Lassco. ‘Salvage generally hasn’t travelled very far so it bears a comparatively tiny carbon footprint. It will have been sourced relatively locally, with the nails removed by us by hand. Reuse reduces landfill, while curbing the need to plunder the earth’s resources.’ Paris Ceramics has an extensive range of antique stone floors, from beautiful old flagstones reclaimed from grand properties in France

Resin floors are modern, seamless and hard-wearing. Prices range from £90 to £150sq m at The Resin Floor Co

and antique black and white marble tiles from manor houses throughout Europe to ancient Jerusalem stone up to 500 years old. Reclaimed and antique terracotta tiles will add interesting texture and colour, from pale honey and ochre to rich, earthy reds, and often with a marbled effect because of the mixture of clays. Terracotta should be sealed before and after grouting and finished with a wax polish. Regular waxing will enhance the natural colour and protect against staining.

‘MAKE SURE TILES ARE FITTED PROPERLY, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A COMPLEX PATTERN OR TOP-QUALITY DESIGN. ONCE LAID, MAINTENANCE ISN’T DIFFICULT, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO RESEARCH THE ONGOING NEEDS OF YOUR FLOORING PRIOR TO INSTALLATION’ Jenny Wasson, design coordinator, Original Style INSTALLATION Wood flooring

Luxury vinyl with a handcrafted feel in Stone (shown), Charcoal, Sage and Turquoise. Priced £42.95sq m, Neisha Crosland for Harvey Maria

For stockist details go to page 134

Solid wood floors expand in damp, humid conditions and shrink when the air becomes dry, so boards need to be acclimatised for at least 48 hours before fitting. They can be laid on existing floorboards or a concrete substrate as long as both are very flat, dry and free of any loose material. Solid wood can be difficult to fit well, so seek professional help for a perfect finish. Engineered boards usually have a tongue-andgroove design and click or glue into place to any dry and level subfloor – a DIYer should be able to install a 25sq m area within two days. A floating floor means only the boards are fixed together; a fixed floor is when they’re glued or nailed to the subfloor for more stability. The former is quicker to install but the latter remains stable in more demanding environments.

Stone flooring

This can be laid onto any subfloor. For concrete, apply the stone tiles directly onto the screed, checking you have a damp-proof membrane. If you’re laying onto a wooden floor, make sure boards are screwed correctly to the joists and there’s enough ventilation to prevent damp. And if floorboards are in poor condition, cover with large sheets of plywood or backerboard for extra stability. Stone floors need to be sealed by a specialist stone fixer and not a general builder. ‘Flooring should be fitted before the kitchen,’ advises Charles Margetts, manager of Martin Moore Stone. ‘This provides a level base for your new scheme and also means that if you decide to move the furniture in future, you won’t need to change the floor.’ Remove skirting boards, too – the extra effort will be worth it.

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