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The 16 Best Options for Flooring in the UK

July 5, 2019

Flooring is among the most important parts of interior design regardless if we’re talking about the look of a corporate office, warehouse, retail shop or your very own home. When choosing your flooring, it’s a must that you consider things like functionality, style, robustness, colour, size, and materials, to make sure that you aren’t just going for the practical option but the best one for your property.

Not sure which flooring option is the right one for you? Perhaps looking at the profile of these flooring experts will spark ideas on the best type of flooring for you.

Real home: a 1930s semi redesigned for open-plan family living | Real Homes

Real home: a 1930s semi redesigned for open-plan family living | Real Homes

Fantatic review from Amanda and Lee Nicholson

Real home: a 1930s semi redesigned for open-plan family living

Turning several rooms into one big space has unlocked the potential of Amanda and Lee Nicholson's home

(Image credit: Katie Lee)BY KAREN WILSON3 DAYS AGO

Knocking several rooms together rather than extending is one of those satisfying home improvements that gives you the most bang for your buck – as first-time buyers Amanda and Lee discovered. 

The couple have transformed the three-bedroom 1930s semi they bought in 2013 simply by opening up the reception room, galley kitchen and dining room at the rear. They’ve also gained two separate cosy snug spaces by converting the garage into a cinema room and erecting a wall between the front lounge and rear reception room.

Read on to discover how Amanda transformed her home. Need more renovation inspiration? Check out all our real home transformations, and read our guide on renovating a house, too, for more guidance.

Dining table, Habitat. For similar replica DSW Eiffel chairs, try Swivel UK. For a similar ceiling light, try the Sputnik chandelier from Beautiful Halo. Max Wanger screensaver print, Design Love Fest

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

Although Amanda splashed out on worktops, taps and bi-fold doors, she’s saved a bundle by upcycling furniture, finding Ebay bargains, downloading free artwork and buying replica design classics. Making things look more expensive than they are – for instance, by adding skirting boards to Ikea bookcases – adds a designer feel on a budget.

Kitchen units, Richard & Richards of Stockport. Lagoon Silestone worktops, Cosentino. Norman Cherner-style stools, Swivel UK. Oak laminate flooring, RGN Flooring Supplies. Oven, Neff. Border #8 print by Michael Rovner, free download from The Metropolitan Museum

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

'After viewing 28 properties in a week, this house really stood out. It had been extended and we knew it could be knocked through to make a fantastic open-plan space. We decorated when we first moved in, but we had to save up for a few years before tackling the big ticket structural work. 

'Originally we were only going to knock down one wall between the galley kitchen and dining room, but the longer we lived here we realised it would make sense to knock all three rooms together at the back.'

'We considered lots of different layouts to fit in a kitchen island, dining table and seating area. After getting three quotes from builders that friends had used, we hired 9Point8 Construction for the three-and-a-half month project and chose a simple light gloss handleless kitchen.

'We went slightly over budget because I wanted quartz worktops with a particular graining that looks like Carrara marble. The samples were too small to get the full effect, so we even visited the Cosentino factory in Manchester to see the large slabs before they were cut.

'One of the kitchen walls is slightly diagonal and I was concerned that engineered oak planks would emphasise the odd angle. After several sleepless nights, I decided a herringbone design would disguise it. It’s now one of my favourite things about the kitchen.'

Try the tasselled hairpin bench, Cox & Cox, for a similar look. Sofa, Sofology. Rug, La Redoute. Floor lamp, Ikea. Check throw, HomeSense

'My gallery wall features lots of bargain artwork that’s free or low cost. Some pieces are from charity shops or car boot sales, mixed in with posters from online retailers like Desenio. I love using postcards or vinyl LPs – like the floral picture, which is a New Order album cover. Having one or two colours that tie the art together creates a consistent thread – I’ve gone for pink and blue – and different coloured frames makes sure it’s not overly uniform. 

'This room features my favourite thing in the whole house – a replica Sputnik light I bought on Ebay. It’s a place holder until I win the lottery and can buy an original!'

Bookcase and pouffe, Ikea. Striped cushion, Zara Home. Floor lamp, HomeSense. Rug, Next

'Because we have bi-fold doors by the kitchen, we didn’t need another access point to the garden so we decided to replace the two old aluminium patio doors with one big square picture window. It gives a lovely view of the garden, which we worked so hard on last summer. We finished it all just in time for my 40th birthday party.

'There are a few upcycled pieces here. The sideboard from Ebay was painted white and I made the DIY coffee table from wood covered with foam and leather, then finished with hairpin legs from Amazon.

'I’m a real advocate for standard white paint so I’ve gone for Dulux Brilliant White everywhere. People worry about how paint will work with different light in different rooms, but I’ve never found that to be an issue. It never looks cold if you layer it with lots of soft furnishings, artwork and plants.'

Desk, Dwell. Blind, John Lewis & Partners. Rug, Benuta. For a similar chair, try the Pia armchair, Tikamoon

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

'The front living room used to be open to the reception room at the rear, but we felt it was a good idea to have a separate living space. In reality though, this room gets used less because we live in the new family kitchen-diner most of the time. To make it more useable, we replaced the dividing wall with Crittall-style windows so it feels more open plan but is still separate. 

'I love the Ikea bookcase my dad fitted across one wall. 

We added skirting boards along the bottom so it looks like a bespoke design. The Ercol chair is one of a pair that I’ve revamped with black paint on the woodwork and grey upholstery.'

Throw, BHS. Curtains, Next. Picture frames (spray painted in brass), Ikea. Bedside tables, Habitat. Lamps, HomeSense. For a similar bed, try Made.com

'Because I sometimes work from home, I wanted a nice light, bright feel in the front bedroom with an elegant look. It’s quite a small room so the rug almost fills it and feels like a luxurious carpet. 

'I can’t resist adding my own twist to things, so I put blue velvet trim on the blind, painted a unit behind the door and spray painted the chair, which I bought on Ebay. 

'I’m also a big lover of second hand bargains. The lamp is from a charity shop and so are three pictures from a Mark Rothko art book, which I put in Wilko frames and hung up opposite this desk.'

Walls painted in Chic Shadow, Dulux. Bed, Beds.co.uk. Bedside table, Sostrene Grene. Neon heart light, Trouva. String lights, Tesco. Cushions, H&M Home and Oliver Bonas. Bedside lamp, HomeSense

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

'The master bedroom has been redecorated four times; it’s been dark grey, light grey, pinky grey and now it’s white. Although I like grey and navy walls in other people’s house, it’s just not me. I wanted an elegant, sophisticated and luxurious look in here, so the white backdrop with muted tones works well. It’s less colourful than elsewhere in the house – it feels like a separate, very restful space of our own.

'I’ve got a thing about black doors so I painted the white door to fit with the tone of the room, and I added a cover to hide the wonky radiator – which gives another surface to style up. The art above the bed is actually postcards from a museum we visited in Palma when on holiday.

'Some items are homemade or upcycled, like the dressing table from Ebay that I painted and revamped with handles from Zara, and the headboard I made with wood cut into five pieces and covered with wadding and velvet. An electric staple gun is absolutely key, otherwise you end up breaking your hands using a manual one!'

'Ava was only five when we moved in so her bedroom was painted pink and then mint green with dotted wallpaper. Now she’s 12 and wanted a new look. She has strong opinions on what she wants – namely dark grey and not too much colour. 

'I’ll admit I found it a bit of a challenge having to consult with someone. Lee always trusts my judgement so I’m normally used to doing my own thing!

'Ava choose all the artwork in her room herself. Some is from Desenio and I did the typography on Canva.'

Engineered wood flooring plywood backing info

About Engineered Real Wood Flooring

The usual questions are asked by customers about the Plywood backing when buying an Engineered wood floor

Questions...
How long has it been around?
What is it?
What is the difference?

How long has it been around?
To start off I have to make it very clear, Plywood has been used for 1000's of years and if it isn't broke then why fix it?? 

• Archeologists have found traces of laminated wood in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.
• A thousand years ago, the Chinese shaved wood and glued it together for use in furniture. 
• The English and French are reported to have worked wood on the general principle of plywood in the 17th and 18th centuries. 
• Historians credit Czarist Russia for having made forms of plywood prior to the 20th century as well. 
• Early modern-era plywood was typically made from decorative hardwoods and most commonly used in the manufacture of household items, such as cabinets, chests, desk tops and doors. Construction plywood made from softwood species did not appear on the scene until the 20th century.

The findings from Archeologists and Historians shows that the use of plywood and wood veneers in household items dates back to Ancient Egypt/China, which considering Solid Wood floors only really started to appear in the middle ages (History of Solid Wood Flooring) these findings show veneered plywood was and always has been the more superior product to use in manufacturing/construction.

What is it?

Generally an engineered real wood flooring has 2 kinds of plywood structure:

1. 3-layer. (3-ply)
2. Multi-ply (Multi-layer)

3-layer Engineered Flooring is construction with grains running in different directions reduces the natural swelling and shrinking of the wood. The Surface layer Veneer/Lamella is usually 3-4mm sawn cut Premium Hardwood, with 9mm cross structure softwood pine and 2mm Back face poplar to achieve both Economy and Stability for the Engineered Flooring.
With 3-layer flooring, the veneer can not be very thick or very thin. If the veneer is thick, the bottom softwood may not able to hold it well so the floor is very easy to get bowed or warping. If the veneer is very thin, as the middle layer base is in “cross-direction” of the Top veneer, It’s easy to see “horizontal lines” on the surface.

3 layer (3-ply) engineered wood

Multi-Ply Engineered wood flooring is made up with 3-6mm Hardwood veneer + quality plywood structure. 

The plywood is normally cross structure with 1.5mm thick of each ply in odd number (5 layer, 7 layer or 9 layers.) and with the back layer same grain direction to the Hardwood veneer/lamellas.

Multi-Ply (Multi-layer)

Whats the difference?

Both Multi-ply and 3-layer can achieve many different specification of flooring,  but, Multi-ply is far more stable and can support thicker/thinner and small/larger sizes. 3-layer flooring can only achieve a small range of sizes.

As long as the correct ply is used is the correct way both are suitable.

Structure	Length	Width	Thickness	Veneer
Multi-ply	300-3000mm	70-400mm	10,12,14,15,18,21mm	0.6-6mm
3-layer	300-1900mm	90-190mm	14,15mm	3-4mm

Parador Wood Flooring

Parador combines art of living with performance demand. For us, the art of living is an appreciation of beauty and to create inspiration out of it at any moment in time. Performance is a permanent feature of our life. Day after day, we demand performance. Delivering daily performance requires solid ground beneath our feet.t



Our val­ues
We have developed a value compass that guides us through all our decisions. It determines how Parador acts and gives what we do a sense of reliability. This applies to our company and our products – from the inspiration and the design through to the materials used. Many people love and feel the inspiration behind products. That is why we invest a lot of energy to create new possibilities and realise convincing products. Inspiring developments from the world of architecture and interior design prompt our product develops and designers to repeatedly come up with new ideas. The collaboration with outstanding personalities from the international design scene also contributes to the design variety of Parador floors, which puts the focus on the person and his ideas. Yet Parador's claim as a creative leader would not be a reality without our uncompromising perfection in production. Parador products are distinguished by a functional layer composition and intelligent technology; attention to detail, inventiveness and a willingness to develop go hand in hand with their manufacture. The result is floors and panels made of high quality and recyclable materials for a pleasant indoor climate, which delight demanding customers.

Design & In­spir­a­tion

      
For us, design is an expression of personality: it places the focus on individualism and independent ideas. Imaginative graphic motifs and decors open up an unlimited scope for creativity with uncompromising production perfection. Our internal design team and the collaboration with outstanding personalities from the international design scene are a guarantee of this scope. The result is convincing and unusual products that underline Parador's claim as a creative leader.

Many people love and feel the inspiration behind products. That is why we expand energy and commitment to create new possibilities and realise convincing products. Developments from architecture and interior design that provide impetus, a feel for trends, stimuli from lifestyle, handcraft and art repeatedly inspire our product developers and designers to come up with new ideas. This is how creative design, installation patterns and finishes emerge, which allow our products to become trendsetters in flooring design.

Unifloor products available from RGN Flooring Supplies Ltd

Jumpax Original

Jumpax^® Original, is a unique acoustic fast-track sub floor preparation system for the immediate glue-down of all resilient floorings, such as sheet vinyl, LVT´s , linoleum, cork, rubber, but also carpet and carpet tiles.

This exceptional product is only 10mm thick, and produces a highly professional smooth finish over a very short period of time. The two self-adhesive components are quickly and easily laid as a free-floating sub-floor, instantly smoothing over typical irregularities.

The acoustic performance in combination with any resilient floor covering is outstanding! Impact sound reduction figures as from 21 dB DL_w and higher are easily accomplished with any type of resilient floor covering bonded onto Jumpax^® Original.

EcoPearls

EcoPearls general purpose levelling grain, is an ecological dry building material, used to fill up cavities and to level out all types of problematic surfaces. It also offers excellent acoustics and thermal insulation properties. 

Besides its fantastic levelling properties and abilities to easily cover pipes and other feed lines, it also offers utmost stability. EcoPearls is environmentally-friendly, most easy to use and compacts down well.

Paladin 4 mm

Paladin® is an acoustic and stabile under flooring pad. With its limited thickness of only 4 mm, it is ideal for the floating installation of laminates, solid planks and engineered wood flooring.

Paladin® is made from pure wood leavings and is therefore absolutely friendly to the environment.
Because of it low TOG of only 0,7, Paladin^® is most suitable to be used over floor heating.

PE-Foil 200 Micron

Polyethylene moisture resistant membrane 200 micron

Thanks to its excellent waterproof character, polyethylene separation membrane with a thickness of 200 microns is most suitable for floor-making companies for use as a moisture barrier under floating floors. Other possible applications include anhydrite and foam-concrete floors in industrial buildings. Due to its multi-purpose character it can be used also in the building industry as a covering membrane, or in gardening for membrane tunnels.