Here’s what you need to think about when choosing your kitchen floor
So you’ve decided to get a new kitchen installed!?! Your first thought is going to be “what floor do I put in my new kitchen?” To help you with this we’ve created our top 10 tips to choosing your kitchen floor.
First of all, you MUST measure your room BEFORE buying wood flooring or stone flooring. Then you’re good to follow these tips:
1. Stone or Wood?
With the choice of either natural stone or oak flooring, you have the option of hard wearing stone (child and dog proof) like our Cotswold Cream which will stand up to ‘anything’… or oak flooring, now boasting a platter of different styles and finishes from herringbone to aged and tumbled grey boards like Loft.
2. Underfloor Heating?
Stone or oak flooring, there is the option to install UFH. Electric UFH at a cost of around £65+vat per m2 installed is a great option for areas under 20m2, it will heat a room very nicely and eradicate the need for radiators, feeing up valuable wall space!
3. Installation
Whichever floor you choose, its really important to hire a professional to install your oak or stone.
We advise a specialist tiler for installing stone tiles. In terms of rough costs you’ll be looking at a fitting cost for stone tiles of around £35-£45 per m2.
A carpenter with experience will know how to lay oak flooring, but herringbone will require a specialist. For the rough costs of fitting oak flooring you’re looking at around £25-£35 per m2. Oiling may be extra if the boards are unfinished. Herringbone fitting can be £50 per m2 depending on size of herringbone.
Check their work and portfolio, if possible. Spending in excess of £5000 on your tiles and materials, you’ll want to know that your fitter has experience.
4. Grades
All flooring comes in grades.
1st grade
Is selected at the quarry/wood manufacturer for its consistency and quality. 1st grade will cost a little more but its worth the extra for the quality.
2nd grade
Will have imperfections and blemishes, seams and marks in the stone that may not be apparent on the website or showroom. ALWAYS ask the showroom ‘what grade is your stone?’. If it’s cheap, there will be a reason it’s cheap.
5. Budget
Choose a stone/oak that suits your budget but don’t be afraid to spend a little more to get something that will give your room the floor it deserves!
You’ll spend the money on this floor once so really go for something you’ll enjoy every time you enter your kitchen. It’s going to be the focus of the whole space and last a long time. Be brave and go for it!
6. Be adventurous
You may be planning a simple shaker style kitchen with slick lines and pale tones, so why not consider something wonderfully exciting for your floor?
Forget beige and cream this time, maybe go for something like marble or a wild limestone like Camila Grey, which has fossils and quartz in it!
Take some advice from your kitchen designer on being brave with your floor. It’ll be worth it!
7. Ask for advice
Knowledge is power they say. Ask for advice on every corner, and keep a little note book to write it all down.
Questions you could ask include:
- How was floor made?
- Where is it made?
- Is it FSC rated timber?
- Is it first or second grade stone?
- What is the wear layer of oak on the engineered board?
- Is the backing on the engineered board plywood or softwood? (plywood is good, softwood is cheap)
The more you learn about the floor you are considering the easier it will become to make a decision.
8. Plan ahead
Allow lots of time for your choosing your new floor.
Most projects will be around 6 weeks in the future from choosing a floor.
Things that may need to happen in the meantime are:
1. Floor screed drying time
If you have had a new UFH system installed, the screed will take a long time to dry! 1mm per day normally. No tiles or wood can be laid onto that floor until it’s fully dry, so allow lots of time.
2. Stock
If you choose a floor and your project is 6-8 weeks off laying, consider paying for the stone/oak and asking for it to be stored until you need it delivered.
This way it’s paid for and that’s one less thing for you to worry about. More importantly it’s ‘in stock’ for when you need it.
3. Book your installers
Get them booked in advance. They will get busy and won’t be available at the last minute. Allow 4-5 weeks in advance for good installers.
9. Use quality installers!
Always use a quality installer either supplied or recommended by your flooring supplier! We cannot stress this enough.
Your ‘builder’ may offer to lay your new stone/oak floor, but always question whether they have the expert experience to carry out the work.
Some builders will have the experience, however, there are expert floor fitters out there who only lay floors, they have all the specialist tools and kit for the job and in many cases years of experience.
Get references and ask to see their portfolio. Ask around too, your friends may have used someone locally.
Be sure you’l get the fit you want from the right installer.
10. Look after you floor
Your new floor is in and it looks fabulous!
Now you can enjoy your floor for years to come. As long as you look after it and take care of it.
Use stone floor cleaning products only for your floor, never use household cleaners that may have bleach in them. Visit www.extensive.co.uk for stone floor cleaning products and advice.
There are oak flooring cleaning kits around that are great and have mops and pads included. Bona and Osmo both produce kits.
Do shop around online.
11. “This one goes to 11!!!”
Oh, go on then!
As Spinal Tap said, “This one goes to 11!!!” Number 11, is simply to enjoy your floor!
Don’t get precious about it. It’s going to get a bit dirty, there will be a few little scratches here and there! Get it sealed properly, clean it well with stone floor cleaner and it will look great!
ENJOY IT!
What are your thoughts on these tips for choosing kitchen flooring?
Let us know in the comments! If you have questions please also ask those in the comments and we’ll get them answered for you.
Do you have a project you are looking to get help with? GET IN TOUCH with the Rock and Wood team today. We’re waiting to hear from you.
