Choosing a new floor can completely change the appearance of a room, but the visible finish is only part of the story.

Whether you are considering timber flooring, luxury vinyl tile, carpet, vinyl, lino or tiles, the quality of the finished floor depends heavily on what is underneath it.

At Calico, we look at flooring as part of the wider room or renovation rather than simply arriving at the end of the project to cover the existing floor.

That means considering the subfloor, finished floor height, moisture, insulation, thresholds, door clearances and any underfloor heating before the final flooring is installed.

What Types of Flooring Are Available?

There is no single flooring material that is right for every room.

The best choice depends on how the space is used, the condition and construction of the existing floor, the appearance you want and the amount of maintenance you are comfortable with.

Timber Flooring

Timber flooring can bring warmth and character into a property and works particularly well where the floor is intended to become part of the overall interior design.

Depending on the product and the room, options can include solid timber or engineered timber flooring.

Solid Timber Flooring

Solid timber flooring is manufactured from a single piece of timber.

It can create a traditional and substantial appearance and may be suitable in certain areas of the home where the subfloor and environmental conditions are appropriate.

As with any natural material, movement needs to be considered. Humidity, temperature and the underlying floor construction can all influence how timber behaves.

Engineered Timber Flooring

Engineered timber uses layers beneath a real timber surface.

This construction can provide greater dimensional stability than some solid timber products and makes engineered timber a popular option for many renovation projects.

The exact installation method depends on the flooring system and the subfloor beneath it.

Carpet

Carpet remains one of the most comfortable flooring options for bedrooms, lounges, stairs and other areas where warmth and softness are important.

It can also help reduce noise compared with harder floor finishes.

The quality of the underlay and condition of the floor beneath the carpet can make a considerable difference to the finished result.

Loose floorboards, uneven areas and damaged subfloors should ideally be addressed before the carpet is fitted.

What Is LVT Flooring?

LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile.

It is a popular flooring option because it can replicate the appearance of timber, stone and other materials while providing a practical and relatively easy-to-maintain surface.

Click LVT

Click LVT uses interlocking edges that allow the flooring sections to connect together.

It is often installed as a floating floor over an appropriate prepared subfloor and suitable underlay where required by the flooring manufacturer.

One advantage is that the flooring does not normally need to be individually glued to the subfloor.

However, that does not mean floor preparation can be ignored. An uneven floor underneath can still cause movement, poor joints or problems with the finished surface.

Glue-Down LVT

Glue-down LVT is adhered directly to the prepared floor beneath it.

This can create a very solid finished surface and can be particularly useful in certain rooms or larger areas.

The quality of the subfloor preparation is especially important with glue-down flooring.

Small imperfections beneath thin floor coverings can become visible through the finished surface, so the underlying floor may require levelling or preparation before installation.

Vinyl Flooring

Sheet vinyl can provide a practical floor finish for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and other areas where an easy-to-clean surface is useful.

There are many different qualities and styles available, ranging from simple practical flooring through to products designed to reproduce timber, stone or patterned finishes.

As with LVT, the subfloor needs to be sufficiently smooth and stable for the product being installed.

Lino Flooring

Linoleum, often shortened to lino, is sometimes confused with vinyl but is a different type of flooring material.

It has been used in homes for many years and can provide a durable and practical floor covering.

The exact installation requirements depend on the product, but good preparation underneath remains important.

Ceramic & Porcelain Floor Tiles

Floor tiles can work particularly well in:

• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Hallways
• Utility rooms
• Extensions
• Open-plan spaces

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are available in an enormous range of sizes, colours and finishes.

Porcelain tiles tend to be denser than many ceramic tiles and are commonly used where a hard-wearing floor finish is wanted.

The surface underneath needs to be suitable for tiling and sufficiently stable.

Movement in the subfloor can cause problems later, so timber floors may require appropriate preparation before tiles are installed.

Concrete Floors

Concrete floors are common on ground floors, extensions and newer properties.

Before installing flooring, the surface may need to be checked for:

• Level
• Cracks
• Loose areas
• Contamination
• Moisture
• General surface condition

Depending on the flooring being installed, preparation may involve repairs, smoothing or a levelling compound.

Moisture can be particularly important because some floor finishes and adhesives can be affected if the concrete has not adequately dried or has an underlying damp issue.

Screeded Floors

Screed is often installed over a structural floor to create a suitable surface for the finished flooring.

It may also form part of an underfloor heating installation.

As with concrete, it needs to be sufficiently dry and suitable for the flooring product being installed.

The finished level should ideally be considered before the rest of the room is completed.

Traditional Timber Floorboards

Older properties frequently have traditional timber floorboards.

These can provide a perfectly good base, but they need to be secure.

Loose or damaged boards can create movement and noise beneath the finished floor.

Depending on the flooring being installed, preparation may include:

• Securing loose boards
• Replacing damaged timber
• Local repairs
• Adding a suitable plywood overlay
• Addressing excessive movement

Chipboard Floors

Chipboard flooring is common in many modern homes and loft conversions.

It can provide a suitable base for various floor finishes when it is correctly installed and in good condition.

Loose joints, damaged sections or movement should be addressed before the finished floor is installed.

The required preparation will depend on the flooring product going over it.

Plywood Floor Preparation

Plywood can sometimes be used to create a smoother, more consistent surface over existing timber floors.

This can be particularly useful where the final floor covering requires a flatter or more uniform substrate.

The thickness and installation method need to suit the existing floor and the finished flooring system.

Why Floor Levelling Matters

An uneven floor may not seem significant when the room is empty.

Once flooring is installed, however, variations can become much more noticeable.

Depending on the product, an uneven floor can contribute to:

• Visible dips or humps
• Movement
• Poorly fitting joints
• Hollow areas
• Uneven thresholds
• Problems with doors and furniture

Levelling the floor beforehand can make a major difference to the finished appearance.

Finished Floor Height

Floor height is one of those details that is easy to overlook until the project is almost finished.

Different flooring systems can add very different amounts of height.

The total build-up might include:

• Insulation
• Underfloor heating
• Screed
• Plywood
• Underlay
• Adhesive
• The finished flooring itself

If this is not considered early, you can end up with awkward transitions between rooms.

Floor height can affect:

• Internal doors
• External doors
• Thresholds
• Skirting boards
• Kitchen plinths
• Staircases
• Fitted furniture

Flooring & Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating can work with a wide range of floor finishes, but the flooring needs to be appropriate for the heating system.

The floor covering, underlay, adhesives and total floor build-up can all affect how efficiently heat reaches the room.

Tiles are often associated with underfloor heating because they transfer heat effectively, but suitable LVT, vinyl and timber products can also potentially be used.

The important point is that the complete system needs to be compatible.

Manufacturer guidance for both the heating system and flooring should always be followed.

You can read more about this on our Heating Systems page.

Flooring in Kitchens

Kitchen flooring has to deal with regular foot traffic, spills and the practical demands of one of the busiest rooms in the house.

Popular options include:

• LVT
• Vinyl
• Tiles
• Timber and engineered timber
• Other suitable hard-wearing flooring systems

The floor also needs to work around kitchen cabinetry, appliances and adjoining rooms.

On a complete Kitchen Renovation, we can consider the flooring alongside the kitchen installation rather than treating it as a completely separate job.

Flooring in Bathrooms

Bathroom floors need additional consideration because of moisture.

Tiles, suitable vinyl and LVT products are common choices.

The subfloor needs to be stable, and waterproofing or other preparation may be required depending on the room and flooring system.

Bathroom flooring also needs to work with sanitaryware, shower areas, thresholds and heating.

Our Bathroom Renovations page explains more about how we approach the room as a complete project.

Flooring in Extensions

A new extension provides an opportunity to plan the floor from the beginning.

The structural floor, insulation, heating, screed or timber deck and finished flooring can all be considered before construction is complete.

This is particularly useful where the new flooring is intended to continue into the existing house.

Matching floor levels between the old and new parts of the property can make the extension feel much more integrated.

Read more about our Home Extensions.

Flooring in Loft Conversions

Loft conversions normally introduce a new structural floor.

That means the finished flooring can be considered alongside the floor deck, staircase, doors and skirting from the beginning.

Bedrooms are commonly carpeted, while offices, dressing rooms and other loft spaces may suit timber, LVT or vinyl.

The important part is ensuring the subfloor is suitable for whichever finish is chosen.

Visit our Loft Conversions page for more information.

Flooring in Building Conversions

Converting an outbuilding, workshop or storage building can involve substantial floor upgrades.

An existing concrete slab may not have been designed for a comfortable internal room.

The conversion may need to consider:

• Damp and moisture
• Insulation
• Floor height
• Heating
• Levelling
• Subfloor preparation
• The final flooring

The visible floor covering is therefore only the final stage of a much larger process.

Find out more about our Building Conversions.

Timber Flooring & Carpentry

Flooring often overlaps naturally with carpentry.

Timber floor structures may need repairs before the finished flooring is installed.

Skirting boards may need to be removed and replaced, doors sometimes require adjustment after the finished floor height changes, and thresholds and trims need careful finishing.

Because Calico began as a carpentry business, these details sit naturally alongside our Carpentry Services.

Should Skirting Go on Before or After the Flooring?

There is no single rule because it depends on the flooring system and the project.

In a complete renovation, it may make sense to coordinate the sequence so the finished relationship between the flooring and skirting is as neat as possible.

Some floating flooring systems require an expansion gap around the perimeter, which can then be concealed beneath skirting or suitable trim.

With other floor finishes, a different sequence may make more sense.

The important part is deciding before everything is installed.

Do You Need to Remove the Existing Flooring?

Not always.

Some flooring can potentially be installed over an existing surface where the condition, level and flooring manufacturer's requirements allow it.

In other situations, removing the old flooring is the better approach because it allows the subfloor underneath to be properly inspected.

Problems such as loose boards, damp, cracked screed or uneven surfaces can otherwise remain hidden.

Which Flooring Is Best?

There is no flooring material that is automatically the best.

The right choice depends on the room.

Carpet may be ideal for a bedroom but less suitable for a kitchen. Tiles may work brilliantly in a bathroom but feel too hard or cold for another area.

Timber may provide exactly the character you want but require a different level of care than vinyl or LVT.

Rather than choosing purely from a sample, consider:

• How the room is used
• How much foot traffic it receives
• Moisture
• Cleaning
• Warmth
• Noise
• Maintenance
• Underfloor heating
• Finished floor height
• Adjoining rooms

The Best Floor Starts Below the Surface

It is easy to spend a lot of time choosing the colour, pattern and material of a new floor.

Those decisions matter.

But the part you cannot see is often what determines whether the finished floor looks and performs properly.

A stable, appropriately prepared subfloor gives the finished flooring the best possible foundation.

At Calico, flooring can be carried out as an individual project or coordinated with a wider renovation, kitchen, bathroom, extension, conversion or heating project.