Flooring a house

seclachi

Hi,

I`m looking at ideas for floor coverings, is there anything interesting outside of tiles / Timber / laminate / carpet ?

I currently live in a cold old house and I`m in the process of building a new one. I would like to put some tiles in, but I have forgone UFH. Question is, will tiles in a modern house with an insulated floor still be as ice cold as they are in an old house during the winter ?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

CJhaughey

IMO any unheated tile floor is cold. Either put in UFH electric mats in the tiled areas or use another warmer floor covering.
Elec UFH is easy to fit and cheap.

seclachi

CJhaughey wrote: »

IMO any unheated tile floor is cold. Either put in UFH electric mats in the tiled areas or use another warmer floor covering.
Elec UFH is easy to fit and cheap.

Thanks ! That was just the kind of idea I was looking for !

mr_edge_to_you

I'd imagine that tiles will still be cold without UFH.

I wouldn't go putting UFH mats all over the place. I would imagine that they are fine in small space for short periods of time (ie ensuite - wired to timer) but they're probably expensive enough to run.

At home my parents have a cork tile floor in thier kitchen. It's brilliant - it is not as cold as ceramic and it is comfortable. I've actually seen delph bounce off it. It is hard wearing - my Dad just lashes a layer of varnish over it every 2 years. It is not the most attractive floor but its definitely practical. We've gone with UFH in our place so we will be looking at ceramic/porcelin tiling. They put in from the very start and 18 years its perfect. It actually looks well with the more traditional style kitchen that my parents have. With the right kitchen it might look nice.

seclachi

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

I'd imagine that tiles will still be cold without UFH.

I wouldn't go putting UFH mats all over the place. I would imagine that they are fine in small space for short periods of time (ie ensuite - wired to timer) but they're probably expensive enough to run.

At home my parents have a cork tile floor in thier kitchen. It's brilliant - it is not as cold as ceramic and it is comfortable. I've actually seen delph bounce off it. It is hard wearing - my Dad just lashes a layer of varnish over it every 2 years. It is not the most attractive floor but its definitely practical. We've gone with UFH in our place so we will be looking at ceramic/porcelin tiling. They put in from the very start and 18 years its perfect. It actually looks well with the more traditional style kitchen that my parents have. With the right kitchen it might look nice.

Cork flooring looks interesting ! Does it have any problems with moisture or rotting ? How does it look after a few years ?

The electric ufh will defintely be on a timer of some sorts if it does go in, its energy consumption warrents close attention, but I think it may be ok as a tile warmer.

mr_edge_to_you

They've had it in 18 years now. It's one of the things they've done in the house that still looks fresh. As I said my dad goes around every two years, gives it a quick light sanding, hoover, wash and then lashes on a coat of varnish with a paint roller. I still looks great but it would look terrible with a modern/comtemporary kitchen.

I have no pm at the moment due to a ban so can't send on more finer details but do a google search for cork tile flooring. I am actually impressed with what I've just seen!!

seclachi

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

They've had it in 18 years now. It's one of the things they've done in the house that still looks fresh. As I said my dad goes around every two years, gives it a quick light sanding, hoover, wash and then lashes on a coat of varnish with a paint roller. I still looks great but it would look terrible with a modern/comtemporary kitchen.

I have no pm at the moment due to a ban so can't send on more finer details but do a google search for cork tile flooring. I am actually impressed with what I've just seen!!

Yeah, there is some very impressive looking stuff out there. Only problem is it may require more TLC than lazy old me could be bothered with. Could spilling a pot of water spell disaster for a cork floor ?

mr_edge_to_you

seclachi,

if it can handle the abuse it gets in our house it'll take anything. i can't explain the abuse that it received in our house. dropped eggs, dragging furniture across it, kitchen renovations, delph, oil, water, wine. I think you can seal them when they first go on which makes a big difference.

easy to keep clean too once sealed/varnished. might be no harm to go and see some of those specialist suppliers and see what the craic is.