Flooring FAQs

Livingetc's design guru Mark Garside answers your most frequently asked flooring questions.

Painting kitchen floor tiles

We are moving into a house that needs lots of TLC and, as a short- term solution, I want to paint the large terracotta-coloured kitchen floor tiles white. All the tile paint I've seen says 'not suitable for floors', though.
All paint is going to wear underfoot, but as a short-term fix (or even long term, if you repaint it every six months), it's worth trying. Give the tiles a deep clean to remove grease and dirt, then use a primer like Johnstone's water-based Multi Surface Primer (johnstonestrade.com). For the top coats, Watco has hardwearing solvent-free epoxy floor paints, or Ecos floor paint for concrete and timber could also work on ceramics.

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Laying poured-resin flooring

I see white poured-resin floors in design magazines all the time, but can't find anyone to lay one in my apartment. Can you suggest any companies that would take on a residential project?
There aren't many companies that will deal with domestic customers, but Solid Floor, known for wooden flooring, has just started doing residential projects. Its Seamless Flooring is poured resin that comes in a wide range of colours. The company will manage the project from design to finishing.

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Tiling over existing tiles

We've moved house and inherited a lovely conservatory, but with horrible floor tiles. Rather than disturb the underfloor heating, could we tile directly over them? Also, two doors open out onto the tiles and raising the floor by 20mm may impede them opening.
Yes, you can tile over existing tiles. Wash them with sugar soap, and prime with something like SBR Liquid. Then lay the tiles as normal, using a flexible adhesive and grout. Doors can be taken off and trimmed, but you may also want to take a look at Reed Harris's new Slimtech porcelain tiles, just 3mm thick.

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Red vinyl kitchen flooring

I'm after blood-red flooring for my kitchen. I'm not keen on cold ceramic tiles, but some of the vinyl I've seen looks a little cheap and doesn't seem like it will age nicely. Can you give any advice?
For an intense red, try Forbo's Nairn Cushionflor Reflections in Rimini 6174, left, which is vinyl, but is specifically designed for kitchens and bathrooms. Or Marmoleum, also from Forbo, is a natural alternative, produced from linseed oil and powdered wood. It comes in a range of mottled colours, including some bold reds. It's fairly cheap, at about £30 per sq m and, as well as being low maintenance, it has some beneficial antibacterial and allergy-free properties.

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What to do with leftover floorboards

I rather over-ordered when installing an oak floor last year, and am left with a lot of unused boards, as well as offcuts I've been loath to get rid of. Any ideas of ways to use them?
It's an easy trick to refresh an old table using tongue-and-groove floorboards to make a new table top. Take inspiration from the amazing work of bricolage designer Piet Hein Eek (pietheineek.nl).

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Aluminium-look linoleum

Do you know where I can buy linoleum with an aluminium tread-plate effect? I've seen it in an interiors book, but can't track down a supplier.
I'm not sure I've seen a linoleum tread-plate, but B&Q does vinyl metallic silver-effect tiles, £5.98 for a pack of six. Or for more colour options, try rubber. Dalsouple has a couple of tread-plate styles called Sigma, but there are lots of other great textures, too, like Delta and the micro relief designs.

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Sound-proofing floors

Our new neighbours in the flat above have pulled up their carpets to have exposed floorboards, and refuse to accept that the noise is driving us mad!
If the property is leasehold, then there may be a clause in the lease that states flooring must be of a sound-dampening material, so you have some leverage. With freehold it can be more difficult as there may not be a contract covering this issue. As a last resort, Sound Solutions has a simple range of sound-proofing products and a great website.

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Restoring limestone tiles

I bought some beautiful limestone tiles for a shower room that is poorly ventilated. They were badly fitted, water got under the seals, and they are now marked with mould stains. Bleaching and scrubbing hasn't helped. Are there any ways to rescue them, or will they have to be ripped out and replaced?
This serves as a warning: when using natural products, always have them professionally installed, and follow the guides for sealing treatments and aftercare to the letter. Lithofin, available through most tile shops, has a wide range of cleaners and sealers, and most industry people would recommend it. But, sadly, I don't have a magic solution for you – it sounds as if tackling the ventilation and replacing and resealing the tiles is the only option here.

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Where can I find New York-style bathroom floor tiles?

We are looking for some New York-style bathroom floor tiles, which we have seen on various TV programmes and also in the rooms at High Road House boutique hotel. They are white and have raised circles all over them. Can you help as we can't find them on sale anywhere?
Johnson Tiles has something like this called Discface in its commercial Kerastar range. They cost around £25 per sq m.

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Concrete-effect floor tiles

I love the look of polished concrete floors, but I don't think they're feasible in a second-floor flat. Do you know of any large tiles with the same feel?
It is possible to lay concrete floors in flats, but it's difficult and costly, so tiles are better. Some tile warehouses have 60cm sq polished porcelain tiles in light greys, which create the look at about £30 per sq m. Or see Bibliotheque's Cemento tile, in Porcelain Collection 1, which costs about £80 per sq m and comes in a range of natural colours.

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Carpeting the ground floor of a Sixties build

I've inherited cheap laminate flooring on the ground floor of my house, which I hate and want to replace. I'd like to try hardwearing carpet. The house is a Sixties build, and the original flooring is concrete. Can you advise me?
There's some fantastic woven vinyl flooring out there, such as the ranges by Bolon and Plynyl (available from innerspaceltd.co.uk). There's an excellent colour choice, it's very hardwearing, and it looks great in modern interiors. Floors must be smooth, as it'll show up imperfections, so screeded concrete or plywood are perfect. Installers can be found through the Contract Flooring Association, although not all will do domestic installation.

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Sealing solid oak floorboards

We've just had new solid oak floorboards laid in our hallway. We want to seal them with something that won't change the natural look of the wood, but is hard-wearing, as we have lots of parties!
It's worth asking the advice of the company that laid the floor, as they may have more specialist knowledge of the particular wood used. Dulux does a very good product called Diamond Glaze. It's a tough, water-based varnish (so low odour) that doesn't yellow, and can be tinted to many shades. As it's a trade product, you won't find it in DIY stores, but in Dulux trade stores and retailers such as Brewers.

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On the hunt for distinctive parquet flooring

I'm moving into a Forties house which has solid floors downstairs due to the restrictions on the amount of timber that could be used in a post-war house. The house needs lots of work and as part of this I want to add a stunning floor that can carry a mix of old and new furniture and add some warmth to the house. I loved the floor on page 143 of the November issue and would be grateful for your advice as to where I can purchase something similar and how much I should expect to pay.
This parquet floor has an unusual chevron design, derived from traditional French patterns. The wood is possibly teak, but you can use any hardwood, such as oak or black walnut. It's a popular myth that parquet should be thick – if you want it to last, thicknesses of below 10mm are advised. The Parquet & General Flooring Co should charge from £280 per sq m, including installation and finishing.

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The right doormat for a Georgian terrace

We have been looking in vain for an outside doormat to complement our Georgian terrace. Any ideas?
Cast iron and rubber mats that mimic cast ironwork could be what you're looking for. You'll find them in gardening stores but may have to hunt around for the right design. There are some attractive ones on Greenfingers.com. This cast iron half round one is £16.

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Leather floor for a study

We're planning our study, and we liked the idea of having a leather floor after seeing one in a hotel in the States. Do you know anyone in the UK who supplies it, and how much it would cost?
Leather floor tiles, such as these ones from Alma Home, cost around £225 per sq m, plus fitting. I've also found a range called Torbjorn from Marcus Gear in four dark tan tones that cost around £120 per sq m. Tiles can be produced in various sizes, so it's possible to do planking and parquet-looking flooring. Tiles can be produced with a self-adhesive backing, but this will double the cost, so most people use carpet glue.

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Sourcing Spanish tiles

We're renovating our flat in a modern-retro style and have been thinking of having a little fun with the guest bedroom, rather than just following the same look as the rest of the flat, but nothing exciting came to us. Then we went to Barcelona and were inspired by some patterned floor tiles we saw. Can you help with suppliers and what the tiles might cost?

The Spanish have a long history of tile production, stretching back to the Moors in the 11th century, when the tradition for elaborate, geometric design first emerged. You could try something different and do a Gaudi, using a patchwork of broken tiles. For off the shelf, you have to hunt hard. Look at Garogres' new Candy Series, within its Forma range, or Natucer's more reserved styles. Also try using tiles in a fresh way. I think the key is a quirky shift of pattern, so rather than a classic chequerboard, offset tiles and mix sizes to create a more active design. A great resource for manufacturers' contacts is www.spaintiles.info. Try www.spanish-tilecompany.co.uk for UK orders.

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Reviving dull tiles

I've tiled my bathroom floor with stylish black porcelain tiles. However, they now appear dull and stained wherever water has been splashed, and no amount of rubbing with a dry or damp cloth makes any difference. Any advice on how to return the floor to its shiny, polished state would be much appreciated.

It's always worth sealing tiles in the bathroom to protect them against a build-up of residues from shampoo, soap etc. Anyone re-tiling their bathroom should seek advice from the supplier so you can buy a suitable sealant. In your case, the tiles appear not to have been sealed, so need to be cleaned first with a pH-neutral detergent, and then sealed. Any high-street tile store will be able to advise you on the best products for your tiles. Quality brands to ask for include Lithofin and Hagesan.

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Lino floors

My husband and I are doing a cosmetic refurb on a Fifties ranch. Underneath the late-Seventies vinyl, we've discovered a wonderful floor from 1964. It's brown and has Fiestaware coloured flecks in it. We're also keeping the chestnut-tone kitchen cabinets. I'd love to find something similar to this flooring that's low-maintenance. Any tips for products that would be available in the States? Thanks so much, I love your mag!

Glad to go global! Firstly, for those (like me) who weren't aware of Fiestaware, it's a popular brightly coloured Art Deco pottery (still produced by Homer Laughlin; see www.hlchina.com). After seeing your picture, I was convinced it was a lino rather than a vinyl. Linoleum is a natural product made from materials such as linseed oil and powdered cork. A quick hunt through Forbo-Nairn's catalogue found similar flecked patterns in the Artoleum range, like the Scala Siesta (www.forbo-flooring.com).

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Noise reduction

We get a lot of noise from the fans and extractors in neighbouring restaurants, which is ruining the peace and quiet of our garden enclave. We had fencing put up, but this hasn't improved things. Can you help?

This is becoming more and more of a problem in city areas and there are not many products marketed at this other than motorway sound fencing, made with costly materials like concrete, toughened glass or thick polycarbonate panels. However, there are some alternative building materials you can use that won't break the bank. C&A Building Plastics sells 35mm-thick panels of fluted polycarbonate sheeting used in conservatories, which can more than halve the directional noise you're suffering, so fit it as fencing along the sides you're having problems with. It's transparent, too, so will let light through, but you can cover it in something more attractive like willow or bamboo screening (www.willowfencing.co.uk) to maintain the look of your garden oasis as well as restore some peace.

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Concrete steps

I'd like to replace the front steps of my house with polished concrete. Can you tell me if this is suitable for use on exterior steps and, if so, can you recommend anyone who could do the work?

Sounds good, but polished concrete can be slippy, so get the treads masked and acid-washed to provide a bit more grip. Try Kayode Lipedé (www.koncrete.freeserve.co.uk) for design-led concrete production and installation.

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Vinyl flooring

Is it possible to get plain-coloured vinyl flooring? I can only find tiles, which always seem to have flecks of other colours on them. I'm planning to cover the floor of a hallway that's 8m long and 1.3m wide with one piece. Is this possible?

Vinyl tiles are way more economical to use, as you get far less wastage than you would from a roll, but that's only really an issue if the flooring is expensive. I sourced a stunning product from Jaymart recently that sounds like the kind of thing you're after. It's called LimontaVinylfloor 2000 and comes in a range of tasteful muted shades and surface designs, of which Liscio (with a smooth matt finish) is best. It comes in a 1.5m-wide piece up to 20m long, as well as standard tiles. Best of all, it's far cheaper than it looks. Some of the browns are a good alternative to leather-look flooring and are a fraction of the cost.

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Bespoke rugs

Can you help us locate a rug maker from whom we could commission a geometric patterned rug that would run in a U shape around our bed? We know this might cost quite a lot, but it would be worth it if it's just what we want.

One company springs instantly to mind: Amazed. The company is well known in design circles for creating original, carved-surface, maze and crop circle rugs that ooze luscious quality. There are a few standard designs available, but you can commission designers Madeline and Dudley Edwards to create a special piece. One thing's for sure: stepping out of bed onto one of their rugs will definitely be worth the cost.

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Lacquered floor

I'm redecorating my hallway with Japanese printed wallpaper and would like to colour the floorboards with a blackish lacquer, but still be able to see the wood grain. The boards are currently coated in plain varnish – can I just paint over it?

Painting over the top is hit and miss as varnishes and waxes can react and repel each other, so you really need to sand the floor back to the bare wood. Next, build up the colour using a stain, followed by two or three coats of oil. Try coloured Osmo stain and Osmo oil by Ostermann Scheiwe, both from The Hardwood Flooring Company (020 7328 8481). Leave for a couple of weeks before you cover with furniture and rugs.

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Floor protection for plastering

We've done our decorating the wrong way round and now we've had new carpets laid, we've realised that most of the ceilings in the front room and hallway need to be replastered. What can we use to protect the floors while everything else gets all messy?

As anyone who's spilt plaster on a cloth dustsheet knows, you need a waterproof barrier underneath so it doesn't soak through and mark the floor. Professionals use a fluted plastic called Correx (actually the stuff estate agents use as 'For Sale' signs), which is available from most builders' merchants. Lay it over all the areas you need to protect and use duct tape to join and seal it up, then top with dustsheets and cardboard as an extra layer. It's worth the effort, because those plasterers can make a real mess.

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Concrete sealant

After hacking up the cork tiles in our Victorian kitchen, we are left with a concrete floor, which has a very interesting patina. Is there any way we could seal this and make it suitable for everyday kitchen use?

Yes. You'll need to use Clear Heavy Duty Floorpaint from Leyland Paints. It's solvent-based, so it will stink, and it will need a good day to dry, so I recommend a long weekend away after a full-on Saturday morning painting session.

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Girly rubber flooring

I'm looking for some pink flooring for my bathroom. It's a small space – just big enough for bath, basin and loo – and I'm after something really gorgeous, girlie and sparkly, but I'm having real trouble sourcing it.

Dalsouple can make rubber tiles to specific colours on orders greater than 10 sq m.

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