If you are undertaking a home extension in London, you’ll need to make loads of decisions along the design and build journey. There are a whole host of options at your disposal – from the large ticket items to the small, granular details. One item buried within these options is the floor material. Ground floor extensions come in all shapes and sizes. The final interior finish of your extension will be tailored to you. The floor material should tick both the practicality box, as well as the design aesthetic box. It’s important you have something that looks good, but that is maintainable and that suits your day-to-day life. There is no perfect floor choice as everyone has different requirements and lifestyles. We thought we would talk you through some of the most popular options on the market today to help you make your selection. 

• 

Underfloor heating 

The first question to ask yourself is whether you want to have underfloor heating in your kitchen extension. Around half of the homeowners that we work with opt for underfloor heating. Yes, it is a luxury, and it comes with lots of benefits. We have written a blog article on the benefits of underfloor heating which can be read here. If you are opting for underfloor heating, it’s worth factoring this into your floor material choice. While most materials work with underfloor heating, some are more effective at working with the heat than others. If you are opting for a wooden floor, you will need a special wood which has been treated to work with the heating system. In addition to this, the treated wood is not as efficient as holding and distributing the heat as other materials.  

Wood 

Wood floors are expensive, and they are also high maintenance (in comparison to other materials). They are not the most efficient with underfloor heating, and they are delicate as they are prone to staining and scratch marks. Wow! That seems like a lot of disadvantages! So why are they so popular? Well, the truth is there is nothing more traditional than a wood floor. The Victorian and Edwardian era used wood in the original design of these houses, so wood floors go hand in hand with them. If you want the traditional features of a period property, wood is your only option. They ooze warmth and sophistication, and there is really nothing quite like them. Wooden floors come in a huge array of patterns and colours, so you can really tailor them to suit your interior design needs. 

We installed this beautiful wood floor in our SW4 project. The homeowner loved the original features of the property and wanted to maintain and enhance as much as possible. We replaced all the original windows of the property and maintained the chimney stacks. 

• 

Another client opted for this beautiful deep wood floor in herringbone style. This is a great choice as it will be less prone to scratches and stains. We removed all the internal walls to completely open the ground floor of this property. Having one continuous floor material run throughout the ground floor looks incredible. We installed rooflights in the rear extension and a window and bi-fold doors to the rear. The continuous flow of natural light throughout the property means that the deep dark shade of the wood doesn’t absorb too much light.  

• 

Porcelain tile 

Porcelain tile has sky-rocketed in popularity over the past decade. It’s versatile, hard wearing, works wonderfully with underfloor heating and is resistant to scratching and stains. It comes in a variety of colours, textures, and styles. It’s often made to look like another material, such as wood or stone. This means you can reap all the hard-wearing benefits while still mimicking the appearance of your chosen floor material. With that said, it’s never going to bring the true authenticity of the material. Wood is very warm, and tile is cold to touch. We have recently used porcelain tile in our two latest projects, and both projects opted for tile that looked like wood. The finish is incredible – at first glance you would never know! 

• 

Concrete floors 

Concrete floors have also increased in popularity over the past few years. In the past they were seen as a more commercial material, often used in warehouses or offices. We have seen them more and more in residential properties, as homeowners embrace the industrial interior design style. It’s important to recognise that a concrete floor is treated concrete – and it’s not purely a screed floor finish. They are expensive as they take time to produce and require a specialist set of skills and tools. They work well with underfloor heating although the maintenance is on the high side, especially if you chip or damage them. 

These are just some of the materials that are on the market. There are loads more options – be it stone, resin, carpet – the list is endless! If you are thinking of extending and want to discuss your options further, get in touch with our friendly team today on 0207 0432378. We would be delighted to assist you further. You can also book a telephone consultation directly via our live diary. We look forward to hearing from you.