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Iris Ceramic flooring . Johnson Ceramic flooring . Ceramic flooring linkCeramic tiles now come in a vast selection, and have been a persistant area of frustration for me for many years. I can leave a tile centre with very little to show for lots of looking. The insistance on catering for, easy import, and cheap supply with transfer print tiles, have limited the market for years. If you are looking for interesting, then expect to have to look a little harder and further afield. I have listed some good sources with links below and will be adding more as I find them.
Porcelain ceramic tiles
Mannington Flooring Tiles . Alistair Mackintosh Flooring tiles . Villeroy-Boch flooring tilesThese tiles are normally thicker and harder than conventional ceramic floor tiles, so cost more . Porcelain tiles are also available in polished finish, which I would be reluctant to use in kitchens for practical reasons even though they are popular. Choices of finishes have become very good recently. Imitation natural stones, such as limestone or travertine are particularly good, and available in more variety. Fitters normally expect to use diamond bladed cutting machines, because they are extremely hard and difficult to cut with conventional tile cutters.
Composite stone tiles
Kirkstone Composite Flooring . Silestone Composite FlooringThis category covers contract type floor tiles that are self coloured, meaning that if chipped, the colour is consistant all the way through. The colour options and finishes are very good, but cost more than domestic tiles. They are worth a look for more unusual projects where colour and choice of shades is important, such as greys through to black. Again they are very hard and consistant, available in many sizes. Silestone is available in floor tile sizes so I have shown the whole range with the proviso that availabilty will need to be checked.
Slate Floor Tiles
Leafcutter Slate Flooring . Stone of London Slate Flooring . Stone gallery slate FlooringA popular choice with a surprising choice of colour variation and textures from smooth grey blue through to rustic multicoloured green and orange that would trip up an elephant. Slate is also very hard and practical when sealed regularly , so is worth considering as a good alternative to softer stone flooring. Size choices are also good from 50mm x 50mm inserts upto 600mm x 600mm.
Stone floor tiles
Fired Earth Stone flooring link . Mandarin Stone flooring linkNatural stone flooring such as limestone and travertine are stunning in modern and traditional settings, with good size choices and finishes from polished through to rough. I have never been disappointed wherever I have used them. I am only limited by there necessity for more maintenance and care in use, because they are more porous and prone to staining. I would actively consider reproduction tiles if you are a busy and low maintenance type family because these options have improved dramatically recently.
Marble floor tiles
Alistair Mackintosh Marble flooring . Stones of London Marble flooring linkA beautiful look if used with inlay borders etc but porous and impractical in polished finish for heavy usage areas. tumbled marble is a look that has been over- used and probably had its day, or am I being too harsh ?
Terracotta floor tiles
Living House Terracotta flooring . Elon Terracotta flooring . Wellington Terracotta flooringA soft and porous fired clay tile with a vast choice of colours, from cream through to brown. Can be stunning in an aged finish from Fired Earh and quite convincing. They can also be light and subtle with lots of colour variation. Tiles do require sealing and maintainance, and because they are softer can chip with heavy kitchen traffic usage.
Quarry floor tiles
Dennis Ruabon QuarryTileFlooring . Quarry Tile FlooringA much more durable tile than teracotta, made from longer fired clay, and good for heavy usage. Available in a large choice of sizes, colours and shapes for borders and inserts etc. I find the look a little heavy for large areas, and have only seen them used effectively in small traditional schemes.
Vinyl floor tiles
Amtico Vinyl Flooring . Karndean Vinyl Flooring . Armstrong Vinyl FlooringGood quality vinyl such as Karndean and Amtico are worth a look, offering budget ranges through to expensive options. Ignore cushion floor and low quality cheap tiles, if you require a longer lasting finish. Prices are comparative to a good ceramic tiles and are quite convincing in their various stripwood options.
Linoleum flooring
Forbo Linoleum flooring . Linoleum flooring . Marmoleum Linoleum flooringTraditional Linoleum is a very durable and interesting option for kitchens with many colour choices and options when cut into special designs. There are various thicknesses for domestic use through to contract use. It is available in roll and tile form. Roll fitting is a specialist job because it is difficult to bend and cut around obsticals. The smell after installation can be off-putting because of the linseed oil and natural materials, but it fades eventually! It requires sealing to keep its looks.
Woodstrip flooring
Forbo Woodstrip Flooring . Wideplank Solid Woodstrip Flooring . Solid Floor Woodstrip Flooring Solid Woodstrip Flooring . Junkers woodstrip flooringA choice for caution in most kitchens. It will mark and scuff easily. varnish will wear off quickly and furniture will scratch and score it. Waxed or oiled wood will stain quickly. I have used antique finish stripwood effectively ,because it is aged, and damage tends to add character. A church I converted into a house had sprung wood floors, and still had stilleto heel holes in it from as far back as the 50s. The patina was wonderful with a light sand and 4 layers of varnish, and always looked good whatever damage was inflicted on it.
Carpet tiles
Huega Carpet Tiles . Burmatex Carpet Tiles . Bonar Floors Carpet TilesOne to avoid unless you are very careful, or happy to replace or take up and clean often. Huega do a good kitchen range, and cover heavy usage options. I find this option unhygenic and impractical.
Carpet or coir flooring
Unnatural Flooring Carpet . Period FlooringAnother one to avoid if hygiene and maintenance is important. Even stain resistant carpet is hopeless in kitchen conditions and rarely lives up to expectations.
Metal flooring
Metaltiles Metal FlooringA more rare choice that has had its day for domestic kitchen use. It was popular in de-constructed type loft schemes and contract use, but is not very relevant at the moment even in loft conversions, where a more warm and clean look is preferred with wood and natural materials.
Non-slip flooring
Altro Non- slip Flooring . Tarkett Non-slip FlooringThis is good for bathrooms, and situations where small children or the infirm have access. There are some interesting choices for the more unusual project, and worth a look for your designer or specifier. I would look at the, good contract specification end, for choice of colour and quality.
Rubber flooring
Rubber FlooringNot used much these days for domestic kitchen purposes, but is quite practical in wet areas and does not stain. I would leave it for the contract market these days.
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