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Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Flooring Types

Oct 6, 2020 | Decorating

Choosing the right flooring for your interior design can be a lot more complicated than it first seems.

Do you need a hard floor or carpets?
How easy is it to clean and maintain?
Which flooring is the most cost-effective?
Will my vinyl look like real tiles?
What’s best for a home with kids and dogs?

The Pinnacle Works interiors team specialise in transformation renovation projects and creating bespoke decor that maximises the quality of your living space to perfectly fit your design aesthetic. We have put together our top tips for choosing the right flooring for your home, from different flooring types, whether as a finishing touch to a big construction project or to bring a fresh new look to your home!

The Importance of Your Home Flooring Choices

Your floors bear the brunt of wear and tear, but also have a significant impact on how your home feels and functions.

One of the first things to consider is where your flooring will be laid. Hallways, utility areas, kitchens and bathrooms tend to have the widest use and need a moisture-resistant floor surface to be able to cope with muddy boots and stampedes out of the door on the school run! Living spaces and bedrooms need to be comfortable, and yet also need to be easy to clean, budget-friendly, and simple to look after.

Aesthetics are also an essential factor since your properties’ floors have to fit in with the rest of your design scheme and complement colours, furniture and decor. As well as the visual impact of a room, your flooring also changes the atmosphere; from warm, rich laminate wood to soft, sumptuous carpets and contemporary, cutting-edge tiling – there are multiple choices, each of which makes a stamp on the usage of living space.

Three Most Popular Interior Flooring Types

During our renovation projects, the Pinnacle team installs and fits a wide range of flooring – so we have a great idea of the most popular, high-quality and durable flooring that makes for long-lasting home design.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT): vinyl has long been one of the most cost-effective, quick to install and highly functional floor coverings. Gone are the days of thin, cold sheet vinyl, having been superseded by LVT flooring. LVT is affordable, robust and warm underfoot, and comes in any design and style – from slate finishes to grained wood.
Laminate Flooring – laminate wood flooring is hugely popular and comes in a vast range of colours, tones, finishes and styles. Treated laminate is also suitable for high moisture areas, and we fit specialist bathroom and kitchen laminates for these rooms.
Engineered Wood Flooring – these panels are crafted from heat-formed wood with a supporting base, and then coated with a real wood veneer. This innovative design system is ideal for rooms where underfloor heating is being installed as part of a construction project, and is both stable and shrink-resistant.

Different Flooring Types Compared – Advantages and Disadvantages

Let’s look at these three most popular flooring types, and what the pros and cons are of each:

Luxury Vinyl Tiles: Pros and Cons

Cost – LVTs are more expensive than traditional rolled vinyl, at around £40-£60 per square metre.

Wear and upkeep – vinyl requires minimal maintenance, is water-resistant, and perfectly capable of providing years of durable use in any high traffic areas, including kitchens and hallways.

Designs – LVTs are available in (literally) any colour, style, design or shape you would like. From realistic grained wood finishes to sleek Italian slate tile, there are limitless options to choose from.

Laying patterns – tiles are uniquely versatile, and with different textures and finishes are impossible to differentiate from genuine hardwood or tiling. LVTs come in a vast range of sizes, and use a secure click lock system – these could be laid as wooden floorboards, in a tiling pattern, or as a brickwork design to suit your aesthetic.

Comfort – LVTs are probably the most comfortable and liveable flooring surface, being soft and warm to walk on, as well as slip-resistant and with gentle cushioning (ideal if you have young family members who are prone to spills and breakages).

Laminate Flooring: Pros and Cons

Cost – laminate is one of the lowest cost flooring options and depending on the thickness, quality and design chosen tends to be from around £10-£20 per square metre.

Wear and upkeep – the primary factor when choosing laminate is to make sure you have the right quality and finish for your room. Laminate can be susceptible to moisture damage, which means it can buckle and bow, and need repairs or replacement panels, which often means removing skirting boards to relay damaged panels flush.

Designs – modern laminate comes in a massive range of materials, from plastic laminate to real-wood finished boards, and treated water-resistant panels for use in bathrooms and kitchens. Most laminates come in a grained, textured wood pattern, and high-quality laminate flooring can have just the same appearance as hardwood floors.

Laying patterns – most laminates are manufactured in pre-cut panels, which are applied by a professional flooring fitter in a specific pattern. This avoids undue wear and tear, ensures that the flooring has room to expand and contract around the edges, and that design features are consistent throughout your space.

Comfort – as a hard finished floor, laminate can be more rigid underfoot than LVTs. However, it is non-allergenic, is simple to clean, and provides excellent stain resistance.

Engineered Wood Flooring: Pros and Cons

Cost – engineered wood flooring can vary significantly in price depending on the wood you choose, and the colour, design and treatment. Typically prices start from around £45 per square metre and so it is an excellent middle ground between an expensive traditional hardwood floor.

Wear and upkeep – with a real wood veneer, engineered wood flooring does require maintenance to keep it looking shiny and smooth. Over time, flooring exposed to direct sunlight can fade, so it is vital to look after it properly to ensure your new flooring remains in great condition.

Designs – engineered hardwood can add real value to a property, and is a contemporary and modern floor covering with the benefit of innovative manufacturing techniques. Pinnacle can source engineered flooring in any range of styles, colours, patterns or designs, all with a genuine real wood veneer in your selected finish.

Laying patterns – engineered wood flooring is fitted to resemble traditional hardwood (although at a fraction of the price). The installation process is quick and seamless, and with the temperature resistant property of engineered wood, it is far more able to cope with moisture or temperature changes than laminate.

Comfort – this type of flooring looks, feels and performs like a complete hardwood floor. It is easy to clean, provides a unique style statement, and is ideal for properties with underfloor heating for the ultimate living comfort.

Which is the Right Flooring for Your Home?

The best flooring for your home depends on your budget, the rooms you wish to renovate, what style and design you are going for, and how you expect to use the space going forward.

LVTs are an excellent option for comfortable homes, being suited to heavy foot traffic with minimal maintenance. Vinyl is waterproof, hardwearing, and is soft, warm, and quiet to walk on, making it perfect for any room of your property. Click and lock LVT is extremely fast to install, and generally lasts for around 25-30 years. The downside is that this can be more expensive and that some people prefer engineering wood flooring for that real wood finish.
Laminate has advanced a long way, and modern laminate finishes are available in any type of design, colour or finish to perfectly complement your interior style. This is one of the most cost-effective flooring choices, particularly for large rooms. However, it can buckle and bow if non-specific flooring is installed in high-moisture environments, and may need replacing every few years so a professional fit service is important.
Engineered flooring is built from real timber, and so can be more expensive than a synthetic laminate. However, the authentic materials give a traditional country feel, and yet provides a quality flooring that fits a highly contemporary home. As a downside, engineered flooring isn’t always suited to very high traffic areas, and will need some TLC to keep it looking its best.

Expert Flooring Installations

As your home is unique, so too is your choice of flooring.

We hope this information is useful and provides a balanced view of the most popular flooring choices, and the pros and cons of each. We source, manufacture or design any flooring required for any renovation project, from bespoke flooring from our carpentry team to fast and efficient LVT installations. If you need any support choosing the right type of flooring or are interested in taking a look at some of the options from any of these flooring materials, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Ideas to Transform Your Outside Space

Oct 3, 2020 | Construction, Decorating

Our outside spaces are an area of privacy and relaxation, where we both play and entertain, and can make the most of our family time.

Lockdown has given us a renewed appreciation of the value our gardens bring to our homes, and how by making the most of the design of outside spaces, we can transform the way we live.

Let us share some of our ideas to transform your outside space, renovation ideas for reimagining your garden, be it through the creative use of design, innovative building placement or smart functionality.

Why Redesign Your Outside Space?

Our team works on a wide variety of construction and renovation projects; from groundworks to decor and roofing to extensions. We know that even small gardens and courtyards can be adapted to deliver dynamic, beautiful and tranquil outside spaces that extend the footprint of your home.

By using weatherproof materials, outdoor eating areas and family-friendly design, you reconnect your interior with the outdoors – making your home feel more spacious, adaptable, and provide contemporary entertaining spaces that are sure to impress.

Here are some of our favourite ways to transform your landscaping and garden design!

Garden Rooms

We love the flexibility and space-saving a garden room offers. If you’re short on space, need somewhere to work or relax, a garden room is a fantastic way to make use of that empty space at the end of your garden – use them for:

Home office
Gym
Kids playroom
Craft area
Weatherproof entertaining
Guest accommodation

The beauty of a garden room is that they don’t have to be large to bring a new aspect to your garden, and a new, usable space, to your family living. Pinnacle Works installs bespoke garden rooms that are fully insulated, glazed, weatherproof and can have mains power supplies and utilities as required.

Rendered Seating Areas

Render is a chic way to add texture and shape to your garden, and is a whole lot more visually compelling than any old garden furniture! Choose from colours, styles, and create dramatic curves or sharp contrasting edges – whilst installing unique furniture that is as eco-friendly as it is beautiful.

Outdoor rendering is sturdy and durable, adapted perfectly to the shape and flow of your garden, and can seamlessly integrate with planting areas and walls to slot perfectly into your outside space.

Jacuzzi Bases and Surrounds

Nothing says opulence like your own Jacuzzi; and you’ll not mind the winter cold when you have a luxuriously warm pool to enjoy, entertain in, and use as your personal haven from the world!

From insulating bases to slip-free matting, chic timber gazebos to contemporary stone seating and scandi-style spa bases to modern slate finishes, Pinnacle Works offer an incredible range of Jacuzzi bases and surrounds to take your outside space to the next level.

Outdoor Kitchens/BBQs/Pizza Ovens

One of the most popular ways to renovate your garden design is to move your kitchen – outside! Alfresco dining makes the absolute best of warmer weather, and with a couple of well-placed heaters and a gazebo or overhead rain cover, can be a delight to entertain in throughout the year. Imagine having your own beautifully tiled pizza oven, and perhaps an outdoor cocktail bar, or the ultimate fitted charcoal BBQ with a herb garden at your fingertips!

We love an outdoor kitchen and can advise on the best finishes such as marble countertops, stainless steel finishes and acrylic-sealed flagstone paving to make cooking outdoors a joy.

Outdoor Plumbing and Electrics

We work with clients all the time who want to make better use of their gardens, and elevate the value and style of their home – and often, this comes down to the convenience of having amenities and reliable plumbing in an accessible place.

Here at Pinnacle, we offer the full range of construction and renovation skills; whether you need a bespoke seating area crafted by our carpentry and joinery team, a rainproof cover constructed over your outdoor seating area, or full mains plumbing and electricity.

Garden plumbing and electrics can be used for:

Having running water and electrical points in a summerhouse or garden room.
Bringing convenience to outdoor kitchens.
Running water features, light installations, or security fittings.
Powering appliances.

Cedar Cladding

Cedar cladding brings a rich, natural material to your outside space, and is the ultimate blend of traditional wood with a contemporary feel. This material lends itself to multiple garden features – such as garden rooms, fencing, seating and feature panels.

Our carpentry team love working with cedar cladding for the honesty of strong, reliable timber, as well as using outstanding design to incorporate vapour barriers and air vents for a cedar-clad space that will last for years to come.

Artificial Grass

Artificial grass, or all-around grass, is an excellent choice for gardens with high traffic, where soil quality or concrete foundations make planting a lawn difficult, or for homeowners who don’t have the time to maintain that perfect green lawn!

Whether you have busy kids who love to play football or want to avoid the need to mow and tend to a lawn, AstroTurf or artificial grass is cost-effective, zero maintenance, and remains bright and lush all year round. It’s also a fantastic way to bring a splash of colour to smaller spaces!

Fire Pits

We all want to be able to use our gardens year-round, and a fire pit is both elegant and functional.

Create a cool entertaining space by combining a fire pit with a sunken seating area, and install a waterproof cover or decking space to make your fire pit the heart of your outside space.

Sunken Seating Areas

A fantastic way to make great use of a tight space, or to add depth and levels to your garden is to use a sunken seating area.

The Pinnacle groundworks team make light work of crafting a usable, dynamic space, and you can install any style or finish of seating that fits the aesthetic and ambience of your outside space.

Swimming Pools and Surrounds

Perhaps you think your garden isn’t quite big enough for a swimming pool, but would love to develop your landscaping to incorporate a fun, stylish dip spa? There are thousands of choices when it comes to home pools, and Pinnacle Works are experienced in installing tailored pools with surrounds and features to complement your outside space perfectly.

Options include:

Conservatory swimming pool extensions
Plunge pools and swim spas
Sunken swimming pools to sit flush with your patio
Curved, cubic or custom-shaped pools

Outdoor Glass Balustrading

Glass is an excellent material choice for a garden renovation – and can transform smaller spaces with the power of reflection and crystal-clear sightlines to make the tightest corners appear dramatically bigger.

Glass balustrades incorporate lateral angles, elegance and create a focal point while delivering uninterrupted views and security for seating areas, balconies, mezzanines and pool areas.

Outdoor Lighting to Transform Your Space

Illuminating your outside space is one of the fastest and most cost-effective options in outside space renovation.

Building lighting into your garden design can be used in any number of ways, to:

Highlight pathways, features and focal points.
Illuminate pools, ponds and water features.
Add romantic lighting and ambience to dining areas.
Bring colour and soft illumination to fencing, stairways and walls.

Slabbing, Tiling, Porcelain, Sandstone

Alternative ground materials and finishes can have a profound impact on the feel and style of your outside spaces! From using colour and texture to define each area, to creating visual impact and a statement focal point, using contemporary and eco-friendly materials breathes fresh life into patios and pathways.

Mixing materials, creating pattern through diagonal paving or contrasting slick, high-shine porcelain against a cool, textural sandstone delivers a modern look even on a tight budget.

Decking – Composite or Real Timber

Deck construction is one of the most popular garden finishes – raised decking can create new levels and add shape to your garden. Whether you choose a durable, sustainable composite finish or a treated real timber wooden deck, Pinnacle Works can install your new garden feature in any style, shape or area of your garden.

Timber decks are ideal for dining areas, entertaining spaces or children’s play areas, and are a low-maintenance option that visually offsets grass and planting while being easy to use all year round.

We hope these ideas and construction suggestions are useful! If you have a design idea and need a professional, friendly team to make your garden renovation a reality, get in touch with Pinnacle Works. As a family-run business with a passion for outstanding design, our craftspeople are always on hand to help create your ideal outside spaces to bring a fresh new feel to your home.

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