Our Guide to Conservatory Flooring

So, you are planning your conservatory project, and it has been built and now it’s time to decorate your conservatory. In terms of flooring for your conservatory, it’s important to choose a material that doesn’t lead to your conservatory being too hot in summer or too cold during winter. Here is our guide on what you need to know when choosing your conservatory flooring.

Practicality vs Comfort

Within choosing what is practical and what offers you the most comfort, there are a number of considerations to bear in mind for choosing your conservatory flooring. These include:

• The location of the conservatory room and proximity to your garden
• How much sunlight will your conservatory capture and year-round temperatures
• Style vs budget

The location of the conservatory room and proximity to your garden

The location of the room can play a large factor in practicality. If you have a lawn directly adjacent, you will want to choose a material that is easy to clean for the winter months when mud and sludge are brought into the house. Especially if your conservatory is going to have high footfall. In terms of cleanliness, all options except carpet flooring or solid wooden flooring are quite easy to clean but you will also want to consider the best material for non-slip. Laminate, vinyl and carpets are the best for this, vinyl being particularly good for wheelchair users.

How much sunlight will your conservatory capture and year-round temperatures

Exposure to UV rays from the sun should be a very high factor in deciding which material you choose, as should temperature from the sun and moisture in wetter weather. Laminate can be UV resistant and can withstand high levels of sunlight. Similarly, Vinyl has a strong resistance to temperature and moisture, not lifting or warping. On the other hand, real wood flooring swells and shrinks due to temperature and moisture changes. Further it can cause flooring to wrap, lift and crack throughout the year or be bleached through high UV exposure. Real wood can be treated to withstand this but it’s not the best option, even with a flat roof with no glass. As we do not recommend real wood flooring, we will exclude it from the rest of our article. Carpeting is the least affected material by this, as it does not suffer from the afflictions of other types of flooring, and can also offer a warm feel for your feel during winter.

Style vs budget

Of course, the style and budget you have for your conservatory flooring will also play a huge influence in which material you choose, as does your level of comfort.

Laminate is quite a traditional material, but can look very contemporary. It is quite durable, and cost effective, and gives the appearance of a real wood finish at a fraction of the price. It can last 15 to 25 years depending on product quality, standard of installation and amount of wear and tear. Most importantly, it is very easy to install which can reduce your installation costs.

Vinyl similarly can produce most of the finished effects of Laminate or solid wood at a considerably cheaper price than real wood and can also be installed very easily. You can also benefit from a number of colours and styles.

Carpeting is perhaps an unusual choice to consider for your conservatory flooring. However, it is cheap, cosy and blends the conservatory with the style of the rest of the house. You can benefit from a wide range of colours and textured styles. To get around mud and the elements, you can also put mats and rugs for decoration. Carpeting is also one of the easiest to install, the hardest being real wood flooring.

What’s the best material for insulating?

In terms of natural heat from insulation, the leading material has to be carpets. Laminate and Vinyl can both be quite cold on their own without underfloor heating systems in place, as can more expensive materials such as real floor tiles, LVT, natural stone or marble.

Can I fit underfloor heating?

In short, it depends on the material you wish to use for your flooring. Laminate is compatible with underfloor heating systems, but if laid over concrete it may lift if exposed to too much moisture and temperature changes. Vinyl can offer a better alternative depending on the type of vinyl. Rigid core vinyl has a core of limestone which can withstand temperatures of up to 60°c and compatible with underfloor systems up to 27°c. Real tiles, LVT, engineered wood, natural stone and marble are all also natural accompaniments for underfloor heating.

Get in touch

Are you stuck for choice in what material to choose for your conservatory flooring? You can contact us today for a free non obligation chat about your conservatory project. Call us on 01535 958 183 or fill in our online enquiry form.

Why Choose Bingley Windows