Best floor covering for concrete flooring

A popular option for commercial flooring in Chester and other parts of the country, concrete also provides a firm foundation in many homes. Extremely durable and with excellent thermal characteristics, concrete is ideal for construction and works well with innovative underfloor heating. However, while some people enjoy the modern appearance of polished concrete, others seeking to create a specific look and feel choose to top it with a floor finish.

A diverse array of floor coverings work effectively with concrete flooring and in this guide, we’ll examine some of the best. Read on to discover which is right choice for your home or business.

Carpet

While concrete has many outstanding qualities, comfort is not among them. As a result, many commercial and domestic property owners opt for wall-to-wall carpet or carpet tiles. An average- to thick-pile carpet can add a soft and warm layer between occupants and the hard, cold concrete below in homes. However, thinner carpet tiles can be ideal for commercial use. An easy-care option, they can increase the appeal of flooring but can easily be swapped out when worn or damaged, saving the expense and disruption of recarpeting the entire area.

Engineered wood

Handsome to look at and sturdily constructed, engineered wood is an excellent floor covering for concrete floors. Adding both warmth and character to concrete, installations are also compatible with level substrates. Orderable at a fraction of the price of solid timber, engineered wood appears like the genuine article. This is because the top-most layer of its construction is high-quality hardwood. However, multiple layers of plywood are included below which allows the engineered boards to cope well with changes in temperature and moisture, avoiding unwanted warping.

Laminate

A cost-effective alternative to wooden or tiled flooring, laminate comes in a wide range of colours or can be designed to mimic natural wood or tiles. Constructed similarly to engineered wood, laminate is a multi-layer product with the top layer featuring a high-resolution image of a wood grain or tile type, or in some cases, simply a solid block of colour.

Eco-friendly businesses and homeowners will be happy to hear that many laminate flooring options are created with composite materials, so no tress are felled for their production. Laminate is works as a floating floor which can be useful when concrete flooring has imperfections or an uneven surface.

Vinyl

Softer than tiles to walk on, but water resistant, hardwearing and easy to care for, vinyl is a popular floor choice to deploy on concrete flooring. It can be bought in sheet form or as tiles and planks. This latter format is referred to as Luxury Vinyl Tile, or LVT for short, and is constructed using the same multi-layered technique as laminate to mirror more expensive floor finishes like engineered wood, porcelain and natural stone. Vinyl also includes transparent layers of protection which defend flooring against stains and scratches, making it exceptionally durable.

Finally, it’s worth noting that waterproof membranes and cushioning underlay are advised additions to enhance comfort and protection before softer floor finishes are fitted.