As we can see from the last decade, the issue of flooding in certain parts of the UK is serious, and not one that is going to go away. Even a small ingress of water can cause serious damage to the flooring in your home, often requiring it to be entirely replaced.

If your home is in an area that is susceptible to flooding then the first step should always be to try and prevent water from getting inside at all. Secondly, applying a good quality floor sealant can significantly help keep it getting into cracks.

There are various types of flooring that are more suitable for flood-prone areas, although of course if you have a heavy ingress then the ground-floor and, if you have, one, the basement of your home are probably going to be seriously damaged whatever you do.

As we’ve mentioned on our blog before, rubber is a very versatile flooring type. If you suffer flooding, pull up your rubber tiles immediately and hang them up somewhere to thoroughly dry out. Once they have done, then disinfect them and scrub them down, and also the surface beneath the tiles too, to prevent the buildup of mould and mildew. Don’t re-lay until everything is completely dry.

Vinyl flooring is also effective at keeping water out, but we strongly advise getting all seams sealed properly if you worry about water ingress.

Another good option is ceramic tiles. They look beautiful, and are very resistant to water. Ensure they are professionally laid, and set with thinset mortar instead of mastic. Very durable, treat them regularly to keep water out and you will find them easy to maintain and clean.

Ultimately, if you are unlucky enough to live in an area that is vulnerable to floods then you are likely to experience property damage at some point. It’s best not to put down anything too expensive on the floor if you expect it may be ruined before long, so vinyl is probably the best option cost-wise. Certainly avoid carpet unless you want the hassle and expense of replacing it regularly.

We’re all familiar by now with the most common measures we can take to make our homes more environmentally-friendly such as installing loft and wall insulation; fitting solar panels; installing low-energy bulbs and recycling as much as possible, but one aspect that is often overlooked is flooring.

There are in fact numerous flooring solutions that look good, don’t cost a fortune, and are very beneficial to the environment. Let’s discuss a few of them.

Cork
Cork is a fantastic material for flooring which is why it has been used for centuries. It’s very durable and comfortable, and it’s naturally resistant to mould and mildew, useful to know when you live in a mild climate such as ours. The cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees which are common in Spain and Portugal. So the tree doesn’t need to be cut down and can provide material for generations, and there is a fairly low carbon footprint for transportation too. One last plus – cork flooring results in very little waste. It’s one of the best green flooring options in our book.

Rubber
Similar to cork, the rubber tree doesn’t need to be destroyed during the harvesting process. Rubber is great because not only is it hugely functional – non-slip, easy to maintain and durable, but it is very sustainable – at the end of its lifespan rubber can be reused in many cases, or if not, in landfill there is little risk of harmful chemicals seeping into the ground. It’s also good when it comes to cleaning – just a bit of warm water will do the job in most cases, no need for harmful cleansing agents.

Recycled Carpet
If you’re wanting to install or replace a carpet then it’s worth asking your suppliers if they feature any ranges that incorporate recycled material. Many manufacturers have seen the appeal of “green flooring solutions” and have at least one range available. This type of flooring tends to cost a bit more, but it should last just as long.