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.

Hardwood is one of the most popular forms
of flooring in the UK – it looks absolutely fantastic, lasts for years and many suitable woods are available that will suit a home.

That’s why so many people who want the look of wooden floors turn instead to vinyl plank flooring. It comes with numerous advantages over the real thing from which, on a good day, the more expensive brands are virtually indistinct.

It tends to be far more durable than actual hardwood. You can get a range of treatments that maximise its lifespan. With a double urethane coating comes effective protection from both stains and scuffs, meaning a lot less time spent on the knees scrubbing marks off. You can also get mildew inhibitors, perfect for homes on the coast or older houses which can often see a lot of damp, and uv-resistance to prevent your floor losing its colour where it is exposed to direct sunlight.

Another nice feature of vinyl planks is that you can paint them, so if you decide you want a darker shade after a while, or you want a white planking effect which is particularly attention-grabbing, this can be done again far less expensively than if you were using real wood.

Wooden flooring has traditionally tended to be the preserve of residential buildings given it’s not ideal for areas of high traffic. But you can get quite thick vinyl planks that can be used in commercial spaces and because it’s relatively inexpensive to replace a worn out plank, this can be a good way to give an office a unique look.