Mosaic
        An ancient floor covering of glass silica, clay or marble chips, the cost of labor may yet make mosaic floors a relic. They are durable, noisy cared for like tile, and tempting. Color, patterns and motifs are as limitless as your imagination.

Granite
        This material is rock solid. Neither heat nor water nor spills will damage its non-porous surface. Homed and flamed-textured granite is non-slip, with matt finishes ideal for the kitchen. On speckled granite floors you can’t see the crumbs. Granite is expensive (though more sophisticated extraction processes have brought prices down), heavy, predisposed to being cold, difficult to cut, and noisy when walked on. Granite is now available in thin tiles which extend mottled colorways from browns, beiges, dull red and black to include crystallized hues with gemstone sparkles.

Linoleum
        Quick, familiar labels don’t really do justice to linoleum-strong, flexible, classic, warm, tranquil, hygienic and durable. It is made in an environmentally responsible way from natural ingredients including linseed oil, ground cork, wood, flour and resins, baked slowly at high temperatures and pressed on to a jute or Hessian backing. Linoleum is static free, resists cigarette burns and kills off bacteria found on the floor. Linoleum flooring comes in plain and marbled colors, and practically looks after itself: simply sweep, wash and occasionally wipe it down with a polish.

Vinyl
        Functional, comfortable, low-cost vinyl is the best choice for family life. The surfaces  is wipe able; water and stains don’t penetrate. Vinyl cushions your feet and has good traction. It comes in sheets, some wide enough to fit seamfree and tiles in hundreds of designs and colors. The thicker the vinyl, the more cushioning, more durable and more expensive the floors. Sheet vinyl can be laid over existing floors. Vinyl tiles are the perfect DIY project – cheap and easy to install – but they may shift warp if badly laid on wood or around wet areas like the sink.

Cork
        Warm, comfortable, lightweight and quiet underfoot, a cork floor’s patina can improve with use, its palette is narrow, limited to natural color. Made from natural cork, compressed with binders and baked, it is easy to fit (with glue) but needs sealing to prevent wear and staining.

Rubber
        The milky sap from the rubber tree mixed with chalk, powdered slate, asphalt, cement, cork or marble chips gives us rubber flooring. Rubber comes in wetsuit finishes, primary and pastel colors, and in industrial studded sheets. It can be glued to any sound, dry floor and only requires a metal edging or cap. Hot pots and cigarettes burn its water-resistant face.

Concrete
        A centuries-old mixture of cement power, sand and water, concrete is affordable, sensitive to site and climate. It has an austere quality in slab form, much less so as tiles, or when waxed or stained. Concrete floors can be economical for new homes, kitchen additions or kitchens requiring new screed, although special finishes can make it very expensive. Concrete is susceptible to chipping and cracking and must be sealed against oil and food stains.