Hi mnmr44, I find that tiles (with underfloor heating) are easy to clean and very versatile, but for some reason my clients always end up preferring engineered timber floor, mainly for the natural and cosy feeling it provides. You can get the tiles that look like timber too which I have seen used successfully and not so successfully in the past! Are the two spaces connected? If so a hardwearing finish on timber is really necessary. Alternatively I have seen some gorgeous "concrete effect floors recently that just sparkle! Epoxy Resin terrazzo, there are so many fun variations and will be hard wearing for the basement (which can also be specified as reflective too, to help light bounce deeper into the room. Mixed with a great interior design scheme you can warm everything up, or cool everything down, so the possibilities are endless. I would recommend choosing something you love and then seeing what options exist with the material or look you are going for. I am a sucker for terrazzo and engineered timber myself! I hope this helped give you some ideas! Have a great day. Jo

Hi Simone, Lacquer vs oil (& hardwax oil) is one of those industry topics on which there is rarely consensus on which is best. The answer is never black or white and each finishing type has it's own advocates on either side. The good news is that the technology behind oils, wax/oils and lacquer finishes has moved on significantly over recent years and it is possible to achieve a 'natural' matt looking floor regardless of the generic type that will protect your floor and maintain it's appearance (though note later the comment about the 'yellowing' of oils). Aesthetics aside, we also discuss with our customers that they might want to consider a few of other factors when chosing between an oiled, hardwax oil or lacquered floor - the main ones being the maintenance regime required to keep the floor in top condition, and repair options if the floor finish is damaged e.g.heavily scratched or scraped. Lacquered floors In very general terms, lacquers are very resilient and work by forming a tough protective film on the top surface. They require little in terms of a maintenance regime - brushing and the occasional clean with a damp cloth and a proprietary cleaning solution. If the lacquer layer is damaged it is difficult to effect a repair that is as good as the initial finish - this is especially true if the floor was supplied with the lacquer already applied (pre-finished). Sometimes the only solution to gain an acceptable repair is to sand the floor back and apply a new lacquer finish. Some people refer to lacquers as 'varnish'. Oiled floors Oils soak (penetrate) into the timber rather than sitting on the surface and are considered to be less resilient than lacquers. They also require regular maintenance - regular in this sense depends on footfall (traffic) and other environmental factors but could be as little as once every 12-18 months or several times during the same period. We say to our clients that an oiled floor needs 'feeding', by which we mean that it will require more oil over a period of time to keep the floor in good condition. Some oils can turn slightly yellow over time which needs to be considered if you are applying them to a light coloured floor. Any damage is easier to repair and to blend with the original finish - often a light sand and the application of more oil to the area is all that is required to achieve an acceptable finish. Hardwax oiled floors Hardwax oils are a relatively new product in the floor finishing armoury and were formulated to try and offer the advantages of both a lacquered and an oiled floor in that they soak into the timber (like and oil) whilst still leaving a protective layer on the surface (like a lacquer). It is for this reason that most advocates rate hardwax oil over oil alone. Arguably the wax layer isn't as resilient as a lacquer, particularly in areas of high traffic, but in most domestic applications it performs adequately. There is some opinion that hardwax oils look more natural than lacquer, although modern 'super matt' lacquers are also excellent in this respect The maintenance of a hardwax oil is akin to that of an oiled floor and likewise they are also easy to repair. Hardwax products, have an element of wax incorporated which when buffed creates a glossy sheen. This means that the look may be less matt than you might want, however a hardwax oiled floor can be buffed until the desired sheen level is achieved - something that you cant do with a lacquered floor. The wax layer can also trap and encapsulate dirt which will make the floor look dull and dirty, hence why a regular maintenance regime is required. Lacquer and oil finishing brands Bona and Osmo are the brand leaders in this area, however there are quite a few others, all of whom produce finishes, stains and aftercare solutions that are readily available online, these include the likes of Woca, Dr Schutz and Rubio. Sticking to one manufacture ensures compatibility across the main finish, stains and the maintenance/cleaning products. Hopefully the above will be of some help. Good luck with the project Cambium Floors

Hi Lorraine, do you have any colours in mind? For a modern shimmer we suggest you opt for neutral walls with a light striped carpet. Team with accessories in plush textures and natural hues. Our Avebury range, pictured here, is bang on trend and helps create a fresh contemporary atmosphere. It also comes in a choice of 20 neutral shades in either a level,textured or striped design, which means you’ll be sure to find something you love. Have a browse here https://www.cormarcarpets.co.uk/product_avebury/product_avebury.php. Or what about opting for a lustrous, super soft, carpet in a contemporary neutral shade? Complement with low height sofas and large light windows for a soft and serene living space. Our Soft Focus carpet range is almost silk-like in appearance and has all the easy-clean benefits of a polypropylene carpet, making ideal for all areas of the home. https://www.cormarcarpets.co.uk/product_soft-focus/product_soft-focus.php

Trendy products like SPC Flooring are seizing market share from competing hard surface categories. And laminate flooring is still consumers’ consideration in terms of durability and scratch resistance. Many people find it difficult to differentiate them, actually there are a lot of differences between these two types of flooring. 1. Structure From a broader perspective, SPC flooring actually belongs to the vinyl flooring family, whereas the laminate flooring is a kind of hybrid wood flooring, which results in the fundamental difference in their structure and in its performance. DECNO SPC flooring consists of UV coating + wear layer+HD decor film + rigid core+ underlay: The core material used for DECNO SPC flooring is 100% virgin material. It is made from polyvinyl chloride and calcium powder which is an environment-friendly and non-toxic renewable material. No heave metal contained such as benzene, lead or cadmium, etc, and no toxic substances during the entire manufacturing process. Laminate flooring is made of aluminum oxide coating + decor film + HDF/MDF board + balancing layer: Fiberboard is normally used to be the core board for laminate flooring, which is a type of engineered wood product made out of wood fibers. It can be medium density fiberboard or high-density fiberboard. 2. Eco-friendly DECNO SPC flooring is made of 100% virgin material which also guarantees it is formaldehyde-free certified by SGS and FloorScore. You can install it in your home,or commercial facilities that are especially concerned about health such as the nursing home, schools, etc. But for laminate flooring, which is made of the fiberboard, it may have slight formaldehyde-releasing issue(E0≤0.5mg/L, E1≤1.5mg/L). With more and more concerns about well-being, this may be a big drawback for laminate flooring. 3. Waterproof & Application DECNO SPC flooring with exclusive “5S” U-Guard coating and underlay technique ensure its 100% waterproof and moisture-resistance performance from top to bottom. You can install it in wet areas like bathrooms, laundry areas, kitchens, or for commercial uses such as malls, offices, nursing houses, schools, etc. No warping, buckling or deformation occurred on DECNO SPC flooring even soaked in water for 48 hours. However, laminate flooring will swell or curl up when it comes into contact with water, no to mention soaked in water. 4. Dimensional Stability Because of the material and production, DECNO SPC flooring is much more dimensionally stable than laminate flooring. After several-time acclimation which will cool down the extruded SPC rigid core to normal temperature, DECNO SPC flooring has better dimensional stability and longer lifespan than any other flooring. No afraid of severe temperature or humidity changes. Otherwise, laminate will swell and expand due to heat and contraction caused by heat or cold. 5. Stain-resistance & Maintenance Maintenance is always a big part of daily life, you may need to spend much more time and money to keep the flooring in good condition. DECNO SPC flooring with the unique coating is extremely waterproof, stain resistance and scratch resistance. You can just sweep and mop the flooring to make it clean. It will stay excellent without additional waxing. Spare your time enjoying your happy life. As for laminate flooring, there are a few precautions to take in case you damage the flooring. Because it is not waterproof, you should avoid wet while cleaning. And it will leave stains when you spill. It would be better to use the products designed for laminate flooring. 6. Sound Absorption The rigid core and IXPE underlay attached to DECNO SPC flooring will help to reduce noise levels and make walking sounds less noisy. Make your space heaven to rest and leisure. But it is not the same case for laminate flooring. Because it is not made of sound-proof material, it will generate a higher level of noise in comparison with SPC flooring. 7. Others The average cost of SPC flooring s less than laminate flooring, which adds much more favorable attributes. DECNO SPC flooring is your first choice when you want to have a waterproof solution for your space; The flame retardant classification is Bfl-s1, no toxic gas released; Safety everywhere: anti-slip (classification R10), no more falling accident. As you can see, SPC flooring featuring exceptional performance in all terms is definitely the best choice for residential and commercial applications. No matter what your lifestyle is, or what type of home design you desire, you can always find the perfect solution with DECNO SPC flooring. Whatsapp/ Wechat: +86 17736066787 E-mail: sales@decnoflooring.com Website: www.decnofloorings.com DECNO Group Ltd-- professional & reliable manufacturer of ChinaDECNO website