Stone tile bathroom floors have a natural beauty at the same time as being a particularly good practical choice for the bathroom.
Whilst they may require a higher initial investment than some other options they are a very affordable option that makes good economic sense in the long run.

What are Stone Tiles made of?

Stone tiles come in a wide variety of different natural stones. Some of the more commonly used types are marble, granite, slate, flagstone, onyx, limestone and quartzite.
And nature didn’t short change us for style and color options – that’s for sure! There are endless choices of colors and styles – all designed by nature itself.

What are Benefits of Stone Tile Flooring

You can’t fake nature. You really can’t replicate the deep colors and patterns provided in these stones. Stone flooring really is the most stylish and elegant option for your bathroom (amongst other places). So why else would you choose stone tile flooring?

• Easy to maintain – when sealed properly natural stone is very easy to clean and maintain
• Stone tiles come in various sizes to allow scope for design
• Available in the most breath taking colors and patterns
• Durable – hard wearing and long lasting. Might be more expensive initially than other tile flooring types but their long lifespan means that they will long outlast the others and prove more affordable in the long run
• Unique – no two stones have exactly the same look
• Timeless – natural stone will never go out of fashion
• Will add value to your home – due to all of the benefits above stone tiles are valuable and sort after. They will add class and value to your home.

Why Stone Tile Flooring is the Ideal Option for Your Bathroom

In addition to the benefits above stone tile floors are a great option for the bathroom in particular.
Warmth: Though some may think of stones as being cold underfoot this is only true because stones are a good conductor of heat (or lack thereof). Stone tiles go perfectly with under-floor heating as they are a great conductor of that heat. You’ll appreciate that heat under your feet on those cold winter mornings.
Waterproofing: Of course, probably the most important factor for a bathroom floor is how well it will stack up against moisture. Fortunately, when properly sealed stone tiles are ideal for this purpose.

Stone Tile Floor Installation

At LLB Flooring we offer high quality professional installation services at affordable prices. In fact, we guarantee the lowest prices around. Contact us today to further discuss your options or to arrange a quote.

What is the difference between solid vs engineered hardwood flooring? And which is the best option to go with?

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid hardwood flooring is solid wood through and through – nothing but natural quality hardwood straight from nature. For installation purposes this can come pre-finished or be finished on site during installation.
The benefit of prefinished hardwood flooring is that you don’t have the mess and smell associated with finishing on site. It also means that installation is quicker.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring is made up of engineered wood at its core with a veneer of hardwood on the surface. The core is made of an engineered wood such as plywood or HDF. A top layer of natural hardwood is applied to create that solid hardwood look.

Which is the Best Option to Go With?

The answer to that question will depend on your individual needs. There are certain benefits to both which are outlined below.
Engineered:
Engineered hardwood is the cheaper option and generally easier to install. It is also less prone to warping that can occur in environments that have high changes in humidity and temperature – a great option for kitchens.
However, it’s important to choose the right product. Some engineered hardwood has a very thin veneer of solid wood which can lead to a number of problems.
Firstly this can lead to easier warping or fading of the veneer than what you would get with a thicker veneer or solid hardwood. Secondly, it limits the scope for sanding and refinishing – things which can drastically extend the life of the floor.
Solid:
It will last and last and last. It can last generations. Though the initial cost is larger, solid hardwood may be more affordable over the long term. It can be brought back to its original condition time and time again and will last 100 years or more if maintained properly.
If used in parts of the house with high temperature or humidity changes it can be prone to warping. This means it is not the best option for bathrooms or kitchens or climates with these characteristics.

Solid or Engineered?

Both have their benefits depending on what you want out of them. Whichever you choose LLB Flooring has you covered with high quality, excellent service at the lowest prices. Contact us today if you would like to discuss which might be the best for your particular project or to arrange a quote.

There is nothing more alluring and elegant in the flooring world than the look and feel of genuine hardwood flooring. Though more expensive than laminate flooring or tiles, if you are looking for the genuine article then hardwood is the way to go.

What are the Different Types of Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring comes in two different types – Solid hardwood & Engineered hardwood. Solid hardword can also be broken down into traditional solid hardwood and prefinished hardwood.
Traditional solid hardwood: Like the name suggests this is the traditional way of doing hardwood flooring. All natural hardwood through the whole thickness of the floor (as opposed to engineered hardwood – see below. Finishing takes place on site – which has the downside of the mess, smells and time taken to install.
Prefinished Hardwood Flooring: Like traditional solid hardwood, the prefinished variety is solid hardwood through and through. However, as the name suggests the wood is prefinished off site. The main advantages to this is that you don’t get the mess and smells associated with onsite finishing plus the installation on site is much quicker.
A lot of prefinished hardwood has also been UV treated to protect against fading caused by the sun.
Engineered Hardwood: Engineered hardwood flooring is made up of a couple of layers. The core layer is engineered wood such as plywood or HDF and has a top layer of natural hardwood. This gives you the beauty and elegance of the natural wood but has the advantage of being more stable, particularly in environments where the heat and moisture levels can change a lot. This can save money on restoration costs as engineered hardwood won’t contract and expand like solid hardwood can.

What are the Benefits of Hardwood Flooring?

Apart from the already mentioned look and feel, hardwood floors are the healthier choice over carpet, particularly for those with dust and dander allergies. Dust and dander can be trapped in carpet and released into the air causing those with allergies to be affected. This is not an issue with hardwood floors as there is nowhere for this dust and dander to get trapped.
The hardwood that is best for you will depend on your circumstances and budget. There are different benefits for each type of hardwood.

Hardwood Flooring Installation

Our experienced professional installers take great pride in their work when installing hardwood floors. Contact us today to discuss your options in more detail or to get a quote.

Kitchen floors have a tough job. They need to be durable and strong to handle foot traffic and potential falling objects. They also need to be able to stand up to heat and moisture and have superior stain resistant qualities.
On top of all that they need to be stylish and pleasing on the eye. So what are the flooring options for kitchens that fit these tough criteria? There are many options that will do the job – some better than others but some that fit the budget better than others too.

Stone Tile Flooring

Properly sealed, stone tile flooring is an elegant and practical option for kitchen floors. Stone tiles are durable and withstand high traffic and will look amazing. They will also handle the moisture, stains etc well – the one downside is in order to ensure they continue to be good at this they need be resealed regularly.

Hardwood Flooring

Like stone tiles, hardwood floors are a great long lasting, durable and stylish option for your kitchen floor. When properly finished they are also a great option for stain resistance and easy cleaning and maintenance.
But should you choose solid hardwood or engineered hardwood? Solid hardwood is, as it sounds, natural wood all the way through. Engineered hardwood has a core of engineered wood (e.g. plywood) with a layer of the natural hardwood on top.
In the case of kitchen floors the engineered variety is actually the best way to go. This is because it is less prone to warping caused by changes in humidity and changes in temperature – which is, of course, going on a lot in kitchens.

Vinyl Flooring

If you are looking for a softer and cheaper option then Vinyl flooring might suit your needs best. It is stain resistant and moisture resistant, easy to clean. It is also soft which means less chance of things breaking if you drop them!
Whilst not as stylish or as long lasting as the stone and wood options above it has its own benefits and might be the best option for your budget especially if you spend long amounts of time in the kitchen (this softer floor can be more forgiving underfoot).

Cork Flooring

Speaking of softer underfoot, cork flooring is just that. So it has the same benefits of soft floors as vinyl flooring. Also like vinyl flooring, it is a low cost choice and is naturally stain and moisture resistant.
In addition to this it is a great non slip surface and is environmentally sustainable. It will require resealing every few years to avoid moisture getting through the seams but this is still a great low cost option for your kitchen floors.

Porcelain Tile Flooring

If you like that tile look but want a cheaper option than stone then porcelain floors are the way to go. It is incredibly durable, stain and moisture resistant. It may not have quite the elegance of natural stone but it comes in a variety of styles and will still look great in your kitchen – and won’t set you back quite as much.
LLB Flooring has you covered for all of your kitchen flooring needs. We provide an excellent service at affordable prices. Contact us today to discuss your options in more detail or to arrange a quote.

There are many benefits to using ceramic and many of these benefits make ceramic tile bathroom floors a great option. Ceramic tiles are made from clay which is superheated and this produces a material with a long list of benefits.

The Benefits of Ceramic Tile Floors

Durable: Ceramic tiles are incredibly tough so they will stand up to a lot of punishment. And if any cracks were to occur in a tile, it is a relatively simple process to replace that one tile and left the rest untouched.
Stain & Moisture resistance: Ceramic tiles for bathrooms are glazed which means they have a protective layer which protects them from moisture and stains. It is also naturally stable in high humidity. Ideal qualities for bathrooms
Fire resistant: They are fire resistant and don’t burn – and they don’t emit toxic fumes or smoke.
Easy to Maintain: Very easy to clean and maintain – always a bonus! Stains, dirt etc reside on the surface of the tiles (don’t soak in) meaning it’s easier to wipe them off.
Slip resistance: Ceramic tiles often have anti-slip methods applied to the surface -another great reason why they are well suited to bathrooms.
Allergies: Due to the hard surface of ceramics it does not harbour or attract dust or dander which makes it a great option for anyone with allergies.
Affordable: It is a nice low cost option when compared to the likes of natural tone tiles. And there still a large number of stylish design options.
Design Flexibility: There is a huge variety of patterns and colors to choose from. Not only that, you can choose from a large number of different sizes to find your preferred style.
Easy installation: Ceramic tiles are generally easy to install, making this a do it yourself option. And if you prefer to not do it yourself, it is quick and affordable to have professionally installed.

A Great Option for the Bathroom

As a choice for the bathroom ceramic tiles are a great option. As mentioned above they are stain and moisture resistant and are very stable in high humidity. They are also, durable, easy to clean can be made non-slip and are affordable.

Ceramic Tile Flooring Installation

At LLB Flooring we provide an excellent installation service at a very affordable price. If you are considering ceramic tiles for your bathroom contact us to discuss your options further or to receive a quote. We guarantee the lowest price around and stand by the quality of our work.

Choosing the best flooring for dogs is a decision that needs to take into account a couple of variables. And yes it probably is going to somewhat restrict your choice of flooring.
Dogs have claws, have the potential for bathroom accidents and can cause unpleasant odors in your house. If you don’t choose the right type of flooring these doggy factors are going to wreak havoc on your floors.

Harwood Flooring

Unfortunately for those that love their hardwood floors, this type of flooring and your dog do not mix. Your dog’s claws, no matter how well trimmed, will eventually leave your hardwood floors scratched and dented.
Also if there happen to be any bathroom accidents a dog’s urine can cause staining on hardwood floors. Regrettably, hardwood floors are not a good option for those with dogs.

Laminate Flooring

If you still want that wood look but also want the floor to be dog resistant then laminate flooring might be the way to go. Laminate flooring’s protective layer does a good job at being scratch resistant against light scratching, like that which would come from your dog’s claws.
They are also moisture and stain resistant, meaning that any accidents won’t cause damage and will be easy to clean up.
It is also easy to repair and sections can be repaired or replaced separately so if damage is caused it is easy and affordable to fix.

Vinyl Flooring

Like laminate flooring, vinyl flooring is scratch, stain and moisture resistant, meaning that it will do a good job to accommodate your dog.
It also has the same easy to replace and repair qualities as laminate flooring.

Stone & Ceramic Tile Flooring

Stone and ceramic tile flooring are hard and durable options and won’t scratch easily and any scratching that does occur won’t be noticeable. If there are any accidents these are easy to clean up and won’t leave any damage or stains.
Unfortunately stone & ceramic tiles, whilst great in your bathroom, kitchen and other areas of your house, aren’t the ideal choice for your living areas or bedrooms.

Carpets

A dog is likely to cause damage to carpets fairly quickly. This and the fact that any doggy bathroom accidents will leave a tricky clean up job, and potentially nasty odors, don’t make carpets a great option for homes with dogs.
Plus, odors in general from your dog lying in the carpet may become unpleasant for visitors (you might be used to it but your visitors can smell it!)
If you really have to go with carpets try to find the odor resistant varieties and carpets without loops that your dogs claws can get stuck in.
At LLB Flooring we have a large variety of affordable flooring options that will work well for dog owners. Contact us today to discuss your options further.