The floor is yours

When it comes to the future of flooring, Stephen Hunt, of Ian Hunt Flooring, says luxury is on the cards - specifically when it comes to vinyl tiles.

Stephen, one of Ian Hunt's three directors, recently returned from the Surfaces trade show held in Las Vegas each January, which highlights innovation in the flooring industry. This can include anything from design trends and the latest products, through to new installation techniques and equipment.

He reports that the current global trend is a movement towards a greater area of hard flooring in the home, "unfortunately at the expense of soft finishing carpet", while the rapid developments in the luxury vinyl tile market is particularly of interest to New Zealanders.

The quality and scope of these tiles, which are designed to look like natural materials such as granite or wood, is on the rise, and he is excited about two new generation of these tiles set to enter the market here this year via Jacobsen.

The first, Aspecta's Aspecta One is suitable for either residential or commercial use thanks to its extra-heavy duty wear layer. Jacobsen will be supplying 20 colours - 13 wood designs in three sizes and seven stone designs in two sizes - while there will be a mini plank available for additional design work such as chevron, basket weave and herringbone. Suitable for residential kitchens and bathrooms, the tiles are installed glue down and are both free of what's known as SVHC (substance of very high concern) and phthalate, with low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

The second of Jacobsen's new luxury vinyl tiles is Shaw Contract's Concrete + Composed collection, which features COREtec XRC technology to give each tile a stable construction with a dense and rigid core. This makes it desirable for areas that see a lot of foot traffic, whether that's residential or commercial. With either a textured concrete or rich woodgrain style, the tiles are low maintenance and are quick to install either glue down or as a floating floor, with little or no prep required.

The tile's technology is completely waterproof, meaning they can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms with no fears of the effects of topical moisture.

The technology also softens the sound of footsteps due to its attached cork underlay, and the tiles come with an ExoGuard finish that pairs with low gloss and proper embossing for stain, scratch and abrasion resistance.

Another global trend hitting our shores is German-made laminate flooring which is all the rage in Europe's finest new homes. This next generation of laminate flooring - another way to get that real timber floor look - has new water-resistant features, making it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms for the first time.

"Laminate flooring has long since freed itself from its natural predecessor, engineered wood - not least because of its high resilience and easy maintenance, which also makes it suitable for heavy duty demands in intensively used rooms," Stephen says.

Ian Hunt Flooring's range of Parador laminate flooring is suitable for use throughout the home thanks to its durable top layer made of melamine resin overlay and special swell-resistant core board. It also features a patented click-mechanism that ensures moisture protection and easy installation.

The Parador flooring is low on emissions and allergens, using materials that are healthy for the home with a reduced electrostatic charge. It's also easy to clean, making it suitable for homes with allergy sufferers, children and pets.

The development of Parador's Modular ONE range has allowed the move into bathrooms and other wet rooms, while still allowing underfloor heating. The range features a special core board with a waterproof coating protecting it for up to four hours in standing water.

The water-resistant laminate is free of plasticisers, low in emissions and only uses certified raw materials for ecological production purposes, while the cork on its reverse assists with sound insulation. It is warm to walk on, anti-skid and its elasticity makes it easy on the joints.

Four tips for great floors:

Read your room

The size of the available space should be the determining factor in choosing your product. For example, the effect of a wide-board laminate or luxury vinyl tile can be lost in a small area because you simply don't see enough board widths across a floor. Conversely, a standard-width board can appear busy in a larger area, depending on its colour, texture and design.

Don't skimp on your products

A plain or non-textured laminate is usually an entry-level product and gives you wood imagery without the textural look and finish. If you upgrade to a mid-to-upper-end laminate, you'll get a more realistic look and feel. When you run your fingers across the laminate you'll feel a wood texture, while an emboss alignment will give an impression of the feel of knots and natural textures in the wood.

Stay on trend

The current trend is definitely about having more of a matte or natural finish rather than glossy or shiny. The trend in real wood products is towards a more natural oiled finish as opposed to shiny polyurethane, and laminates and so luxury vinyl tiles tend to follow this informal rule to achieve a more authentic look. A textured and more matte finish also can help hide imperfections in the subfloor.

Keep it natural

No matter the product selection, whether it's laminate, luxury vinyl tiles or engineered wood, trends are moving away from a rustic look for their flooring with knots and imperfections, opting instead for a natural, cleaner style.