Conservatory flooring - what have you got?

[Housemum]

We really can't decide what to put on the floors of a conservatory (not yet built, are just getting the quotes at the moment). Our living room has engineered wood, which is lovely but quite expensive, and although it can be mopped I would prefer something more scrubbable/wettable as the conservatory will be a dining room and also main access to the garden (thinking muddy kids' feet and food slops)

Tiles are an easy option but worried they'd be cold underfoot. We are not putting in underfloor heating due to high running costs/expense to put in.

I like the look of Karndean/Amtico but not sure about the maintenance - do you really need to do the stuff the website says about re-coating every 6 months and only using their products? Would sluicing it with Flash really be disastrous?

Vinyl - we have this in the bathroom and loo, it looks OK but I think it would feel cheap in a big expanse?

What have you got and would you buy it again?

[kittycat68]

i lived in the countryside with three kids in several house. although cold, tiles are the best way to go beacausse all the cleaning you will have to do will wreck most other things and then you would have to replace every 2-3 years.

[ChasingSquirrels]

we have ceramic tiles, with underfloor heating - it is set for about 90 mins in the morning and 90 mins in the late afternoon, but is thermostatic, so only comes on if needed.

I would have ceramic tiles again, just not these ones (but then they were ex-H's choice).

[Lonicera]

ceramic tiles and a big rug

[isthatporridgeinyourzone]

limestone with u/f heating

[Housemum]

I've been to a local carpet shop today and they say that you don't have to do the maintenance thing with Karndean, he has it himself and doesn't although he will sell you the cleaner if you want it!

Looks like about £1000 for a big room (19 square metres) so a lot but not as bad as I feared!

they had a very nice slate-look tile - think I might go for this as slightly warmer than ceramic tiles underfoot.

Chasing - did you notice a jump in your electric bills when you got the underfloor heating?

[ChasingSquirrels]

I didn't think it really went up much at all, but then we don't have it on lots.

[diggingforvictory]

We have Amtico, and love it. It stays warm underfoot (we don't have underfloor heating), and I've only cleaned it with normal liquid cleaner.

[ageing5yearseachyear]

we have karndean- we have had it for 2 years and never used their cleaner. It was the only thing really guarnateed to cope with water etc that wasnt tile.

would really recommend it- because they use a rubberised screed you do get a really good finish. only thing i would say is that it really isnt the warmest finish- esp on a concrete floor-but overall it seemed the best compromise. your price seems about right- we had 3 quotes all came in the same!

[MommaDude]

WE had a conservatory built last year, and mainly use it as a big play room/door to garden, so we opted for hardwood laminate with some easily washable rugs strategically thrown about. The floors are really easy to clean and the rugs make it a bit warmer in the winter. Definitely recommend!

[hobnob]

Have you considered bamboo flooring? We have the natural strand woven sort in our kitchen (which has doors onto the garden, so in some ways does what you want to achieve)and it's extremely hard-wearing and water-resistant. Looks lovely, too.

[mumoverseas]

we've got laminate but love the idea of ceramic tiles with underfloor heating. It gets very cold in the winter and is used as a playroom so that would be ideal.

Can anyone advise how much they think that would cost?