Choosing flooring for a Cornish coastal home

Start with how you use the house. Is it your everyday home, a holiday property or somewhere you visit at weekends? The same flooring will not necessarily suit every room, and being near the sea is only one part of the choice.

Plan for sandy entrances

Think about where shoes, bags and dogs come into the house. Suitable mats and a regular cleaning routine help reduce grit carried through the rooms. Ask how the flooring you like should be cleaned and which mat backings are suitable.

Consider heating and ventilation

If rooms are left unheated for long periods, tell us before you choose. Wood and other flooring products have recommended room conditions. Check those requirements against how the property will be used throughout the year.

Understand the existing floor

Point out uneven levels, signs of damp or previous water damage. These need to be considered before a new covering is ordered. An older property may also need advice from a building or conservation specialist.

Compare colour in the room

Look at samples beside furniture and paint colours, in daylight and with the lights on. The direction of the room and the materials around it can change how a colour looks. Ask about sample availability for the ranges you like.

Bring photographs, approximate room sizes and a note of how the house is used to either showroom. That gives us a useful starting point for comparing materials and discussing a free measure.