No matter whether you’re creating a garden room for work or simply relaxation, selecting the appropriate flooring is of utmost importance. Your selection should be durable enough to withstand weather fluctuations while matching up perfectly with your design choices and personal aesthetic.
Carpet offers many design possibilities but can quickly become unruly and isn’t suitable for garden offices due to moisture resistance issues. Tiles make an excellent long-term and low maintenance choice that are easy to keep clean.
Hardwood
Natural wood flooring is the go-to choice for garden offices, and there is an assortment of hardwood finishes available to complement any interior design scheme. Solid hardwood offers timeless aesthetics, high resale value and durability; however upfront costs tend to be higher than alternative options and this type of floor shouldn’t be used in areas prone to moisture or standing water.
Engineered wood is a more sustainable choice that offers the look and performance of hardwood flooring at a more reasonable cost and with greater resilience than its hardwood counterpart. Engineered hardwood has real wood on the top layer while its core is constructed by pressing together multiple layers of plywood in a crosshatched pattern for greater strength, stability and resilience that’s less susceptible to moving or expanding with changes in temperature or humidity.
Engineered hardwood floors come in various wood species such as Oak, Maple and Hickory; widths up to 5″ are offered and surface effects such as hand-scraping or distressed can add vintage charm or texture to your space. Plus they’re protected with an innovative protective finish which requires no further touch-up onsite – ready for immediate use.
Laminate wood floors are an economical and eco-friendly alternative to hardwood, offering an abundance of colors ranging from pale birch finishes to dark walnut hues. Their boards simply click together for easy assembly into an instant wood effect floor that is easy to keep clean and durable – many manufacturers now even provide “commercial grade” laminate flooring which comes equipped with additional protection to avoid damages or staining due to heavy usage.
Vinyl floors provide another alternative to hardwood flooring and are available as sheets, tiles, or click systems that connect each piece together. With increasing patterns and colours available each year resembling stones tiles or wood, there’s something perfect for every taste – simple maintenance with soap and water should keep it looking brand new for many years!
Hardwood and vinyl floors are among the finest choices to add value and comfort to any home. When compared with synthetic floor coverings, these materials are easier to maintain while creating a warmer and cozier living space for homeowners.
Carpet
Garden offices resemble homes in that there are various finishes available for their floor surfaces. Carpet is a popular option as it adds warmth and can easily be installed into tiles – making professional replacement easier if damaged patches appear. Over the past decade, carpet technology has advanced tremendously, now with diverse textures and colors available; carpet production doesn’t necessitate cutting down trees! This option also provides a good eco-friendly option as no trees need be cut down to produce it!
Softwood floorboards are another timeless classic for garden rooms, typically constructed of pine and fixed directly into the joists. These boards typically receive a luxurious varnish finish to add warmth and natural charm, or can even be limewashed to give a more subdued appearance that fits well in rustic or bohemian settings. Carpet is less durable, yet more affordable if comfort is what is desired over hard wood or tiles flooring options.
Tiles
Tile flooring is the superior choice for garden offices due to their durability with weather changes, ease of cleaning and variety of styles available to suit your style. Carpet can also be cheaper but doesn’t hold up well against moisture or dirt accumulation.
Timber flooring can add rustic charm to any office. However, its susceptibility to weather changes and expense makes it less appealing. For an authentic wood feel in an office setting, softwood floorboards should be used which are usually sanded, stained and varnished before being sealed for durability without regular maintenance requirements such as tile.
Porcelain tile is an ideal material to choose when decorating garden rooms and offices as it resists scratches, stains and moisture. Furthermore, its hardwearing composition withstands furniture weight without cracking under pressure. Furthermore, tiles come in various patterns and colours that suit different situations as well as thickness options that meet different requirements.
Concrete flooring can give your garden office a sleek modern aesthetic, as it is a long-term and durable material which can be sealed to improve water resistance and stain resistance. Furthermore, it can be painted to match other parts of the room and combined with area rugs or underfloor heating for additional comfort.
Rubber flooring has evolved over time into an elegant flooring choice, expanding beyond its initial bold colour palette to include sophisticated patterns. It can be adhered to the floor directly or installed using self-adhesive strips or click systems where each section ‘clicks’ into place – making this type of floor easy to keep clean while brightening up any office environment.
Concrete
Concrete floors offer modern and industrial aesthetics while being hardwearing surfaces that can take the abuse of garden offices, with stainable and colour options to fit the interior style of each office. A great alternative to wood or carpet as it withstands changing climate and humidity levels more reliably while being more cost effective over time than other forms of flooring solutions.
Concrete flooring is highly resilient to stains and chemicals, easy to maintain, and resistant to damage – making it the ideal material for high traffic areas like garden offices. Polishing the concrete adds another dimension of refined aesthetic. Regular cleaning with pH neutral cleaner and damp mop is recommended to keep concrete in good condition.
Garden offices typically sit on concrete slab foundations, and it is important to ensure they can breathe freely. Without adequate air circulation, damp can penetrate timber frames and lead to fungal attacks; suppliers have tried to address this by installing ventilation slots into the sides of their foundation; however this creates a space underneath which could serve as a harborage point for rodents.
Some designers take an inventive approach to solving this issue by building structures on joists spaced apart with a timber perimeter framework encasing them, creating a raised floor which allows airflow around the building while still offering support – however this type of floor covering requires more resilient covering like laminate or carpet for optimal results.
An effective insulation board with high thermal value should always be used on a joist floor in a garden office, to avoid heat loss through the flooring and make energy savings possible.
Proper insulation of your garden room is key to enjoying it throughout the year, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer while helping reduce carbon emissions. Insulation also offers a fantastic opportunity to lower carbon footprint.
