There are five main types of natural materials to consider when going for natural flooring:

SISAL

Praised for its durability and hard-wearing qualities, sisal carpets are ideal for areas that see a lot of action, often used within hallways, stairs, and corridors. Among the most popular of natural flooring materials, its high insulation properties also make it a great option for bedrooms. Sisal comes in a variety of colours and structures to suit all design preferences, from chunky and textured to soft and fine. This material is derived from the fibres of the sisal plant, a type of agave plant grown primarily in Brazil, meaning it is non-toxic and will biodegrade after its lifetime. Sisal’s upkeep is also low-maintenance and it is significantly more cost-effective than other types of natural flooring.

JUTE

Spun from vegetable plant fibres, jute offers a soft, soothing surface that is ideal for spaces you’ll want to relax and unwind in. Best suited to bedrooms and living rooms, jute is recommended for lower-traffic areas of the home due to its extreme softness. It mostly comes in natural, earthy tones, bringing a cosy feel to snug spaces. 

SEAGRASS

Seagrass flooring encompasses the all-natural effect with its light and tropical feel. Its varied texture offers a unique, organic look that is extremely easy to clean and far less susceptible to water-marking than other materials. This makes it a great option for dining or living areas. A relatively thin carpet, seagrass is ideal for maintaining a cooler temperature in homes that are well-insulated. It is one of the least expensive avenues for natural flooring but still delivers on quality with its luxurious bright colours and organic fibres.

COIR

Sourced from the fibres of coconut husks, coir offers a simplistic, warming look that is extremely hardwearing and robust. Its durability makes it fitting for any room, but its noise-cancelling and insulating properties lend particularly well to living and sleeping areas. Coir’s natural golden tones will brighten up any space - each roll will have slight variations in texture and hue, meaning the floor it fits into will be entirely unique each time.

The installation process is key to providing your natural flooring with a long-lasting, cost-effective life. Prior to fitting, we’ll roll out your flooring to check for any faults before we begin the fitting process. 

We recommend using our free fitting service to install your natural flooring, but in case you do want to do it yourself, the guide below should come in pretty handy.

SUBFLOOR

Once you’re good to go, the first thing we check is the subfloor. This needs to be in a good condition to accept the flooring - clean, smooth, and free from any inconsistencies in texture to ensure there won’t be any ridges or bumps once the new floor is fit in.

Concrete or cementitious subfloors should be completely dry with a relative humidity that is below 75%, which can be checked with an instrument such as a hygrometer.

MOISTURE

Natural fibres are heavily absorbent materials, which can sometimes cause them to change in dimension when exposed to moisture. Depending on what product you go for, this can happen in different ways - coir is prone to expanding, which can cause it to wrinkle or buckle, while sisal and jute are likely to shrink after contact with moisture. We prepare accordingly to ensure your flooring fits correctly in the space you’ve intended for it.

CONDITIONING

During the preparation process, it’s recommended that your flooring is conditioned in the area it will be fit into for at least 48 hours. This will give time to monitor any changes during this time and adapt accordingly.

This is done by unrolling the flooring, laying it out, and cutting it to the correct shape plus an extra 60mm, allowing for any alterations in dimensions during the conditioning period.

SYSTEMS

There are two key systems we can choose between with your installation: direct adhesion to the subfloor, or a double-stick system over a firm, stable, uniform underlay.

The first, also known as the direct stick method, involves sticking the latex backing of the flooring directly to the subfloor with a permanent adhesive. This technique prevents any movement, improving the overall look and enhancing the long-lasting effect of the flooring.

The second utilises many of the same principles. The underlay is fixed to the subfloor with a tackifier before the flooring is then fixed on top of the underlay with a permanent adhesive.