The conservatory flooring debate

The Independents Kate Watson-Smyth has been debating the merits of different types of flooring for the home.

When kitting out any part of the home, such as the conservatory, the floor may not be the first thing that springs to mind as being important.

But, as Ms Watson-Smyth rightly points out, choosing the right flooring is an important and expensive decision that few can afford to get wrong.

"You need to think about maintenance, traffic and durability, as well as the look and the feel, and how it will co-ordinate with everything else," she wrote.

"Floorboards… never go out of fashion, as you can change the look of a room with rugs or even giant floor-stickers."

One surprising suggestion she makes is the use of environmentally-friendly rubber in flooring.
"Surprisingly practical, as its easy to clean, very hard-wearing and comfy to walk on – in fact, perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Its also good for stairs, as its non-slip."

But those with ideas about throwing down some laminate had better think twice – Ms Watson-Smyth says it could knock thousands of pounds off of the value of your house.