The material that covers the most surface and shapes how a home feels. What to choose room by room, with real thicknesses, prices and lead times.
Flooring is the highest-impact decision in a renovation, visually and financially: between 8 % and 14 % of the total budget in a high-end home. It is also the hardest to undo, because replacing it means removing joinery, skirtings and sometimes the kitchen.
This guide gathers what we verify on site: behaviour over underfloor heating, wear resistance, joints, maintenance and total installed cost.
A 3 to 6 mm wear layer over a stable plywood core. Our default in living areas and bedrooms: compatible with underfloor heating (total thermal resistance below 0.15 m²K/W), sandable two to four times and with a 40–60 year service life. Boards 180 to 300 mm wide and up to 2.4 m long.
For water, pets or holiday rentals. Rectified, with a 1.5–2 mm joint and minimal grout line; in 20×120 and 30×180 cm formats the effect is convincing. C3 slip resistance in bathrooms and outdoors. Virtually maintenance-free.
Seamless, 2 to 3 mm thick over a stable substrate with a bonding primer. It removes joints and can climb walls and shower trays. Needs polyurethane sealing and a resealing cycle every 3–5 years; it can microcrack if the substrate moves.
Slabs 20 to 30 mm thick in formats up to 90×90 cm. Excellent thermal mass with underfloor heating. Requires initial impregnation and resealing every 12–24 months in wet areas.
Back in favour with large aggregates and pale bases. Poured in situ or as 60×60 cm tiles. Very resistant to heavy traffic; final polishing happens on site and adds 5–7 days to the programme.
We never lay timber over screed above 2.5 % moisture (0.5 % on anhydrite). Measuring it with a carbide hygrometer prevents 90 % of later cupping.
Timber rests 5 to 7 days inside the home, still packaged, at 18–24 °C and 45–60 % relative humidity before installation.
Gradual commissioning: 5 °C increase per day up to 45 °C flow temperature, three days holding, then an equally gradual reduction. Surface temperature must stay below 27 °C.
A 10–15 mm perimeter gap hidden behind skirting, plus an intermediate joint on runs over 8 linear metres or between rooms.
Material plus installation in a private home, VAT excluded. Herringbone, oversized formats and bespoke setting-out sit at the top of each range.
| Floor | Installed price | Installation time |
|---|---|---|
| Engineered oak | €95 – 210 / m² | 3 – 6 days / 100 m² |
| Herringbone or Versailles panels | €160 – 300 / m² | 7 – 12 days / 100 m² |
| Wood-effect porcelain | €60 – 130 / m² | 4 – 7 days / 100 m² |
| Microcement | €90 – 160 / m² | 6 – 9 days / 100 m² |
| Natural stone and travertine | €150 – 400 / m² | 6 – 10 days / 100 m² |
| Poured terrazzo | €130 – 260 / m² | 10 – 15 days / 100 m² |
Porcelain and natural stone transfer heat best; engineered oak also works provided the total thermal resistance stays below 0.15 m²K/W and surface temperature never exceeds 27 °C.
Between €95 and €210 per m² installed in a standard plank layout. Herringbone rises to €160–300 per m² because installation takes longer.
In 20×120 cm formats or larger, rectified and with a 1.5–2 mm joint in a matching tone, the visual difference is minimal. What gives away a poor imitation is a wide grout line and a repeating pattern.
It can microcrack if the substrate moves. This is avoided with a stable base, reinforcing mesh across the whole surface and by respecting existing structural joints.
Two to four times depending on wear-layer thickness: 3 mm allows two sandings, 6 mm up to four.
Yes with porcelain and microcement if the base is sound and door heights allow it. It saves €15–25 per m² in demolition and removal, and roughly 2–3 days on site.
Mid-tone timber and quieter stone define 2026 flooring. We develop the argument here:
If you would rather speak to a person, our opening hours, phone and email are on the contact page.
Tell us the area, whether there is underfloor heating and how each room is used; we come back with a recommendation and installed price.