Flooring is one of the biggest design decisions in a renovation - but it’s also structural, thermal, and incredibly hard to change later. In this episode, we cover everything from timber, tile and LVT to polished concrete, terrazzo, carpets, subfloors and underfloor heating compatibility.

What we cover

• Engineered timber vs solid timber - and why engineered wood is so popular these days
• Stone, porcelain and the maintenance requirements
• LVT, glue-down vs click, why levelling is everything
• Polished concrete - is it right for Irish homes?
• Terrazzo tiles vs poured terrazzo
• Carpet, acoustics and the role of good underlay
• The real hero: subfloor preparation, moisture control and levelling
• Which flooring types work best with underfloor heating
• Floor build-ups, levels and how to avoid awkward transitions

Key takeaways

• Choose flooring based on use, comfort and maintenance, not just aesthetics
• Every flooring failure usually comes back to poor prep
• Underfloor heating should influence your flooring choices early
• Mixed materials need finished floor levels planned at design stage

This episode is packed with the practical decisions that help flooring feel seamless, durable and right for how you actually live.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines