Conservatory Flooring: Built for the Sun

Top Recommendation: Engineered Wood

The stable, natural choice.

Many people believe they cannot have real wood in a conservatory. While solid wood is a bad idea, Engineered Wood is actually an excellent choice. Its multi-layered construction is designed to counteract the natural movement of wood, making it incredibly stable against temperature and humidity changes. It brings a natural, organic feel that connects your interior space perfectly with the garden view.

• Structural Stability: Cross-layered core prevents the warping and cupping often seen in solid wood.
• Natural Aesthetic: The organic texture blends seamlessly with garden surroundings.
• Fade Resistant Finishes: Many of our ranges feature UV-cured oils or lacquers to slow down colour change.
• Warm Underfoot: Naturally insulating, making the room more usable on cooler spring/autumn days.
• Adds Value: A premium finish that elevates the feel of the entire extension.

Note: We recommend using blinds to protect the floor during peak summer sun to preserve the colour intensity over decades.

The Modern Solution: SPC Vinyl Click

The advanced choice for hot rooms.

Our Vinyl Click collection includes both WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) and SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) ranges. For conservatories, we specifically recommend our SPC Rigid Core floors. The stone-composite core creates a board that is incredibly dense and stable, meaning it will not expand, contract, or soften even in the intense heat of a south-facing sunroom.

• Heat Stable: The stone-composite core remains rigid even when floor temperatures rise.
• Superior Scratch Resistance: Our advanced wear layer offers better scratch protection than laminate, handling garden furniture and pets with ease.
• UV Resistant: High-quality UV coating protects the print from fading in strong sunlight.
• 100% Waterproof: Ideal if your conservatory houses plants or opens directly onto the garden.
• Fade Resistant: Maintains its colour better than many natural woods.

What to Avoid in Conservatories

Why we don’t recommend certain floors here.

Solid Wood: It is too reactive to temperature and humidity. It is highly likely to shrink (leaving gaps) in winter or cup (bow upwards) in summer.

Standard Laminate: While a cost-effective option, older or budget laminates can fade quickly in direct sunlight.

Flexible Vinyl: In direct sunlight behind glass, floor temperatures can exceed 40°C. Standard flexible vinyl can soften and un-click at these temperatures. Always choose Rigid Core (SPC) for sunrooms.

Design Styles for Sunrooms

Light & Airy Oak Pale, whitewashed, or natural oak tones reflect the light and keep the room feeling cool and spacious. They also show the effects of sun-bleaching much less than dark floors.

Modern Stone Effect Use a stone-effect SPC Vinyl to mimic the look of a tiled orangery floor, but with a much warmer feel underfoot and no risk of cracking grout.

Continuous Flow Use the same Engineered Wood or Rigid Core Vinyl from your living room into the conservatory to blur the lines between the spaces, making your living area feel massive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the sun fade my floor? Over time, almost any material exposed to intense direct UV sunlight will mellow or change colour slightly. Engineered Wood tends to “mature” (oaks get golden, walnuts get lighter). To minimise this, we recommend UV-resistant finishes and using blinds during the hottest part of the day.

Is underfloor heating safe in a conservatory? Yes, but you must choose the right floor. Both our Engineered Wood and SPC Vinyl ranges are compatible with underfloor heating. This is often essential in conservatories to stop them becoming “ice boxes” in winter.

Do I need an expansion gap? Absolutely. Because conservatories experience the biggest temperature swings, the expansion gap around the edge of the room (usually hidden by skirting boards) is critical. It allows the floor to expand in summer without hitting the wall and buckling.