Knowledge Base

Browse our knowledge base for all kinds of useful information from style to installation

Why Choose Flooring with Mixed Widths

Flagstones and stone floors gained popularity in flooring in the thirteenth century when architecture became more ornate. The enormous value of flagstone flooring with mixed widths came from its beauty and longevity. In other words, beauty in that no two stones were ever the same and longevity in the lifetime value of a well-laid flagstone floor. This is why an old pub floor has such character!

Modern Day Flooring

Nowadays the manufacture of flagstones, stone flooring, tiles and even wood floors has become automated with stones and planks cut to exact sizes. The craft and value of the stone and its potential have been lost. This results in repetitive flooring that all looks the same. In addition, if using porcelain a floor will be even more repetitive and can quickly fall out of trends.

How are we different?

White Hall was born as a reaction to the modern repetitive manufacturing process. We have a passion and a desire to recreate the quality of the original historic flagstone flooring with mixed widths. In addition to ensuring that there is no repetition in any of our floors and that they are timeless to become part of a building. This is why we specialise in only using beautiful, natural products such as limestone, sandstone and engineered oak.

Our Origin

White Hall was founded by Richard Rogers. His reclamation background enabled him to create a business that approached flooring with the same level of detail and love for the source material as existed when it was first used. The approach that we take means that the most is made of every bit of stone. No two pieces of stone are the same size and each White Hall floor has an exquisite approach to craft and detail. The result is flooring that becomes part of the very fabric of the building.

How to use and install flooring with mixed widths

We recommend using the following ratios for flooring with mixing widths to ensure a floor looks beautiful and timeless. This works in both older, historic or period properties and also in more contemporary open plan designs or modern new builds.

  • Double Widths: 
    • Provence flooring with mixed widths of 50 and 60cm also known as double widths
    • We advise on 75% of the square meterage in 60cm x random lengths, plus 25% in 50cm x random lengths(RL).
    • This option is good for:
      • Smaller rooms
      • Modern properties
      • Making a space appear larger
      • Adding depth and interest to a relatively consistent floor such as the Provence in the picture above.

 

  • Triple Widths:
    • Old Rectory Limestone flooring with Mixed Widths of 40cm, 50cm and 60cm wide by random lengths,
    • We advise on a ratio of 70% in 60cm x Random Lengths (RL), 20% in 50cm x RL and 10% in 40cm x RL.
    • This option is good for:
      • Older historic properties
      • Very large open plan areas
      • Whole ground floor installations
      • Areas where you want to accentuate perspectives
      • Properties with lots of different sized rooms

 

How to lay stone flooring

We always recommend installing a floor to look as though the walls and building have been built on top of it. Therefore this allows you to minimise any waste stone. For example, you can cut a stone at a wall and then continue the row on the other side. Furthermore this also creates a lovely flow throughout a property. This means the floor acts as a cohesive base throughout the home linking different areas and allowing you to use multiple colour schemes without changing the flooring in every room.


Depending on the shape of the room we would suggest installing rows across the shorter width. Alternatively you can align the rows with a feature such as a kitchen island, entrance door or fireplace. However, you will also want to consider how you use the space and the way the floor looks in your every day life. You can read more about how we recommend installing your stone floor in our knowledge base.


Whenever someone purchases one of our stone or oak floors, we always provide an installation, care and maintenance guide. This includes specific step by step details on fitting flooring with mixed widths. Therefore you will always have a handy PDF document that you can give to fitting teams or keep for advice on the cleaning of your floor for decades to come.


Our helpful team are always on hand to discuss your project specifically to help advise on:

  • Installing flooring with mixed widths.
  • The best directions and installation methods for your personal project and property type.
  • Maintenance and cleaning tips.
  • If you have questions please give us a call and we will be happy to assist.