CATEGORY FAQS
Flooring Supplies FAQs
Answers to the most common questions about our flooring products, installation, and care.
About Our Flooring Supplies
Our flooring range includes everything you need for a professional finish – from underlay, adhesives and trims to tools and accessories.
What's Included
Why It Matters
Choosing the Right Flooring System
Which type of flooring is best for commercial properties?
The best commercial flooring depends on the environment, level of foot traffic and maintenance requirements. Safety flooring is ideal where slip resistance is essential, while vinyl flooring offers durability, easy maintenance and excellent value for offices, healthcare, education, upgrading kitchens and bathrooms, and retail settings.
Orion supplies professional flooring solutions for contractors and facilities teams across Peckham, South East London, Rochester, Kent and the surrounding areas.
What's the difference between safety flooring, vinyl flooring and carpet?
Safety flooring is designed to provide enhanced slip resistance in wet or high-risk environments. Vinyl flooring offers a durable, low-maintenance surface suitable for a wide range of commercial applications, while carpet provides comfort, warmth and acoustic benefits in offices and communal spaces.
Choosing the right flooring depends on the intended use, expected traffic and cleaning requirements. The Orion team at our Rochester and Peckham branches are able to provide advice on the best solution for your project and help you select the right flooring or tiling products.
Which flooring is best for kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms?
Areas exposed to moisture require flooring that is durable, hygienic and easy to maintain.
Safety vinyl flooring is a popular choice for kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms because it combines excellent slip resistance with water resistance and long-term durability. Selecting compatible adhesives, sealants and finishing products also helps ensure a reliable installation.
How do I choose flooring for high-traffic areas?
High-traffic flooring should be hard-wearing, easy to clean and capable of withstanding constant daily use.
Factors such as slip resistance, durability, maintenance requirements and ease of repair should all be considered when specifying flooring for corridors, entrances, communal areas and commercial buildings. Using quality installation products also helps maximise the lifespan of the finished floor.
What should I consider when specifying flooring for social housing?
Flooring for social housing should balance durability, safety, ease of maintenance and long-term value. Products should be suitable for the intended environment, withstand regular use and be straightforward to repair or replace when required.
Orion has a long history of supporting maintenance contractors, housing associations and refurbishment specialists with professional flooring and tiling supplies and can help you select the most appropriate materials for the job at hand.
Installation & Application
What flooring and tiling products do I need to avoid installation failures?
Successful flooring and tiling installations rely on four essential stages: preparation, fixing, jointing, and finishing.
Preparation products help create a stable substrate, adhesives provide secure bonding, grout protects joints, and trims or profiles protect exposed edges. Missing or compromising any of these stages can lead to lifting, cracked joints, edge damage, and premature wear. Orion supplies the complete range of flooring and tiling products needed to help contractors achieve reliable, professional results first time.
Why is floor preparation so important?
Many flooring and tiling failures begin with poor preparation.
Uneven subfloors, unstable surfaces, and inadequate preparation can lead to lifting, hollow spots, cracked grout, and premature wear. Proper preparation creates a stable foundation for a longer-lasting installation.
Which flooring and tiling products help prevent lifting and edge damage?
Correct preparation products, suitable adhesives, and quality finishing components all play an important role. Trims, thresholds, and profiles help protect exposed edges and transitions, while the correct fixing products help keep flooring and tiles securely bonded over time. The Orion team can provide advice on the most suitable products to use for any specific project.
What flooring products are most commonly used on refurbishment projects?
Refurbishment projects commonly require underlay, flooring adhesives, thresholds, carpet fitting accessories, levelling compounds, floor fixings, and transition trims.
These products help contractors install new flooring efficiently while delivering a professional finish, and can all be sourced from Orion Trade Supplies at our Rochester and Peckham branches.
What products are most important for bathroom and kitchen tiling?
In wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, secure fixing and effective joint finishing are critical.
Quality adhesives and grout help protect vulnerable joints, resist everyday wear, and maintain a clean appearance over time.
What are floor trims and thresholds used for?
Floor trims and thresholds create neat, professional transitions between different floor finishes or changes in floor height. They help protect exposed flooring edges, reduce trip hazards and improve the overall appearance of an installation.
Orion Trade Supplies stocks a wide range of profiles suitable for residential, commercial and refurbishment projects at our Peckham and Rochester branches.
How do I prevent tiles lifting or grout cracking?
Tile failures are often caused by movement, poor surface preparation or using unsuitable installation products.
Selecting the correct adhesive and grout, preparing the substrate properly, allowing for movement where required and following recommended curing times all contribute to a durable installation. Orion supplies professional tiling products trusted by installers throughout South East London, Kent and the surrounding areas and our team are able to offer advice on the most suitable products for your project.
Cleaning & Maintenance
How do I keep commercial and safety flooring looking its best?
Regular cleaning using the correct products helps extend the life of commercial flooring and maintain its appearance. Removing dirt, dust and spills promptly reduces wear, while using manufacturer-approved cleaning solutions protects the floor finish.
Orion supplies professional cleaning products and maintenance essentials for contractors from our Peckham and Rochester branches and our team can provide guidance on the correct product to use on specific flooring types.
What cleaning products should I use on vinyl and tiled floors?
The right cleaning product depends on the flooring type, but pH-neutral cleaners are generally recommended for routine maintenance of vinyl and tiled floors. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage protective finishes.
Orion stocks professional-grade cleaning chemicals and accessories suitable for maintaining a wide range of commercial and residential flooring.
How often should commercial flooring be maintained?
High-traffic areas such as communal entrances, corridors, kitchens and bathrooms benefit from regular cleaning and periodic deep maintenance.
A planned maintenance programme helps preserve the appearance of flooring, improves safety and can significantly extend its service life, reducing long-term replacement costs.
How can I reduce slip risks on hard floors?
Keeping floors clean and free from grease, dust and standing water is essential for reducing slip hazards. Using appropriate cleaning products, maintaining floor finishes and selecting slip-resistant flooring in high-risk areas all contribute to a safer environment.
Regular maintenance is particularly important in commercial buildings and social housing properties – and reduces refurbishment and repair costs over time.
Why is planned floor maintenance more cost-effective than replacing flooring?
Routine cleaning and preventative maintenance helps to protect flooring from premature wear, staining and damage. By addressing minor issues before they become major problems, contractors and facilities teams can reduce repair costs, extend the lifespan of flooring and minimise disruption.
Orion supports maintenance and refurbishment projects with professional flooring and cleaning products from its Peckham and Rochester branches.
Sourcing Reliable Flooring and Tiling Supplies
Can I source flooring, tiling, and refurbishment materials from one supplier?
Yes. Orion supplies flooring and tiling products alongside decorating materials, plumbing supplies, hardware, timber, doors, kitchens, tools, cleaning products, and site consumables – we can deliver your order or you can buy in store (and we also offer a Click & Collect service to save you time – order by 3pm and your order will be ready for collection from our Rochester or Peckham branch by 7am the next day).
This enables contractors to simplify procurement and reduce project delays caused by visiting multiple suppliers, while also reducing overall cost.
Why do contractors choose Orion for flooring and tiling supplies?
Contractors choose Orion Trade Supplies because we supply the complete range of flooring and tiling essentials needed for maintenance, refurbishment, kitchen, bathroom, and planned works projects.
From adhesives and grout to underlay, trims, thresholds, profiles, and preparation products, Orion helps contractors source everything required for a successful installation from one supplier, saving time and money.
Do you supply products suitable for social housing maintenance and void refurbishments?
Yes. Orion’s flooring and tiling range has been selected specifically for maintenance, refurbishment, planned works, and social housing projects.
Our focus is on dependable products that help contractors achieve durable results while working to tight schedules and budgets.
Do you offer Trade Accounts with credit facilities?
Yes, Orion Trade Supplies is proud to support and partner with multi-trade contractors, maintenance teams, and social housing associations by providing Trade Accounts that unlock additional benefits and savings, and credit terms (subject to status and credit check). Find out more and apply on our Trade Account page.
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