Garden Dome Flooring Options

First principle: a level, prepared base

Whatever finish you pick, a dome needs a level surface to sit on. It doesn't need foundations in the building-work sense, but a flat, stable, well-prepared base on firm ground is essential for the numbered panels to bolt together cleanly and for the dome to sit securely, anchored with the brackets included with every dome. The base options below double as both the foundation and, often, part of the floor itself.

The base options

1. A GeoDomeX base. The simplest route is a base made for the dome. For the Mini and Standard, our Hexa (a phenolic hex-grip surface with a weather-sealed edge) and Natural platform bases give you a ready-made floor and pair with Ultra and Extreme domes. Our wooden decking base, for the Standard and Large, pairs with every specification and is the base the Large sits on. Check current prices and lead times in our bases range. The Mini and Standard can also sit on a level base of your own, such as the three below.

2. Your own decking. A popular choice: timber or composite decking gives a warm, attractive, slightly cushioned floor that suits the garden setting and lets you insulate beneath. Composite decking adds low maintenance and longevity. Decking raises the dome slightly off the ground, which helps with drainage and insulation. Our guide to garden dome foundations and bases covers building a deck base.

3. Paved or patio base. A patio of slabs or paving provides a solid, durable, low-maintenance surface that's quick to keep clean. It's a sensible choice if you already have a suitable, level patio, or want a hard-wearing floor for a hot tub or high-traffic use.

4. Prepared solid pad. A prepared hard base, such as a concrete pad, gives maximum stability and a perfectly flat surface, ideal for heavier uses or where you want a permanent, rock-solid footing. It's the most robust option underfoot.

If you'd rather not build it yourself, our Built for you installers can build the base, dome and anchoring for you.

Finishing the floor inside

On top of the base, the interior finish sets the feel:

• Rugs over the base. The simplest route: lay generous rugs over decking, paving or a platform base for instant warmth, softness and style, with the flexibility to change them.
• Engineered or laminate flooring. For a polished, room-like finish, a floating engineered or laminate floor over a prepared base looks superb and feels solid underfoot.
• Outdoor or vinyl flooring. Hard-wearing and easy to clean, it's practical for hot tubs, gyms, kids' spaces or anywhere that sees spills and traffic.
• Carpet. For a cosy lounge or bedroom feel, carpet over a prepared, insulated base is wonderfully warm, best where moisture is well managed with regular ventilation.

Don't forget insulation

If you'll use the dome year-round, insulate beneath the floor finish when you build the base. The floor is the one surface you can insulate fully without losing any light, so under-floor insulation is one of the most worthwhile comfort upgrades (see how to insulate a garden dome). Decking and prepared pads both allow for it. Add a rug on top and the floor feels warm underfoot even in winter.

Matching floor to use

• Lounge or bedroom: carpet or engineered flooring with rugs over an insulated base, for warmth and cosiness.
• Hot tub or wet use: paving or outdoor vinyl, durable and water-friendly, on a base that can carry the tub's filled weight (ask the tub maker; a concrete pad may be needed).
• Gym: a solid pad with rubber or vinyl flooring, stable and hard-wearing.
• Dining or hosting: decking or engineered flooring with rugs, attractive and comfortable.
• Kids' play: outdoor vinyl or cushioned flooring, soft, washable and tough.

Frequently asked questions