Answer: When you drop an iron on one and need to make a claim.

Ridiculous as it may seem flooring is only flooring if it goes wall to wall.

Otherwise its a 'set' and the insurance company will only pay to replace the damaged tile and not the whole 'set'!

Be warned this also goes for a set of a three piece suit or a set of a bathroom suite.

So just check if your policy states that "the insurer will not pay the cost of replacing or repairing any undamaged parts of the buildings which form a pair,SET,suite or part of a common design or function when the loss or damage is restricted to a clearly definable area or to a specific part"

Fortunately there is hope.

After speaking with the Financial Ombudsman Service, who apparently deal with this type of situation regularly, they have come to a compromise and if you are unable to match or replace the item then you are entitled to receive 50% of the entire bill.

The insurance company WILL be aware of this fact.