diff --git a/components/layout/block.rs b/components/layout/block.rs
index 1fd17ad5e63..75b19963d86 100644
--- a/components/layout/block.rs
+++ b/components/layout/block.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 use construct::FlowConstructor;
 use context::LayoutContext;
+use css::node_style::StyledNode;
 use display_list_builder::{BlockFlowDisplayListBuilding, FragmentDisplayListBuilding};
 use floats::{ClearBoth, ClearLeft, ClearRight, FloatKind, FloatLeft, Floats, PlacementInfo};
 use flow::{BaseFlow, BlockFlowClass, FlowClass, Flow, ImmutableFlowUtils};
@@ -51,8 +52,8 @@ use servo_util::opts;
 use std::cmp::{max, min};
 use std::fmt;
 use style::computed_values::{LPA_Auto, LPA_Length, LPA_Percentage, LPN_Length, LPN_None};
-use style::computed_values::{LPN_Percentage, LP_Length, LP_Percentage, box_sizing, clear};
-use style::computed_values::{display, float, overflow, position};
+use style::computed_values::{LPN_Percentage, LP_Length, LP_Percentage, box_sizing, display, float};
+use style::computed_values::{overflow, position};
 
 /// Information specific to floated blocks.
 #[deriving(Clone, Encodable)]
@@ -462,7 +463,7 @@ impl<'a> PostorderFlowTraversal for AbsoluteStoreOverflowTraversal<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-enum BlockType {
+pub enum BlockType {
     BlockReplacedType,
     BlockNonReplacedType,
     AbsoluteReplacedType,
@@ -550,8 +551,9 @@ impl<'a,E,S> Encodable<S,E> for BlockFlowFlags where S: Encoder<E> {
 
 impl BlockFlow {
     pub fn from_node(constructor: &mut FlowConstructor, node: &ThreadSafeLayoutNode) -> BlockFlow {
+        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
         BlockFlow {
-            base: BaseFlow::new((*node).clone()),
+            base: BaseFlow::new(Some((*node).clone()), writing_mode),
             fragment: Fragment::new(constructor, node),
             static_b_offset: Au::new(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats: Au(0),
@@ -562,8 +564,9 @@ impl BlockFlow {
     }
 
     pub fn from_node_and_fragment(node: &ThreadSafeLayoutNode, fragment: Fragment) -> BlockFlow {
+        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
         BlockFlow {
-            base: BaseFlow::new((*node).clone()),
+            base: BaseFlow::new(Some((*node).clone()), writing_mode),
             fragment: fragment,
             static_b_offset: Au::new(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats: Au(0),
@@ -577,14 +580,14 @@ impl BlockFlow {
                            node: &ThreadSafeLayoutNode,
                            float_kind: FloatKind)
                            -> BlockFlow {
-        let base = BaseFlow::new((*node).clone());
+        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
         BlockFlow {
+            base: BaseFlow::new(Some((*node).clone()), writing_mode),
             fragment: Fragment::new(constructor, node),
             static_b_offset: Au::new(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats: Au(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_right_floats: Au(0),
             float: Some(box FloatedBlockInfo::new(float_kind)),
-            base: base,
             flags: BlockFlowFlags::empty(),
         }
     }
@@ -593,14 +596,14 @@ impl BlockFlow {
                                         fragment: Fragment,
                                         float_kind: FloatKind)
                                         -> BlockFlow {
-        let base = BaseFlow::new((*node).clone());
+        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
         BlockFlow {
+            base: BaseFlow::new(Some((*node).clone()), writing_mode),
             fragment: fragment,
             static_b_offset: Au::new(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats: Au(0),
             inline_size_of_preceding_right_floats: Au(0),
             float: Some(box FloatedBlockInfo::new(float_kind)),
-            base: base,
             flags: BlockFlowFlags::empty(),
         }
     }
@@ -609,8 +612,8 @@ impl BlockFlow {
     ///
     /// This determines the algorithm used to calculate inline-size, block-size, and the
     /// relevant margins for this Block.
-    fn block_type(&self) -> BlockType {
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+    pub fn block_type(&self) -> BlockType {
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
             if self.is_replaced_content() {
                 AbsoluteReplacedType
             } else {
@@ -686,7 +689,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
     /// reference the CB.
     #[inline]
     pub fn containing_block_size(&mut self, viewport_size: Size2D<Au>) -> LogicalSize<Au> {
-        debug_assert!(self.is_absolutely_positioned());
+        debug_assert!(self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned());
         if self.is_fixed() {
             // Initial containing block is the CB for the root
             LogicalSize::from_physical(self.base.writing_mode, viewport_size)
@@ -813,7 +816,8 @@ impl BlockFlow {
 
         // Absolute positioning establishes a block formatting context. Don't propagate floats
         // in or out. (But do propagate them between kids.)
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() || margins_may_collapse != MarginsMayCollapse {
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() ||
+                margins_may_collapse != MarginsMayCollapse {
             self.base.floats = Floats::new(self.fragment.style.writing_mode);
         }
 
@@ -827,7 +831,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
 
         let can_collapse_block_start_margin_with_kids =
             margins_may_collapse == MarginsMayCollapse &&
-            !self.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
+            !self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
             self.fragment.border_padding.block_start == Au(0);
         margin_collapse_info.initialize_block_start_margin(
             &self.fragment,
@@ -837,7 +841,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
         let mut floats = self.base.floats.clone();
         let mut layers_needed_for_descendants = false;
         for kid in self.base.child_iter() {
-            if kid.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+            if flow::base(kid).flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
                 // Assume that the *hypothetical box* for an absolute flow starts immediately after
                 // the block-end border edge of the previous flow.
                 flow::mut_base(kid).position.start.b = cur_b;
@@ -877,7 +881,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
             // with margin collapse. Possibly the right thing to do is to lay out the block again
             // in this rare case. (Note that WebKit can lay blocks out twice; this may be related,
             // although I haven't looked into it closely.)
-            if kid.float_clearance() != clear::none {
+            if flow::base(kid).flags.clears_floats() {
                 flow::mut_base(kid).floats = Floats::new(self.fragment.style.writing_mode)
             }
 
@@ -894,11 +898,12 @@ impl BlockFlow {
             translate_including_floats(&mut cur_b, delta, &mut floats);
 
             // Clear past the floats that came in, if necessary.
-            let clearance = match kid.float_clearance() {
-                clear::none => Au(0),
-                clear::left => floats.clearance(ClearLeft),
-                clear::right => floats.clearance(ClearRight),
-                clear::both => floats.clearance(ClearBoth),
+            let clearance = match (flow::base(kid).flags.clears_left(),
+                                   flow::base(kid).flags.clears_right()) {
+                (false, false) => Au(0),
+                (true, false) => floats.clearance(ClearLeft),
+                (false, true) => floats.clearance(ClearRight),
+                (true, true) => floats.clearance(ClearBoth),
             };
             translate_including_floats(&mut cur_b, clearance, &mut floats);
 
@@ -933,7 +938,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
         // Add in our block-end margin and compute our collapsible margins.
         let can_collapse_block_end_margin_with_kids =
             margins_may_collapse == MarginsMayCollapse &&
-            !self.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
+            !self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
             self.fragment.border_padding.block_end == Au(0);
         let (collapsible_margins, delta) =
             margin_collapse_info.finish_and_compute_collapsible_margins(
@@ -955,13 +960,13 @@ impl BlockFlow {
         }
 
         if is_root || self.formatting_context_type() != NonformattingContext ||
-                self.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+                self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
             // The content block-size includes all the floats per CSS 2.1 § 10.6.7. The easiest way
             // to handle this is to just treat this as clearance.
             block_size = block_size + floats.clearance(ClearBoth);
         }
 
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
             // Fixed position layers get layers.
             if self.is_fixed() {
                 self.base.flags.set_needs_layer(true)
@@ -1251,7 +1256,7 @@ impl BlockFlow {
                 kid_base.fixed_static_i_offset = fixed_static_i_offset;
             }
 
-            match kid.float_kind() {
+            match flow::base(kid).flags.float_kind() {
                 float::none => {}
                 float::left => {
                     inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats = inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats +
@@ -1269,22 +1274,13 @@ impl BlockFlow {
             flow::mut_base(kid).block_container_inline_size = content_inline_size;
 
             // Determine float impaction.
-            match kid.float_clearance() {
-                clear::none => {}
-                clear::left => {
-                    inline_start_floats_impact_child = false;
-                    inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats = Au(0);
-                }
-                clear::right => {
-                    inline_end_floats_impact_child = false;
-                    inline_size_of_preceding_right_floats = Au(0);
-                }
-                clear::both => {
-                    inline_start_floats_impact_child = false;
-                    inline_end_floats_impact_child = false;
-                    inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats = Au(0);
-                    inline_size_of_preceding_right_floats = Au(0);
-                }
+            if flow::base(kid).flags.clears_left() {
+                inline_start_floats_impact_child = false;
+                inline_size_of_preceding_left_floats = Au(0);
+            }
+            if flow::base(kid).flags.clears_right() {
+                inline_end_floats_impact_child = false;
+                inline_size_of_preceding_right_floats = Au(0);
             }
 
             {
@@ -1406,15 +1402,6 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
         self
     }
 
-    /// Returns the direction that this flow clears floats in, if any.
-    fn float_clearance(&self) -> clear::T {
-        self.fragment.style().get_box().clear
-    }
-
-    fn float_kind(&self) -> float::T {
-        self.fragment.style().get_box().float
-    }
-
     /// Pass 1 of reflow: computes minimum and preferred inline-sizes.
     ///
     /// Recursively (bottom-up) determine the flow's minimum and preferred inline-sizes. When
@@ -1441,9 +1428,9 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
         let mut left_float_width = Au(0);
         let mut right_float_width = Au(0);
         for kid in self.base.child_iter() {
-            let is_absolutely_positioned = kid.is_absolutely_positioned();
-            let float_kind = kid.float_kind();
+            let is_absolutely_positioned = flow::base(kid).flags.is_absolutely_positioned();
             let child_base = flow::mut_base(kid);
+            let float_kind = child_base.flags.float_kind();
             if !is_absolutely_positioned && !fixed_width {
                 computation.content_intrinsic_sizes.minimum_inline_size =
                     max(computation.content_intrinsic_sizes.minimum_inline_size,
@@ -1615,7 +1602,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
             self.base.clip_rect = MAX_RECT;
         }
 
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
             let position_start = self.base.position.start.to_physical(self.base.writing_mode,
                                                                       container_size);
             self.base.absolute_position_info.absolute_containing_block_position =
@@ -1662,7 +1649,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
         // Process children.
         let writing_mode = self.base.writing_mode;
         for kid in self.base.child_iter() {
-            if !kid.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+            if !flow::base(kid).flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
                 let kid_base = flow::mut_base(kid);
                 kid_base.abs_position =
                     this_position +
@@ -1688,7 +1675,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
     ///
     /// Currently happens only for absolutely positioned flows.
     fn is_store_overflow_delayed(&mut self) -> bool {
-        self.is_absolutely_positioned()
+        self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned()
     }
 
     fn is_root(&self) -> bool {
@@ -1729,7 +1716,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
     }
 
     fn update_late_computed_inline_position_if_necessary(&mut self, inline_position: Au) {
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
                 self.fragment.style().logical_position().inline_start == LPA_Auto &&
                 self.fragment.style().logical_position().inline_end == LPA_Auto {
             self.base.position.start.i = inline_position
@@ -1737,7 +1724,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
     }
 
     fn update_late_computed_block_position_if_necessary(&mut self, block_position: Au) {
-        if self.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
+        if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() &&
                 self.fragment.style().logical_position().block_start == LPA_Auto &&
                 self.fragment.style().logical_position().block_end == LPA_Auto {
             self.base.position.start.b = block_position
@@ -1749,7 +1736,7 @@ impl Flow for BlockFlow {
             // TODO(#2009, pcwalton): This is a pseudo-stacking context. We need to merge `z-index:
             // auto` kids into the parent stacking context, when that is supported.
             self.build_display_list_for_floating_block(layout_context)
-        } else if self.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+        } else if self.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
             self.build_display_list_for_absolutely_positioned_block(layout_context)
         } else {
             self.build_display_list_for_block(layout_context, BlockLevel)
diff --git a/components/layout/construct.rs b/components/layout/construct.rs
index 28666be03bb..4910a9c01b5 100644
--- a/components/layout/construct.rs
+++ b/components/layout/construct.rs
@@ -336,9 +336,8 @@ impl<'a> FlowConstructor<'a> {
         // remain. In that case the inline flow will compute its ascent and descent to be zero.
         let fragments = TextRunScanner::new().scan_for_runs(self.layout_context.font_context(),
                                                             fragments);
-
-        let mut inline_flow_ref = FlowRef::new(box InlineFlow::from_fragments((*node).clone(),
-                                                                              fragments));
+        let mut inline_flow_ref =
+            FlowRef::new(box InlineFlow::from_fragments(fragments, node.style().writing_mode));
 
         // Add all the inline-block fragments as children of the inline flow.
         for inline_block_flow in inline_block_flows.iter() {
@@ -530,7 +529,7 @@ impl<'a> FlowConstructor<'a> {
 
         // Set up the absolute descendants.
         let is_positioned = flow.as_block().is_positioned();
-        let is_absolutely_positioned = flow.as_block().is_absolutely_positioned();
+        let is_absolutely_positioned = flow::base(&*flow).flags.is_absolutely_positioned();
         if is_positioned {
             // This is the containing block for all the absolute descendants.
             flow.set_absolute_descendants(abs_descendants);
@@ -845,7 +844,7 @@ impl<'a> FlowConstructor<'a> {
         wrapper_flow.finish();
         let is_positioned = wrapper_flow.as_block().is_positioned();
         let is_fixed_positioned = wrapper_flow.as_block().is_fixed();
-        let is_absolutely_positioned = wrapper_flow.as_block().is_absolutely_positioned();
+        let is_absolutely_positioned = flow::base(&*wrapper_flow).flags.is_absolutely_positioned();
         if is_positioned {
             // This is the containing block for all the absolute descendants.
             wrapper_flow.set_absolute_descendants(abs_descendants);
diff --git a/components/layout/display_list_builder.rs b/components/layout/display_list_builder.rs
index 1bdfa00e95c..3baac9781b4 100644
--- a/components/layout/display_list_builder.rs
+++ b/components/layout/display_list_builder.rs
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ impl BlockFlowDisplayListBuilding for BlockFlow {
 
         self.base.layers = DList::new();
         for kid in self.base.children.iter_mut() {
-            if kid.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+            if flow::base(kid).flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
                 // All absolute flows will be handled by their containing block.
                 continue
             }
diff --git a/components/layout/flow.rs b/components/layout/flow.rs
index 0d2ac4f5c94..92ac60e190b 100644
--- a/components/layout/flow.rs
+++ b/components/layout/flow.rs
@@ -211,15 +211,6 @@ pub trait Flow: fmt::Show + ToString + Sync {
     /// Phase 5 of reflow: builds display lists.
     fn build_display_list(&mut self, layout_context: &LayoutContext);
 
-    /// Returns the direction that this flow clears floats in, if any.
-    fn float_clearance(&self) -> clear::T {
-        clear::none
-    }
-
-    fn float_kind(&self) -> float::T {
-        float::none
-    }
-
     fn compute_collapsible_block_start_margin(&mut self,
                                               _layout_context: &mut LayoutContext,
                                               _margin_collapse_info: &mut MarginCollapseInfo) {
@@ -260,17 +251,13 @@ pub trait Flow: fmt::Show + ToString + Sync {
     }
 
     fn is_positioned(&self) -> bool {
-        self.is_relatively_positioned() || self.is_absolutely_positioned()
+        self.is_relatively_positioned() || base(self).flags.is_absolutely_positioned()
     }
 
     fn is_relatively_positioned(&self) -> bool {
         self.positioning() == position::relative
     }
 
-    fn is_absolutely_positioned(&self) -> bool {
-        self.positioning() == position::absolute || self.is_fixed()
-    }
-
     /// Return true if this is the root of an absolute flow tree.
     fn is_root_of_absolute_flow_tree(&self) -> bool {
         false
@@ -485,48 +472,77 @@ pub trait PostorderFlowTraversal {
 
 /// Flags used in flows, tightly packed to save space.
 #[deriving(Clone, Encodable)]
-pub struct FlowFlags(pub u8);
+pub struct FlowFlags(pub u16);
 
 /// The bitmask of flags that represent the `has_left_floated_descendants` and
 /// `has_right_floated_descendants` fields.
 ///
 /// NB: If you update this field, you must update the bitfields below.
-static HAS_FLOATED_DESCENDANTS_BITMASK: u8 = 0b0000_0011;
+static HAS_FLOATED_DESCENDANTS_BITMASK: u16 = 0b0000_0000_0000_0011;
 
 // Whether this flow has descendants that float left in the same block formatting context.
-bitfield!(FlowFlags, has_left_floated_descendants, set_has_left_floated_descendants, 0b0000_0001)
+bitfield!(FlowFlags,
+          has_left_floated_descendants,
+          set_has_left_floated_descendants,
+          0b0000_0000_0000_0001)
 
 // Whether this flow has descendants that float right in the same block formatting context.
-bitfield!(FlowFlags, has_right_floated_descendants, set_has_right_floated_descendants, 0b0000_0010)
+bitfield!(FlowFlags,
+          has_right_floated_descendants,
+          set_has_right_floated_descendants,
+          0b0000_0000_0000_0010)
 
 // Whether this flow is impacted by floats to the left in the same block formatting context (i.e.
 // its block-size depends on some prior flows with `float: left`).
-bitfield!(FlowFlags, impacted_by_left_floats, set_impacted_by_left_floats, 0b0000_0100)
+bitfield!(FlowFlags,
+          impacted_by_left_floats,
+          set_impacted_by_left_floats,
+          0b0000_0000_0000_0100)
 
 // Whether this flow is impacted by floats to the right in the same block formatting context (i.e.
 // its block-size depends on some prior flows with `float: right`).
-bitfield!(FlowFlags, impacted_by_right_floats, set_impacted_by_right_floats, 0b0000_1000)
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, impacted_by_right_floats, set_impacted_by_right_floats, 0b0000_0000_0000_1000)
 
 /// The bitmask of flags that represent the text alignment field.
 ///
 /// NB: If you update this field, you must update the bitfields below.
-static TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK: u8 = 0b0011_0000;
+static TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK: u16 = 0b0000_0000_0011_0000;
 
 /// The number of bits we must shift off to handle the text alignment field.
 ///
 /// NB: If you update this field, you must update the bitfields below.
-static TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT: u8 = 4;
+static TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT: u16 = 4;
 
 // Whether this flow contains a flow that has its own layer within the same absolute containing
 // block.
 bitfield!(FlowFlags,
           layers_needed_for_descendants,
           set_layers_needed_for_descendants,
-          0b0100_0000)
+          0b0000_0000_0100_0000)
 
 // Whether this flow must have its own layer. Even if this flag is not set, it might get its own
 // layer if it's deemed to be likely to overlap flows with their own layer.
-bitfield!(FlowFlags, needs_layer, set_needs_layer, 0b1000_0000)
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, needs_layer, set_needs_layer, 0b0000_0000_1000_0000)
+
+// Whether this flow is absolutely positioned. This is checked all over layout, so a virtual call
+// is too expensive.
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, is_absolutely_positioned, set_is_absolutely_positioned, 0b0000_0001_0000_0000)
+
+// Whether this flow is left-floated. This is checked all over layout, so a virtual call is too
+// expensive.
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, floats_left, set_floats_left, 0b0000_0010_0000_0000)
+
+// Whether this flow is right-floated. This is checked all over layout, so a virtual call is too
+// expensive.
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, floats_right, set_floats_right, 0b0000_0100_0000_0000)
+
+// Whether this flow clears to the left. This is checked all over layout, so a virtual call is too
+// expensive.
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, clears_left, set_clears_left, 0b0000_1000_0000_0000)
+
+// Whether this flow clears to the right. This is checked all over layout, so a virtual call is too
+// expensive.
+bitfield!(FlowFlags, clears_right, set_clears_right, 0b0001_0000_0000_0000)
 
 impl FlowFlags {
     /// Creates a new set of flow flags.
@@ -545,13 +561,13 @@ impl FlowFlags {
     #[inline]
     pub fn text_align(self) -> text_align::T {
         let FlowFlags(ff) = self;
-        FromPrimitive::from_u8((ff & TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK) >> TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT as uint).unwrap()
+        FromPrimitive::from_u16((ff & TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK) >> TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT as uint).unwrap()
     }
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn set_text_align(&mut self, value: text_align::T) {
         let FlowFlags(ff) = *self;
-        *self = FlowFlags((ff & !TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK) | ((value as u8) << TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT as uint))
+        *self = FlowFlags((ff & !TEXT_ALIGN_BITMASK) | ((value as u16) << TEXT_ALIGN_SHIFT as uint))
     }
 
     #[inline]
@@ -572,6 +588,22 @@ impl FlowFlags {
     pub fn impacted_by_floats(&self) -> bool {
         self.impacted_by_left_floats() || self.impacted_by_right_floats()
     }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn float_kind(&self) -> float::T {
+        if self.floats_left() {
+            float::left
+        } else if self.floats_right() {
+            float::right
+        } else {
+            float::none
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn clears_floats(&self) -> bool {
+        self.clears_left() || self.clears_right()
+    }
 }
 
 /// The Descendants of a flow.
@@ -813,15 +845,39 @@ impl Drop for BaseFlow {
 
 impl BaseFlow {
     #[inline]
-    pub fn new(node: ThreadSafeLayoutNode) -> BaseFlow {
-        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
+    pub fn new(node: Option<ThreadSafeLayoutNode>, writing_mode: WritingMode) -> BaseFlow {
+        let mut flags = FlowFlags::new();
+        match node {
+            None => {}
+            Some(node) => {
+                let node_style = node.style();
+                match node_style.get_box().position {
+                    position::absolute | position::fixed => {
+                        flags.set_is_absolutely_positioned(true)
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+                match node_style.get_box().float {
+                    float::none => {}
+                    float::left => flags.set_floats_left(true),
+                    float::right => flags.set_floats_right(true),
+                }
+                match node_style.get_box().clear {
+                    clear::none => {}
+                    clear::left => flags.set_clears_left(true),
+                    clear::right => flags.set_clears_right(true),
+                    clear::both => {
+                        flags.set_clears_left(true);
+                        flags.set_clears_right(true);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         BaseFlow {
             ref_count: AtomicUint::new(1),
-
-            restyle_damage: node.restyle_damage(),
-
+            restyle_damage: RestyleDamage::all(),
             children: FlowList::new(),
-
             intrinsic_inline_sizes: IntrinsicISizes::new(),
             position: LogicalRect::zero(writing_mode),
             overflow: LogicalRect::zero(writing_mode),
@@ -839,8 +895,7 @@ impl BaseFlow {
             layers: DList::new(),
             absolute_position_info: AbsolutePositionInfo::new(writing_mode),
             clip_rect: Rect(Zero::zero(), Size2D(Au(0), Au(0))),
-
-            flags: FlowFlags::new(),
+            flags: flags,
             writing_mode: writing_mode,
         }
     }
@@ -1124,7 +1179,7 @@ impl<'a> MutableFlowUtils for &'a mut Flow + 'a {
             let mut gives_absolute_offsets = true;
             if kid.is_block_like() {
                 let kid_block = kid.as_block();
-                if kid_block.is_fixed() || kid_block.is_absolutely_positioned() {
+                if kid_block.is_fixed() || kid_block.base.flags.is_absolutely_positioned() {
                     // It won't contribute any offsets for descendants because it would be the
                     // containing block for them.
                     gives_absolute_offsets = false;
@@ -1162,28 +1217,17 @@ impl<'a> MutableFlowUtils for &'a mut Flow + 'a {
         }
 
         fn doit(flow: &mut Flow, down: RestyleDamage, dirty_floats: &mut DirtyFloats) -> RestyleDamage {
-            match flow.float_clearance() {
-                clear::none  => {}
-                clear::left  => {
-                    (*dirty_floats).left  = false;
-                }
-                clear::right => {
-                    (*dirty_floats).right = false;
-                }
-                clear::both  => {
-                    (*dirty_floats).left  = false;
-                    (*dirty_floats).right = false;
-                }
+            if base(flow).flags.clears_left() {
+                dirty_floats.left  = false;
+            }
+            if base(flow).flags.clears_right() {
+                dirty_floats.right = false;
             }
 
-            match flow.float_kind() {
-                float::none  => {}
-                float::left  => {
-                    (*dirty_floats).left  = true;
-                }
-                float::right => {
-                    (*dirty_floats).right = true;
-                }
+            if base(flow).flags.floats_left() {
+                (*dirty_floats).left  = true;
+            } else if base(flow).flags.floats_right() {
+                (*dirty_floats).right = true;
             }
 
             let mut my_damage = mut_base(flow).restyle_damage;
diff --git a/components/layout/inline.rs b/components/layout/inline.rs
index 24264db6952..771e275dee1 100644
--- a/components/layout/inline.rs
+++ b/components/layout/inline.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ use fragment::{ScannedTextFragment, ScannedTextFragmentInfo, SplitInfo};
 use layout_debug;
 use model::IntrinsicISizesContribution;
 use text;
-use wrapper::ThreadSafeLayoutNode;
 
 use collections::{Deque, RingBuf};
 use geom::{Rect, Size2D};
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ use gfx::font::FontMetrics;
 use gfx::font_context::FontContext;
 use gfx::text::glyph::CharIndex;
 use servo_util::geometry::Au;
-use servo_util::logical_geometry::{LogicalRect, LogicalSize};
+use servo_util::logical_geometry::{LogicalRect, LogicalSize, WritingMode};
 use servo_util::opts;
 use servo_util::range::{IntRangeIndex, Range, RangeIndex};
 use servo_util::arc_ptr_eq;
@@ -702,9 +701,9 @@ pub struct InlineFlow {
 }
 
 impl InlineFlow {
-    pub fn from_fragments(node: ThreadSafeLayoutNode, fragments: InlineFragments) -> InlineFlow {
+    pub fn from_fragments(fragments: InlineFragments, writing_mode: WritingMode) -> InlineFlow {
         InlineFlow {
-            base: BaseFlow::new(node),
+            base: BaseFlow::new(None, writing_mode),
             fragments: fragments,
             lines: Vec::new(),
             minimum_block_size_above_baseline: Au(0),
diff --git a/components/layout/table_colgroup.rs b/components/layout/table_colgroup.rs
index deb1268426c..75df377778f 100644
--- a/components/layout/table_colgroup.rs
+++ b/components/layout/table_colgroup.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #![deny(unsafe_block)]
 
 use context::LayoutContext;
+use css::node_style::StyledNode;
 use flow::{BaseFlow, TableColGroupFlowClass, FlowClass, Flow};
 use fragment::{Fragment, TableColumnFragment};
 use layout_debug;
@@ -39,8 +40,9 @@ impl TableColGroupFlow {
                                    fragment: Fragment,
                                    fragments: Vec<Fragment>)
                                    -> TableColGroupFlow {
+        let writing_mode = node.style().writing_mode;
         TableColGroupFlow {
-            base: BaseFlow::new((*node).clone()),
+            base: BaseFlow::new(Some((*node).clone()), writing_mode),
             fragment: Some(fragment),
             cols: fragments,
             inline_sizes: vec!(),
diff --git a/components/layout/table_wrapper.rs b/components/layout/table_wrapper.rs
index 2cac674229e..60d65b91570 100644
--- a/components/layout/table_wrapper.rs
+++ b/components/layout/table_wrapper.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use servo_util::geometry::Au;
 use std::cmp::{max, min};
 use std::fmt;
 use style::CSSFloat;
-use style::computed_values::{clear, float, table_layout};
+use style::computed_values::table_layout;
 
 #[deriving(Encodable)]
 pub enum TableLayout {
@@ -235,14 +235,6 @@ impl Flow for TableWrapperFlow {
         &mut self.block_flow
     }
 
-    fn float_clearance(&self) -> clear::T {
-        self.block_flow.float_clearance()
-    }
-
-    fn float_kind(&self) -> float::T {
-        self.block_flow.float_kind()
-    }
-
     fn bubble_inline_sizes(&mut self) {
         // Get the column inline-sizes info from the table flow.
         for kid in self.block_flow.base.child_iter() {