Wood Floor Buyers Guide
Flooring is an important part of your home, and investing in new wooden flooring can really bring something new to your home, whether it be in the kitchen, dining room or hallway to make an instant impression on any guests. Aesthetic value is important when it comes to enjoying your home, and wooden flooring is a perfect way to achieve that.
With wood flooring available in a range of different styles including engineered wood, solid wood and laminate wood, there’s something for everyone, with different wood grains, patterns and styles to suit every room. Wood flooring is also renowned for its longevity and durability, so if you want a floor to last you a lifetime, one of our wood flooring options is best for you. This wood flooring buyers guide should help you gain some insight into the different types of wood flooring, what flooring is good for what rooms and information about benefits and how to maintain.
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Types of wood flooring
The few different types of wood flooring which have their own benefits and drawbacks depending on where you want to lay it. We’ve briefly talked about the main types below, but if you want more information check out our guide to different types of wood flooring.
Engineered Wood:
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Typically cheaper than solid wood flooring
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Easier to install
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Suitable for varying humidity and temperature
Solid Wood:
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One layer construction allowing refinishing and sanding
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Slightly more aesthetic compared to engineered wood
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Lasts even longer than other wood floors
Some people think laminate flooring is also wood, but this isn’t actually the case. Laminate flooring is designed to simulate wood or other textures of flooring with an image layer covered with a clear protective layer. This isn’t 100% real wood, so it’s best to go for solid wood or engineered if you’re set on wooden flooring.
Wood flooring by room - what works where?
What type of wood flooring you go for will depend heavily on where you want to put it in your house; you’ll need to consider several different factors including whether you need your flooring to be moisture resistant, suitable for varying climates or extremely durable.
Wood flooring for bathrooms - Only engineered wood is even remotely suitable for bathrooms, as it’s more moisture resistant than solid wood. Despite this and the fact it is more stable, engineered wood still isn’t the best idea for bathrooms as it’ll be almost impossible to prevent splashes which can damage the wood flooring. If you lay wood flooring in a bathroom, it’ll go rotten and you’ll have to replace it sooner.
Wood flooring for kitchens - If you’re looking to install wood flooring in your kitchen, engineered wood flooring is also your best bet. Kitchens are notorious for varying temperatures when cooking and often have underfloor heating. Engineered wood is suitable for both of these due to its multiple layers.
Wood flooring for hallways - If you want to make an impression as soon as you walk in the front door, solid wood flooring is perfect for your hallway. Although it comes in as a little bit more expensive, solid wood flooring is slightly more durable and can put up with the heavy traffic a hallway receives. It also looks more authentic than engineered wood, and can be sanded and refinished to your hearts’ content.
Can wood flooring be easily cleaned?
Maintaining your wood flooring is very important in order to maintain its original bright properties and to ensure its longevity. Luckily, cleaning your wood flooring is very easy.
Wood flooring should be regularly swept or vacuumed at least once a week to ensure you collect any loose dirt and dust. You can also wipe over your wooden flooring once a month with either a homemade solution or preferably a specialist wood floor cleaner.
If you have any spillages these should be wiped up immediately to avoid long term moisture damage. You should be careful with your wood flooring, as they can be easily scratched and stained if not taken care of properly. Although you can repair these, it isn’t as simple as wiping it up - make sure to learn how to remove scratches from wood flooring before you decide to buy.
It’s important you don’t use the wrong type of cleaner or equipment, so take a look at our guide on how to clean wood flooring for more detailed information.
Can you paint wood flooring?
If the natural look isn’t for you, there are ways to jazz up your flooring after you lay it down. Painting with different colours, styles and patterns can help match your flooring to the aesthetic of the rest of your room, or even create a feature floor effect to really draw attention to the flooring of your room. You can also match to any rugs you might have on your floor to help it blend in.
For more information on the correct tools, equipment and types of paint, check out our guide on how to paint wood flooring.
How to lay wood flooring & refinishing
One of the most important parts of the purchasing process is knowing how to lay and installing your wood flooring. Although you can hire a professional to do it for you, a lot of people opt to do it themselves in order to save some money.
It’s crucial you gather the correct equipment including a saw, pencil, ruler and other supplies before starting and preparing the room accordingly. If you don’t prepare properly, installing your wooden floor can become much more difficult and even cause problems later down the line, including damaging the underlay or even the floor itself. For the full process and tips and tricks, check out our guide on how to lay wood floors.
If you go for a solid wood floor, it’s likely you’ll need to sand and refinish it at some point in the future to remove general grime, varnish and restore it to its former glory. This process can be quite tricky so it's worth talking to a professional if you’re not comfortable, but you should definitely check out our guide on how to refinish and how to sand wood flooring.
Overall, wood flooring is a great option for most homes and commercial buildings alike. With several options suitable for heavy foot traffic, aesthetic value and longevity, there’s something for everyone with multiple styles and colourways available. Take a look through all our ranges of wood flooring and see what will fit in your home!