Wood flooring has a timeless beauty that will never be out of fashion and can improve your home. But how do you choose between solid wood, engineered or laminate?

Lightly fumed oak flooring - photo supplied by The Solid Wood Flooring Company

What’s the difference?

Solid wood flooring consists of sawed planks from natural timber, like oak or ash. Each floorboard is made up of a single piece of wood. Whereas, engineered wood flooring can look very similar but is made up of multiple layers of wood products. Typically, thin slices of MDF are glued together with only a veneer of real wood on the surface, usually 3-7mm thick. Laminate flooring meanwhile is made from compressed fibreboard planks covered by a photographic image of wood grain.

Cost

Solid wood flooring is usually more expensive than engineered. Cheaper softwoods, such as pine, can cost as little as £25 per m2. Hardwood, like oak or ash, costs around £48 per m2 to £100-plus per m2 – prices correct April 2019. Generally, the thicker, stronger and wider the plank, the more costly the flooring will be. Engineered wood is less pricey than comparable solid woods; from £19 per m2 to £100-plus per m2. If you’re on a tight budget, laminate is the cheapest option. Wood effect vinyl flooring starts at around £8 per m2 but it’s worth paying extra for a better quality. Average prices range from £15 to £35 per m2. To compare costs, it’s best to get several quotations from suppliers.

Durability & density

Wood flooring is typically hard wearing and strong. Hardwood species such as oak, maple and cherry are among the most durable and popular choices. Density of the wood makes a major difference. Walnut is attractive and widely used in flooring but is soft compared to other hardwood species, such as ash and oak.  Solid wood can, however, warp if it’s exposed to lots of moisture, so it’s not suitable for kitchens or bathrooms. Engineered wood floors are typically able to withstand more moisture than solid hardwood. This means there’s less likely to be warping or movement between boards.

Colours & styles

One of the advantages of a wood floor is the range of shades and styles in both solid and engineered options. From sun-bleached whites to chocolate browns and bold blacks – there is wood flooring to suit every colour scheme whether your preference is plank or parquet. Natural wood floors show the beautiful grain and tone of the timber. It’s also possible to get the same type of timber species stained a range of different colours. Dark floors give a traditional, elegant look while light-coloured wood creates a more contemporary feel. It’s important to be aware sunlight will change the colour of wood floors naturally over time.

Refinishing

Being able to strip, sand and refinish a floor makes wood an attractive long-term investment. It means you have the option to refresh or change its look in future. One of the biggest differences is that solid wood can be sanded down and re-finished numerous times, whereas engineered wood can only be lightly sanded once or twice before the thin upper layer wears away. Check with the manufacturer how often a wood flooring can be sanded and refinished.

Underfloor heating

Energy-efficient underfloor heating is on-trend but isn’t suitable for all types of wood flooring. Solid wood doesn’t conduct heat well and can shrink/warp with underfloor heating. Engineered wood is more tolerant of fluctuations in temperature but only certain types are suited for use with underfloor heating. Most better-quality laminates are compatible with underfloor heating. If you have underfloor heating, check with the flooring manufacturer if it’s compatible.

Different rooms

Higher traffic areas, such as hallways and living areas, will benefit from stronger hardwoods like oak. But a cheaper softwood, such as pine, may be suitable for bedrooms and could be stained to achieve a similar look. Engineered wood is suitable for most rooms from halls to kitchens. But in damp areas, such as bathrooms or utility rooms, it may be better to go for tile. If you are just planning on having wood floor for one room and adding others later, check the product you choose will be available in future. Many companies change suppliers on a regular basis and flooring products can go out of production.

Fitting wood flooring

Cheaper laminates and engineered boards are often sold as DIY-friendly, easy to install products. Higher quality wood floors are best fitted by a professional which will bump up the costs. Nailing is the only installation method for solid wood. Mistakes may cause the floor to buckle or leave gaps. An experienced DIYer may nail, staple, glue or even install engineered floorboards as a click-lock ‘floating floor.’ However good you are at DIY, hiring a professional fitter will almost always get a better result.

Don’t forget the extras

Check with the manufacturer if you need extras such as foam underlay for your flooring. A damp course membrane may be required over concrete or cement floors. All wood floors need to be sealed to help protect the timber against wear and tear, stains and moisture.  In simple terms wood finishes can be divided in to lacquer, varnish, oil and wax – and there’s a wide choice available.  If the wood floor comes ready-to-finish as opposed to factory-finished, it will add to your costs.

Looking after your wood floor

A wood floor should mature beautifully - a bit like a good bottle of wine - if looked after properly. Measures include large mats at entrance doors to stop any grit getting walked into the wood floor and damaging the surface. A shoes-off policy will also help keep your wood floor looking good for decades. Stiletto heels are the enemy. Pads and casters on the bottom of chairs, sofas and other items of heavy furniture will prevent scratching. Regular sweeping or vacuuming with a soft brush will keep it clean. Avoid steam cleaning your wood floor as if you force water into at high pressure you will damage it.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to picking the perfect wood flooring.