To think oak wooden floors may be stupid idea with young kids?

[seeminglyso]

We are looking at getting new floors and really want oak wooden floors. The size of the room means it will cost us roughly 3k. Obviously this is a big spend and if they are going to end up ruined with my four year old dropping toys on (and hoping for another child in the future) am I best just getting laminate and waiting a good few years.

Or Are the things I am reading about dents and scratches an overreaction? Would it still be ok? Anyone who can advise I would be very grateful.

[SecretRed]

I've got them (oak floor & kids!). Floor looked beautiful when first down bit it didn't take long to scratch and dent for various reasons. It's been down for around 6 years now and I can't wait to get rid and but a carpet.

[seeminglyso]

Would you not sand it?

[Gen35]

I've got wooden floors that have been destroyed by dc and a dog - hard to say which was worse - you can sand them and re varnish of course but not a trivial task either. Personally I'd hold off or go cheap for a few more years and do it when youngest dc is of an age to be past accidental dage.

[Silvercatowner]

We had oak parquet in our dining room about 5 years ago. We chose it because we didn't want carpet, we love wood, but we had a very heavy pianola and we were assured it would not damage the parquet. The pianola has now gone and there is a mark but not a dent. I love proper wooden flooring and consider scratches etc characterful, thought easily dealt with.

[Bulbasaur]

I'd get a more durable wood like white oak. My parents got white oak hardwood floors and they've gone through a couple really big dogs. The floors have held up very well. No scratches or anything like that.

Research the wood types. A good contractor should be able to walk you through what types of wood would be best for your situation.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I think I'd probably go for Karndean or similar until the DC were older.

[atticusclaw]

The beauty of real wood is that you can resend and finish it but it is a major hassle and can be expensive. Ours created masses of dust.

Having said that, decent laminate isn't cheap either. In fact if you go for the stuff that fools people into thinking its wood then it can cost more. Our laminate in a different part of the house was top of the range and has beveled planks with contouring that matches the grain of the wood exactly etc. Lots of people think it's wood. It chips though so in getting it to look less plasticy they've compromised on durability.

[Frizzcat]

I have oak wooden floors throughout my downstairs. I've had it for 3yrs and its quite robust. I use a wood floor cleaner twice per week or washing up liquid and hot water. I think it was worth the money we paid tbh.
Real wood floors can be re-sanded and varnished again.

[Marylou2]

I'd wait.We've just put walnut effect laminate from B&Q down.Looks ghastly on paper but IRL it looks lovely.When DC are older Oaks floors here we come!

[SecretRed]

I've considered sanding but it's expensive and would be a pita as it's in my living room and dining room. It does look lovely but with 3 dc's and lots of use it looks tired and a little shabby now.

[mickeyfartpants]

We need a new carpet but I am waiting till the age of spills and mess stop so until then we have a huge rug, so I could recommend going with a cheaper option and waiting.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

My parents have oak floor throughout their ground floor and DM is a childminder. It has been down around 10 years and still looks fantastic. Much much nicer than laminate, easy to keep clean, and it has not worn or stained in any way. And it sees a LOT if footfall.

[wonkylegs]

I had oak floor across the downstairs in my old house for 10 yrs (with DS for 5 of them) and honestly it was fine but the odd dink or light scratch didn't bother me. That's the character of wood, it's not perfect. It certainly wasn't ruined and it even didn't bother me that DS had to bring his bike in over it (we lived in a terrace and it lived in the dining room ) .
I think the thing is with wood it's a bit of mindset thing.

[Coyoacan]

Give me a wooden floor anytime, I hate carpets and tiles are too cold and hard to fall on.

[ivykaty44]

Wood and beyond are a really decent price for engine red wooden floors with a good two sand down abilities. I paid less than 1700 for the equivelant of three rooms and a hall way ( all of downstairs was done) it worked out somewhere in the region of two grand saving compared to John lewis or local shop

[brakespeare]

Solid oak, wide, Matt finish (May be the key) engineered boards here in the large hall and sitting room. 1toddler, 1school age child, one outdoorsy husband with bike. The floors have survived 9years with very few marks or scratches, worth every pound. We've been complimented on them a lot!

[Nicola19]

Real wood is too much maintenance, much as I wanted it. I have just bought 'tradional oak' amtico to go in my kitchen in the basement- warmer, quieter, easier on spillages.

[ZingTheGreat]

we bought really good quality oak flooring from Screwfix.
was much cheaper than any shop and 8 years later still in very good condition.

at the time of having floors done we had 4 kids under 6 (in fact youngest was a new born)

we moved last year, by then we had 6 children

yes, go for it

[GnomeDePlume]

We have oak floors throughout the ground floor and also had a dark wood floor in our last house. In both houses the floors took/is still taking a hell of a battering (sand pit sand trampled in plus a roller skating 4 year old!).

When we sold our last house the solid wood floor was still a sales feature!

I would have an oak floor over laminate any time.

[ZingTheGreat]

having said that we are looking into bamboo laminate flooring in new house, as it is waterproof so can be used in bathrooms as well as "dry" rooms.

It is very hardwearing, cheaper than wood, looks natural, not cold & hard like tiles
worth investigating

[HalberHahn]

We had wide plank oak in our old house, after 6 years (2 young dc plus 1 dog) it still looked good. There were a few scratches, but no worn patches and we had it throughout the ground floor.

New house has the same floor in kitchen, dining and living room, has been down 2 years and looks new. 3 dc, one dog.

What sort of maintenance is pp talking about? I hoover and clean with water and wood floor cleaner, that's it. We have a matt finish.

We also have wooden worktops (oak) and after 2 years they look new. I have not oiled them yet, even though that should be done every year.

We're not extra careful, but a rather messy household with outdoorsy dc and occasionally muddy dog. I wouldn't want any other floor covering (or worktops).

[LadyMacmuffintop]

I would go for engineered Oak. Ime they wear really well. I'd consider getting a sealed floor over an oiled floor in a dining room / kitchen next time we do any flooring, as once hosted a 'parents' party with a caterer who spilled oil on the kitchen floor which took a while to 'blend' in! But in last 2 houses oiled oak engineered boards have lasted really well and withstood 3 kids and various friends bashing them, scootering around on them and driving a diddy car all over them. Not dent free if you look closely but still look pretty good from a normal standing height!

[HalberHahn]

Oh yes, I meant engineered oak, the sort you can sand down a few times.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Solid oak here, and a childminders, and cats. It's absolutely fine - yes, it gets the odd scratch and dint but it doesn't matter or really show up. The laminate in another room however is much more fragile and has chipped in a few places which is really obvious IMO.