Please come talk to me about wooden floors...

[SoupDreggon]

I know nothing. Well, I know laminate is cheap and cheerful but I don't want that.

I have a manky old carpet in my living room and feel that,bwith three children, a dog and a cat who likes to claw carpet, a wooden floor is a more practical option. I envisage adding a large (and easily replaceable) rug.

What are the options and the pros and cons of them?

I don't feel sanding the boards is really worth it as I think it would be quite draughty - even the carpet feels cold near where the air bricks are. Budget is not really a deciding factor but I am more likely to go for a mid range option.

What I would really like is a beautiful herringbone parquet floor in golden oak but I'm being realistic!! Sadly there isn't one hiding under the manky carpet :)

At the moment I'm just mulling it over and I just wanted to know what the different types of wooden flooring are.

Thanks :)

[MumRaah]

Marking placeDon't mind me

[TalkinPeace]

I'll always get people to consider bamboo as its

• solid wood
  
• sustainable
  
• cheap
  
• resilient

[Itshouldntmatter]

We have engineered wood in our kitchen/dining room. In theory, suitable for the kitchen. It looks great, was cheaper than proper wood. The colour has changed in the sunlight, it is much more orangey than I choose, and there is a small corner by the sink which isn't totally flat. But I still much prefer it to the karndean fake wood. This is wood not a fake effect.

[Itshouldntmatter]

I will add I have a friend who has cork which I also love.

[SoupDreggon]

Bamboo is interesting. I don't like the one made from strips as I prefer a "plank" effect but the stranded sort looks better.

[Apatite1]

I'm getting engineered wood floor in dark oak throughout the ground floor of our home, bar the bathroom. With wet UFH. I'm hoping it'll all work out!

[Itshouldntmatter]

We have wet underfloor heating - it's heavenly in the winter.

[vez123]

You can sand your floorboards and get the gaps filled. This is what we did with ours and a nice varnish. Feels great underfoot and not cold at all. We got it done by this guy //www.sandedfloors.co.uk, he was fantastic and pretty reasonable (if you're in SE London..)

[MarshaBrady]

We just got engineered oak in nearly all rooms. Very nice to walk on and it does look great.

[ArtyBat]

Op, I have an original herringbone parquet floor throughout the ground floor of my home, and yes, whilst it does look beautiful it has a few drawbacks.

It marks easily. Is very cold in winter compared to carpets (my feet are always very cold, even when wearing shoes/socks), and I'm constantly/daily chasing dust/fluff bunnies around.

My next home will be back to carpets!

[SoupDreggon]

Ah, but mine is a fantasy herringbone parquet floor :)

I think wood is going to be easier than carpet as my carpet always looks bitty. A wooden floor could be swept which is easier than hauling out the Hoover.

What are the advantages of engineered flooring?

[SoupDreggon]

I'm not planning on sanding the boards as even when the gaps are sealed it will be cold, especially in the bay. I feel I need an extra layer.

[MarshaBrady]

We have it in the kitchen and iirc it's better in spaces where there is a likelihood of it getting wet.

Has been so good and much better than the pale carpet we were going to get in the other rooms. Already incidents with an ink pen that were just wiped off the oiled surface. Shudder to think what we would have done with new carpets.

[ArtyBat]

A fantasy herringbone parquet floor eh! Think I'll go for that.....all toasty warm, permenently clean and invincible!!!

[SoupDreggon]

That's the one!


Hmm... Likelihood of it getting wet.... That's why the living room carpet is so manky! Bloody kids and drinks :)

[Legaldoodle]

Engineered wood is basically a veneer of wood as opposed to solid wood, which means the whole plank (section of flooring) is constructed of the same wood. This type of flooring is less suitable for underfloor heating and engineered wood is more stable and usually costs less. I have both and there is little to choose between the row but there is a greater choice in engineered wood these days. If you get engineered, get the veneer as thick as you can because it will be a better product. When you fet it fixed, make sure you take off the skirting boards and make sure the wood goes underneath the skirting board. Then either get new or replace the existing if it is not damaged. Do not use beading to join the wood to the skirting board, it is hideous!

Lastly wood flooring and the cost of fitting is expensive but will last longer than a carpet. Even engineered wood can be re sanded if necessary. A good quality finish will withstand a lot!

[Apatite1]

Those with engineered wood, where did you get yours from please?

[HoneySwampDragonInMourning]

I have teak parquet.

It takes a lot of effort and love, and an absence of children and dogs. Which is why mine's fucked.

The first time it gets scratched you will cry.

I'm getting the house ready to put up for sale and am currently getting quotes to carpet over it.

[Postchildrenpregranny]

We have wooden floors throughout our ground floor except in the sitting room . It's probably engineered-we were told it could be sanded three times. It's been down 13 years and subjected to two children, two cats (who skid around on it)and I still love it and have never regretted it. It could do with sanding and resealing (it is scratched in places despite my best efforts and I've got over being upset)but we are debating whether to move at present. Even 'old and battered' it looks better than dirty , battered carpet or tiles. If we stay we will definitely have it redone and keep it . It's Kahrs Boston Oak from John Lewis .
We have Kardean flooring in our bathroom and loo -it looks the same at a quick glance but is nowhere near as nice .
Have never found it cold or noisy and I'm a barefoot in the house person

[Postchildrenpregranny]

PS It was about £3,000 - the dining room is 14ft by 12ft and the kitchen is about 18ft by 9ft . Plus the hall and downstairs loo .Had it fitted (properly-skirtings removed, doors rehung) by a handyman . At the time it was no more expensive than good carpet.

[Postchildrenpregranny]

Should have said, it has also faded, but fairly evenly (as has our sitting room carpet ). We have windows on two aspects of most rooms and the house gets a lot of sun . Never found it getting wet a problem in the kitchen .Obviously I try not to soak it but the odd spillage is fine .
(and no I dont work for the company . I just like wooden floors)

[RedCheckedTablecloth]

Karndean.

I was totally and completely against it. No way Jose. I have a kitchen 18' x 18' and wanted a wooden floor. No argument.

Got talked into Kardean five years ago and it is just brilliant. Dogs, cats, kids, heavy traffic bring it on.

I grew up in a 1930's house with parquet flooring and I love it but it is hard work and I do have parquet in the bathroom but scratched to hell.

I feel like my mum when I polish the parquet with almond oil and I just love the smell and the shine you get............but a large space. No.

Upstairs we have painted floorboards. Seal the gaps with a papier mache of newspaper and wallpaper paste and use a proper floor paint. It is quite rubbery and flexes with heat and pressure. It takes 2 tins at £18 each to cover a room of approx. 10' x 12'.

[MarshaBrady]

Apatite we got Fired Earth engineered oak, it's very nice.

As an aside I remember a few places said they were in the process of switching stock to engineered only.

[sianihedgehog]

Solid wood will outlast you, and can be sanded and refinished almost infinitely. If you can afford it, get it. The type of varnish you use will make a huge difference to how much it scratches and marks - there are some available which will even stand up to a large dog who skids around corners. Personally, though, I think just thinking of the odd mark or scratch as character is the best way to go.

[SoupDreggon]

This is all good information, thanks :)