The best wood flooring?

[bness]

Hi,

I'm getting new flooring for my downstairs - entire lounge and dining room as well as kitchen. No shoes - just toys and general family traffic. We ordered some samples of Engineered Oak and just to test them I dropped a set of keys. Created 5 dents!
Someone recommended bamboo flooring. I ordered few samples - they have a lovely shiny finish and the keys did not dent them! However would like to hear of some experiences with bamboo as well as other recommendations? Not too fond of laminate.

The harder the wood the more they charge for it !! However you seem to be testing the samples well !! So you want real wood - you are not tempted with Karndean or Amtico instead - they are the hard wearing flooring that a lot of shops (with high traffic etc) choose ?!?!

Yeah we want wood. We hAve had real wood before - our flat is a 1930s one that came with original wood flooring and we love it. Bamboo looks fantastic though so I'm leaning towards it but need recommendations of companies etc

What about getting reclaimed flooring ?! Might work well with the 1930's building . IME local companies, rather then the big companies usually give better after service, Although they might not be the cheapest to start with - if you weigh up the after service - it might work out cheaper in the end !

I've had bamboo flooring and it was brilliant, suited my eco wants and survived 2 dogs and teenagers. Our bamboo came from Urbane living (www.urbaneliving.co.uk). Reclaimed flooring is a great idea, have you tried The Natural Wood Flooring company, fabulous boards and very high quality.

you cant put solid wood floor on concrete because it has to be nailed down.
quick step laminate is very lifelike and very hard wearing. it will wear much better than wood.

we are undecided whether to go with good quality laminate or engineered wood

we are replacing our hall carpet with a hard floor and have been getting lots of advice from our local independent shop.

hi - Ihatethecold - you can lay proper wood floor onto small subframe that's secured into the concrete floor - obviously this alters the height a little - so not always suitable - especially near the bottom of stairs ( as you'd stub your foot as you reach the bottom. ) but a good alternative if this is not possible due to height is the Karndean or Amtico option on concrete.

We looked at karndean, it was expensive and has to be fitted by a professional.

Think we are getting a quote for engineered wood

I have bamboo and love it so far mad dog has not managed to scratch it (2years in). The entire downstairs of new house will have it. Mine came from simply bamboo and carpenter who fitted it said of all the laminate, wood etc products he had used it was the truest and nicest to fit.

Hi, don't know if this will help. I was discussing finishing to my new flooring and was advised to choose a hard wax finish to my boards. It will give a hard finish that should be more than key proof.

If you're considering Amtico or Karndean, make sure you take a look at Moduleo, similar flooring but bit cheaper on price. The woods look amazing, especially the Wenge www.moduleo.co.uk/products/wood

Thanks, we have solid concrete underneath but wood flooring can be kicked on using uniclic system or glued using tongue and groove.

Got samples.from.all.companies including so.ply bamboo and the bamboo.flooring co.pany - patchworkchick- urbane flooring amazing but double the price eek!