Engineered oak floor

[3in4years]

Any advice, hints, tips or warnings? We moved into our new house 2 months ago and the access at the back (to the huge garden) is only through patio doors straight off the lounge. It's carpeted, and driving me crazy! The kids keep spilling juice on the carpet, it needs hoovering every day, looks manky and just feels grotty and impractical. We do have a front door and small hallway, but too narrow to fit a buggy or anything through, so we tend to use the back door more.
I've had enough, and want to buy new flooring now! Any reasons to wait? Things to consider? I thought engineered oak might do the trick. It needs to be easy to clean, and not super expensive, as it's a large area (30msq). I'm not sure I'd like laminate or vinyl...
Thanks for any replies.

Sorry for slight hi-jack, but just a quick question for those of you who have engineered wood flooring - are gaps between boards normal? see photos which show size of gaps at ends of boards, largest gap same as thickness of 5p piece - wasn’t like this when flooring first laid, it was glued on new concrete subfloor.

Oh gosh that’s strange @cloughie100! I don’t know. I would definitely complain though to whoever installed it though as that shouldn’t happen I don’t think? How weird!

@cloughie100

I had engineered Oak flooring. Over time ( 5 years ) and heat and general living some of the gaps are more noticeable , but nothing dreadful. Certainly nothing to the extent you could put a five pence coin down.

That is surely the point of engineered floors. They should be more robust. So I would say if you can stick a 5p piece down there is something wrong if they were laid well in the first place.

Sorry if not what you wanted to hear but that sounds sub standard to me. Not how ours works.

I have engineered oak, installed 10 years ago. It's sandable but I like it better now that it's scratched. When I first got it, I kept getting compliments on my nice "laminate" floor!

It has slipped to one side and there is now a tiny gap visible next to the skirting board.

My sister has the exact same flooring with underfloor heating installed. Hers has a wax finish rather than varnished, which I think looks much nicer (but requires periodic sanding/rewaxing).

And finally, the floor is very slippery! Something you might want to keep in mind if you have pets/elderly visitors to take into account.

I'm thinking of engineered wood flooring. This thread is really helpful, thank you.

Can anyone advise me on where I should start - do I buy the stuff and then find a fitter, or will fitter sort out what I need?

Any suggestions on suppliers?

@LesleyKnope1 I got mine from www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/engineered-wood-flooring in their January sales.

A friend installed mine but if you're getting a professional fitter you might find they can get what you want at trade price.

You need to get the flooring at least one week before fitting so it can acclimatize.

I'd say research your chosen floor. We had samples of our current floor that I tested with scratching and spilling, all well. Only the product they finally delivered is crap. After 6 months it's full of scratches. I'm convinced it doesn't have the same amount of laquer on it than the sample we've been sent.

Thank you. I will start ordering samples and remember to acclimatise.