When considering real wood flooring, it's essential to understand the various options available, as they can significantly impact both the aesthetics and durability of your investment. Real wood flooring typically comes in the form of solid wood and engineered wood, each offering distinct advantages and considerations.

Solid hardwood floors are crafted from single pieces of wood, sanded, and finished after installation. They are exquisite but can be more expensive due to labour and raw material costs.

Engineered wood, on the other hand, offers a more cost-effective alternative while still providing the beauty of real wood. It comprises multiple layers of wood stacked in opposite directions as a core, with a veneer of the desired wood species on top. These planks come in different veneer thicknesses, ranging from 2mm to 6mm, and various widths, typically between 190mm to 300mm. The thickness and width of the planks, along with the quality of the wood. These floors often come pre-finished, making installation quicker and easier compared to solid wood flooring.

One of the key advantages of engineered wood is its enhanced stability. The layering of different woods in opposing directions minimizes the risk of expansion or shrinkage, making it a suitable choice for environments prone to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Investing in real wood flooring is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Selecting the right product can significantly impact the longevity and value of your investment, ensuring that you enjoy beautiful, durable floors for years to come.

It is always recommended to apply a moisture barrier onto the subfloor for best results and to extend the life of your floor. For areas with irregular moisture levels or concrete subfloors, a moisture barrier becomes even more essential, and it would be recommended to take the moisture barrier slightly up the walls as well. Engineered wood may be floated over an underlay, offering additional insulation and moisture protection, but best is for it to be fully glued to the subfloor as well. Gluing down the flooring gives you a better feel underfoot and gives the floor even more stablility.

Despite being categorized as 'hard flooring', wood offers a warm, soft and forgiving surface underfoot, making it easy on joints. This however can mean that it may dent and scratch over time, so more care should be taken to look after the floor. A major benefit of wood floors is that they can be sanded and refinished, to remove any marks and scratches that have accumulated over time. This process will make the floors look like new, but by looking after your flooring carefully, you won’t need to go down this route for many years. Quality wood flooring adds value to your home, sparing new owners from expensive replacements.