Timber Flooring Near Me

What timber flooring is best?

Whilst it’s not the hardest timber flooring on the market, oak is the best all-rounder when price, quality, availability and durability are all taken into account.

There are a number of types and styles of timber flooring which include;

Solid – has the ability to last longer than engineered timber floors and can add the most value to homes. It does however react the most to temperature and moisture and also needs to be fully bonded (glued) together and down to the subfloor.

Engineered – is a little less expensive than solid wood and is less reactive to moisture and temperature. Straight plank engineered timber floors can also be floated on underlay rather than being glued.

Straight Plank – is a little less expensive to buy and install than herringbone and chevron floors and potentially ages better with regards to style. Engineered straight plank floors can be floated over underlay without the need for glue.

Herringbone – costs a little more to buy and install than straight plank and the planks need to be fully bonded together and to the subfloor. Can look more fancy and stylish in the right space.

Chevron – like herringbone it costs a little more than straight plank to buy and install and it too needs to be fully bonded together and to the subfloor. Chevron is slightly less popular than herringbone but can look better in the right environment.

We supply to private and trade customers throughout mainland UK so if you’re searching for timber flooring near me you can view all of our real wood floors here – Real Wood Floors

Do you need underlay for wood flooring?

The majority of timber flooring cannot be floated over underlay, most types need to be fully bonded. The only type of timber flooring that can be installed over underlay is straight plank engineered timber flooring.

The main reason why solid timber flooring must be fully bonded is because solid wood reacts significantly to moisture and temperature. The material expands and contracts which means it moves. Fully bonding the flooring secures it in place and minimizes movement.

The herringbone and chevron designs increase the likelihood of movement which is why even engineered timber floors with these patterns must be fully bonded. There are a larger number or smaller planks which have an increased potential for movement.

The reason why straight plank engineered timber flooring can be floated over underlay is partly due to the straight plank design, and partly because of the material used within the construction. Only the top layer of engineered timber flooring is natural timber, and it’s the natural timber that’s highly reactive to temperature and moisture.

The lower layers are not natural wood, they are man-made materials like plywood which are much more stable. It is this factor that makes engineered timber flooring more popular than solid timber flooring, as well as the lower price.

Is timber flooring worth it?

Timber flooring is definitely worth it if it’s the floor type that you want or if it’s the best option for the space.

When your personal preference is to have the authentic look, feel and even smell of real timber flooring, then you will likely be dissatisfied with anything else.

In certain instances when the intended use is for a property where anything apart from real timber flooring will look out of place, such as a listed building, then you likely do need the real thing.

If however the intended use is for a bathroom, kitchen or utility room, real timber flooring will probably not be worth it and you would find a wood effect alternative such as LVT flooring much better suited.

Another vital factor to take into consideration is cost. Timber flooring is one of the most expensive floor types available, so if you are not planning on spending at least £40 per square meter you will need to opt for LVT or laminate flooring.