If you’re in the process of researching wood flooring, you’re almost certain to have thought, “what’s the best wood flooring” at some point. Unfortunately, like most things in life, there’s no such thing as the best wood flooring across the board (excuse the pun). It’s a shame, but the best wood flooring for one customer mightn’t suit another and vice versa. All of that said, we’re keen to help you find the right wood flooring for you and for this reason have prepared our Top Ten, which should make your decision-making process slightly easier:
1. Is the traffic in the room you’re planning to re-floor light, moderate or heavy? The level of traffic in the room will, at least in part, determine which type of floor you should choose. Generally speaking, solid wood flooring is more durable than engineered, because it allows for more re-sanding and re-finishing in its lifetime. What this means is that in high traffic areas, you can keep a solid wood floor looking better for longer. That said, if solid wood flooring isn’t appropriate in the room you’re re-flooring (eg. in a bathroom or a kitchen) but the room still suffers heavy traffic, then it’s really important to choose an engineered wood floor with a thick lamella or top layer, which will allow more sandings in the life of the floor.
2. Are moisture and temperature levels likely to fluctuate significantly in the room (eg. in a bathroom or a kitchen)? In any room where moisture and temperature are constantly on the change, it’s essential that you opt for engineered wood flooring, which will withstand the challenges thrown at it much better than solid wood flooring.
3. How long are you expecting the floor to last? If you’re looking for a quick fix, on a budget, then a low cost solid or engineered wood floor will do the trick. If however, you’re looking at an investment floor that’ll last a lifetime, assuming the conditions are right (ie. not in a room with significant moisture and temperature fluctuations), then there’s no doubt that a high quality solid wood floor is the right way to go.
4. How big’s your budget? Like anything, you get what you pay for when it comes to wood flooring. Although there are some seriously cheap flooring options on the market, what you need to check out is the quality you’re getting at the price you can afford. It is much better to compromise slightly on look and get a better quality option than buy a low quality solution on look alone.
5. What “look” are you hoping to achieve? When determining the best wood floor for you, one of the most important things on your mind is likely to be how the end result will look. It’s important to decide if you want a light, airy look or a clean, dark look and also, whether you want a shiny finish or a matt finish. Thereafter, it’s a case of getting down to the finer detail such as board width with your chosen supplier.
6. Have you seen the kind of floor you’re looking for somewhere? A great way to find the best wood floor for you is to look around. Everywhere you go, no matter whether it’s shops, restaurants or other people’s homes, don’t be worried to ask questions about floors that appeal to you. You’ll be amazed at how keen people are to speak about their projects!
7. Are you going to buy face-to-face or online? While there are some great bargains to be had online, many people are wary of buying the likes of wood flooring on the internet and opt to pay more for a face-to-face contact. While this is understandable, it really does make sense to shop online if it means you can make good savings and get a better quality floor for the same spend. Look out for reassurances like warranties and guarantees as well as customer testimonials. If you do your due diligence, you’ll find that buying online isn’t as scary or as risky as you might have thought.
8. Are you planning to fit the floor yourself or is professional fitting included in your plan? Whether you’re planning a DIY or a professional fit, might impact on what’s the best wood flooring for you. If you’re an avid DIY-er, you may well be prepared to risk a top of the range wood floor, but if you’re planning to fit a wood floor for the first time, it might be a good idea to start with something a bit less costly. On the other hand, if you’ve budgeted for the hiring of a professional fitter, this shouldn’t impact on your decision.
9. What about warranties? Warranties provide great peace of mind when it comes to wood flooring and vary enormously from company to company. It’s really important, when determining the best wood flooring for you, that you pay respect to the warranties on offer and don’t forget to read the small print!
10. What if it all goes wrong? If your flooring project has been planned from start to finish with a reputable on, or offline flooring supplier and it all goes wrong, they’ll sort out the problems (assuming they’ve caused them). If however, your project goes awry on a DIY basis, then you could be left holding the baby, so do make sure you make really careful plans to get the best wood flooring for you.