What Type of Wooden Flooring is Best?

With a vast amount of options available on today’s market, it can be difficult to know what wood flooring is best for your home. There is more to just choosing the type of wood that catches your eye, there are other careful factors to consider from the type of wood, its durability, grain pattern and colour.

Hardwood floors are a popular choice for many homeowners, thanks to their timeless look and longevity. Doing your homework and gaining a better understanding of what’s available, their unique characteristics, pros and cons will help you pick which is most suitable, so without further ado - let’s look at the best types of wooden flooring for your home.

Solid Oak Flooring

The clue is in the name “solid”, and for good reason. Solid oak flooring is, without a doubt, one of the most popular types. It provides a superior balance of durability and depth with the warming colour of one of Britain’s most loved trees. Oak trees are far more dense compared to other woods, enabling oak flooring to withstand decades of heavy foot traffic and high resistance to dents, scratches and stains.

Solid oak flooring is best known for its rich colours and luxurious feel, blending seamlessly with almost any traditional or contemporary style decor in your home. Oak will guarantee a flawless finish, as long as it is well-maintained. A regular sweep of any dust and dirt that’s built up during the day is good practice to avoid any potential scratches. Mopping with some warm water and floor cleaning solution every so often will ensure your oak floor stays in tip-top condition.

Although solid oak can be a little pricier than other types of wood flooring, it has certainly proven itself to be a worthwhile investment. Not only will you have the pleasure of enjoying the natural beauty of oak in your home, but it also serves as a valuable asset. Should you decide to put your property up for sale in the future, solid oak flooring will help to increase the overall value of your home. Also a popular option for those with rented accommodation, as it is easy to clean and maintain between tenants - unlike the nuisance of carpets!

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring, unlike solid oak flooring, is made up of multiple layers bonded together. The top layer is made up of a solid hardwood that is attached to several thin layers of plywood and recycled wood. Known for its rustic and solid appearance, this type of flooring has quickly become a modern alternative to traditional wood flooring. It’s practical and simple to fit, while it can be installed over both timber and concrete floors. As you may have guessed, engineered wood flooring was designed as a more cost-effective alternative to solid oak. While it still holds a strong stability and resistance to damage over a long period of time, it can only undergo sanding once or twice. It’s important to note the lifespan of engineered wood flooring will not match or exceed that of traditional solid wood flooring.

Laminate Wood Flooring

If you like the look of wood flooring, but not the price tag - laminate is a considerably more affordable option. Made up of compressed fibreboard planks with a top, photographic wood-effect layer and clear protective coating, laminate flooring can be supplied in a whole range of wood-like shades, colours and graining. While some individuals may not appreciate the glossy, artificial appearance it can give, unlike solid wood, laminate cannot be sanded or refinished and will need replacing if it were to sustain any significant damage.

UK Oak - the UK's Premier Online Oak Supplier

Here at UK Oak, we proudly stand as Britain’s leading online flooring supplier. Our extensive range includes solid oak flooring, engineered flooring, solid ash wood, red and white oak, all at fantastic prices. In addition to flooring, we also supply oak beams, mantel pieces, furniture and more. We aim to provide the highest quality European oak to our customers, no matter their style or budget. Browse our website and discover the perfect wood flooring for your next project. Should you have any questions about our services or require assistance with ordering, feel free to pick up the phone and give us a call at 01536 267107.