Engineered wood flooring

[AGumbo]

Looking for some advice

We are currently undertaking a complete house rebuild/extension and I will get round to starting thread but the basic premise is

Phase 1

Add two storey SIPS extension
drop ceiling height in the middle of the house
move stairs and replace as now 4 levels
new bathroom and shower room

Phase 2

convert bedroom and lounge into master suite

Phase 3

Convert Kitchen/Bathroom and Dining room into kitchen diner

I am now getting to the point when we can start looking at fixtures and fittings for Phase 1 and have sorted the lights sorted (thanks Guy and EcoLED) plumbing and radiators however I would like to fit some good quality wood flooring and reading on here the way to go is engineered real wood flooring which is much more stable but still looks the part.

So where is good/recommended we are looking at Oak

Thanks in advance

Gumbo

[bigdom]

I'm currently in the process of laying over 60sqm of it, adding that to the other bit a few years back, circa 100sqm.

I've bought all mine from here: http://www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk/

They are relatively local to me, I found them from watching 'Grand Designs'. They make it to order in the UK (Farnborough, Hampshire), this enables any colour, texture, coating, width etc. So it can be personalised to what you want, rather than just off shelf.

Edited by bigdom on Thursday 23 April 14:17

[Frybywire]

http://www.frenchforestfloors.com/products/forest-...

Superb quality and all really long boards.

[garycat]

We used this stuff and are happy with it 5 years after it was laid

http://www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/realwoodflooring...

[Bluebarge]

http://www.1926woodflooring.co.uk/acatalog/kahrs-e...

Kahrs is the stuff John Lewis will flog you - decent quality, but cheaper here

[AGumbo]

Thanks guys for the info will start looking at these and working out the area.

Stairs in yesterday so I can now get back to the bedroom and off the sofa bed!

[DBSV8]

bigdom said:

I'm currently in the process of laying over 60sqm of it, adding that to the other bit a few years back, circa 100sqm.

I've bought all mine from here: http://www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk/

They are relatively local to me, I found them from watching 'Grand Designs'. They make it to order in the UK (Farnborough, Hampshire), this enables any colour, texture, coating, width etc. So it can be personalised to what you want, rather than just off shelf.

Edited by bigdom on Thursday 23 April 14:17

that looks very nice , can I ask how much it cost and are you fitting it yourself

thanks

[tomw2000]

OP have you thought about using something like Amtico or Karndean?

I was always very sceptical about such products, but having see it in the flesh (samples and laid on floors) it really does look very good.

http://www.amtico.com/

http://www.karndean.com/en-gb/floors/look/wood-flo...

[bigdom]

DBSV8 said:

bigdom said:

I'm currently in the process of laying over 60sqm of it, adding that to the other bit a few years back, circa 100sqm.

I've bought all mine from here: http://www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk/

They are relatively local to me, I found them from watching 'Grand Designs'. They make it to order in the UK (Farnborough, Hampshire), this enables any colour, texture, coating, width etc. So it can be personalised to what you want, rather than just off shelf.

Edited by bigdom on Thursday 23 April 14:17

that looks very nice , can I ask how much it cost and are you fitting it yourself

thanks

Not completely sure on cost, although we had a bit of a discount due to amount ordered, all the base prices are on the website, seem to remember it being less than £50 a sqm metre (including) underlay and the coatings - 2 hardwax coatings and medium brushing of the boards to match the existing. The boards are 190mm wide and 2.4m long, they make it to order, so you can have pretty much whatever finish you want.

I'm fitting myself, it's pretty easy. As they're quite long boards, less cuts and reduces installation time. Taking into account tea breaks, it's going to be around 3 days work. It's tongue and grooved, glue down the middle, a bit of tapping together and clamped whilst the glue goes off, even the missus can do that bit!

The only issue was joining the old and new floors as I need to create a piece, although a bit of templating in card/paper, and taking your time cutting, it's not that hard. Door thresholds/walls going off again, just a bit of measuring and trimming. Floor clamps are from screwfix, and D4 wood glue from toolstation.

[AGumbo]

bigdom said:

I'm currently in the process of laying over 60sqm of it, adding that to the other bit a few years back, circa 100sqm.

I've bought all mine from here: http://www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk/

They are relatively local to me, I found them from watching 'Grand Designs'. They make it to order in the UK (Farnborough, Hampshire), this enables any colour, texture, coating, width etc. So it can be personalised to what you want, rather than just off shelf.

Edited by bigdom on Thursday 23 April 14:17

This does look really good.

I also like the look of the french stuff so I emailed them through the website asking for samples and got a very quick reply and some are in the post. They seem to be very reasonably priced compared to the above but samples from both would see to be the way forward.

Thanks again for the advice

[DBSV8]

bigdom said:

DBSV8 said:

bigdom said:

I'm currently in the process of laying over 60sqm of it, adding that to the other bit a few years back, circa 100sqm.

I've bought all mine from here: http://www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk/

They are relatively local to me, I found them from watching 'Grand Designs'. They make it to order in the UK (Farnborough, Hampshire), this enables any colour, texture, coating, width etc. So it can be personalised to what you want, rather than just off shelf.

Edited by bigdom on Thursday 23 April 14:17

that looks very nice , can I ask how much it cost and are you fitting it yourself

thanks

Not completely sure on cost, although we had a bit of a discount due to amount ordered, all the base prices are on the website, seem to remember it being less than £50 a sqm metre (including) underlay and the coatings - 2 hardwax coatings and medium brushing of the boards to match the existing. The boards are 190mm wide and 2.4m long, they make it to order, so you can have pretty much whatever finish you want.

I'm fitting myself, it's pretty easy. As they're quite long boards, less cuts and reduces installation time. Taking into account tea breaks, it's going to be around 3 days work. It's tongue and grooved, glue down the middle, a bit of tapping together and clamped whilst the glue goes off, even the missus can do that bit!

The only issue was joining the old and new floors as I need to create a piece, although a bit of templating in card/paper, and taking your time cutting, it's not that hard. Door thresholds/walls going off again, just a bit of measuring and trimming. Floor clamps are from screwfix, and D4 wood glue from toolstation.

thanks , here's a big tip if your cutting around door frames , newel posts etc. well worth investing in a cutter



saves lots of bother and you get a great finish
cheers

[RammyMP]

I laid this through the my downstairs (about 100m2) 6 years ago, it has weared very well and still looks good.

http://www.howarth-timber.co.uk/windows-floors-doo...

The only problem is a gap has appeared and has got worse over the last year in the kitchen because it has been laid in one piece. I would recommend you have movement joints at door openings to avoid the boards separating.

[zollburgers]

bigdom said:

The boards are 190mm wide and 2.4m long...

I'm fitting myself, it's pretty easy. As they're quite long boards, less cuts and reduces installation time. Taking into account tea breaks, it's going to be around 3 days work. It's tongue and grooved, glue down the middle, a bit of tapping together and clamped whilst the glue goes off, even the missus can do that bit!

I went for similar but 120mm wide and it took ages!!


I then did the hall in real wood (oak) and it doesn't look as good, cost a lot more and creaks a tiny bit sometimes when you walk on it:


And so I went back to engineered for the spare bedroom but 150mm wide (photo taken before I cleaned it):

[Quattromaster]

I've used this lot for 3 rooms over last 3 yrs with no problems at all, very happy.

http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/?utm_campaign=Sa...

[bigdom]

DBSV8 said:

thanks , here's a big tip if your cutting around door frames , newel posts etc. well worth investing in a cutter



saves lots of bother and you get a great finish
cheers

I have one of those bad boys, it's one of those things you wonder how did without one until you bought it, very useful tool.

[AGumbo]

bigdom said:

DBSV8 said:

thanks , here's a big tip if your cutting around door frames , newel posts etc. well worth investing in a cutter



saves lots of bother and you get a great finish
cheers

I have one of those bad boys, it's one of those things you wonder how did without one until you bought it, very useful tool.

Samples are on the way

It looks like I will need a new toy as well I swear 20% of this build's budget has been from tools that I either need or replacements for the ones I have killed (battery drills/ impact drivers etc)

[AGumbo]

Little update for you

Box of samples from French Forest arrived last night which has opened the discussion up again as they included some engineered ash flooring as well which is not on the website and a thinner (and therefore cheaper 18mm version).

Couple of questions then (before the design consultant makes her choice tonight)

Anyone used the ash version?

The thinner 18mm board looks just as robust (albeit with a thinner veneer) what are the pro's and con's versus the 22mm board?

Thanks

Andy

[M3ax]

Depends what you are bonding it to. I'd advise not less than a 6mm wear layer. The 22mm version is most likely 15mm ply plus 7mm wear layer. The more robust the base, the less chance you have of rafting etc. are you going over screed or joists?

[AGumbo]

M3ax said:

Depends what you are bonding it to. I'd advise not less than a 6mm wear layer. The 22mm version is most likely 15mm ply plus 7mm wear layer. The more robust the base, the less chance you have of rafting etc. are you going over screed or joists?

Going over both as it will be going in at least 3 rooms