What is Solid Wood Flooring?

A solid or real wood floor is one that’s milled from a single piece of timber. It is kiln or air dried before sawing, with the manufacturing process meticulously controlled to ensure the moisture content is correct. This is done so that your flooring won’t warp in the time between manufacturing and fitting.

As only 100% real wood is used, your flooring can be sanded down and refinished many times. Available in a variety of styles and finishes, solid wood flooring gives your home a beautiful, traditional feel.

Types of Solid Wood Flooring

If you’re wondering what to look for in solid wood flooring, then our guide below will walk you through all the different options available.

RANGE
PRICES FROM
THICKNESS
STYLE
UFH COMPATIBLE
Thorpe
£44.95m²
18mm
Herringbone
Brimham
£44.95m²
18mm
Straight Plank
Thorpe
Prices From
£44.95m²
Thickness
18mm
Style
Herringbone
UFH Compatible
Brimham
Prices From
£44.95m²
Thickness
18mm
Style
Straight Plank
UFH Compatible

All our solid wood floors come with a 25-year warranty.

Solid Wood Flooring Construction

There are two different types of solid wood construction:

100% Solid

100% solid wood flooring is just one strip of solid wood directly from the tree. It’s incredibly strong and the most traditional flooring option. Solid wood can last for hundreds of years and be sanded down and refinished many times.

Structured/Solid VFJ

Structured or VFJ (veneered finger jointed) solid wood is constructed with a top layer of solid oak veneer and a core layer made up of strips of solid oak finger jointed together. Made from only real wood, it’s still very strong and resilient due to the way the wood is joined together. This reduces the chance of any expansion or warping.

Solid Wood Flooring Species

There are various species of Solid wood flooring for you to choose from, each of which offer a different look for your home.

We’ve explained these below, including the benefits of each:

Oak

Choosing oak will give your home a traditional, natural look. Oak has a straight and looping grain pattern and is available in a variety of colours, sizes and finishes. When you choose our oak solid wood flooring, you can rest in the knowledge that it was grown in Europe, so we can ensure the quality and consistency of each board.

Acacia

Acacia is a unique option for your solid wood floor, thanks to its light and dark multi-toned appearance, and the knots in the wood. It has the ability to add personality to a clean and open space.

Solid Wood Flooring Shades

Choosing the shade of your flooring gives you even more control over the finished look of your room.

Each shade has its own advantages that you can read more about below:

Light

If you want to brighten a room, then light solid wood flooring gives the illusion of added brightness by reflecting light around your living space. Light coloured flooring works well in modern homes, and its ability to hide scratches and dents makes it a great choice for a commercial environment too.

Medium

Medium solid wood flooring is popular, due to compatibility with both light and dark interiors. The exact shade you get will very much depend on the natural colour of the wood species used. For example, medium oak would be much lighter than medium walnut.

Dark

This shade is popular with those fitting flooring in both modern and traditional homes. Dark solid wood flooring can add intensity to a dark room, creating a cosy feel, or it can make a stylish design statement in a light space.

Solid Wood Flooring Finishes

There are a few different finish options you can consider with your solid wood flooring, to get both the look and protection you need.

In this guide we’ve explained each one to help you better understand the differences:

Lacquered

Lacquered solid wood flooring is the style you need if you want a glossy and polished finish to your flooring. This finish involves lacquer being applied to your solid wood planks. The process creates a protective layer, making the flooring easy to clean and resistant to sunlight damage.

Oiled

For this finish an oil is applied to the wood and then absorbs into it. It adds strength to the wood too, instead of just treating the surface of the plank. One major advantage of oiled solid wood is that a small area can be sanded down and the oil reapplied if there was any damage, as opposed to having to treat the whole floor. However, direct sunlight will affect the finish of the floor, more than a lacquered alternative.

Brushed and Oiled

Brushed and oiled solid wood is wire brushed to remove the fresh wood, exposing the older wood underneath with its traditional grain, knots and rings. This gives the floor character and the brushed effect also does a great job of hiding scratches, making it ideal if you have pets at home. The oil will need to be reapplied every now and then to keep your floor in tip top shape.

Brushed and Lacquered

Brushed and lacquered wood flooring showcases the natural features of the wood as the rings and grain patterns are exposed during the wire brushing process. The lacquer gives it a strong protective layer that makes it resistant to the odd spill or splash. A brushed and lacquered effect is also easy to maintain and protects your wood against damage from sunlight.

Hand Scraped

Hand scraped solid wood flooring has a worn, rustic appeal. This finish was once incredibly expensive, as the boards were meticulously carved by hand, a process that took hours of manual labour. Today, the scraping process is carried out with machines, making hand scraped wood much more accessible and affordable. Available in a variety of species and finishes, this beautifully aged wood will bring your home to life.

Unfinished

We supply unfinished solid wood flooring so you can choose your desired look, creating a truly bespoke floor. We recommend you experiment on our unfinished wood samples first to ensure you perfect the look before applying anything to your floor.

Solid Wood Flooring Plank Effects

The construction, size and arrangement of your planks have a huge impact on the overall look of the solid wood flooring in your living space.

Below we’ve explained the different plank effects you can select from:

Single Plank

Single plank is what most people choose when selecting solid wood flooring. This is the traditional process of cutting one plank of wood from a tree and manufacturing it into a board. It’s the most organic approach, giving your flooring a natural look with the wood grain highlighted.

Parquet

Parquet solid wood flooring is constructed by laying many identical planks in a geometric and angular pattern. The herringbone design is the most common, but there’s an array of patterns for parquet floors to choose from so you can get the look you’ve been dreaming of.

Solid Wood Flooring Joining Methods

If you’re wondering how to install solid wood flooring, then take a look at the joining methods below to work out which is right for you:

Click Fit

A click fit system makes installing your real wood flooring very straightforward as the planks simply click together and lock into place without the need for glue, nails or much other equipment. Due to its simplicity, this joining method is ideal if you’re planning to fit your own floor.

Tongue & Groove

With Tongue & Groove Solid wood flooring , one side of the board has a protruding edge and the other has a rebated edge. These edges fit perfectly into each other and create a smooth flooring surface without any gaps. Tongue & Groove flooring can be installed on any type of subfloor, using nails or glue.

Why Choose Solid Wood Flooring?

Solid wood flooring is the right choice if you’re looking for a solution that will last a lifetime. Made from 100% solid wood, it can be sanded down and refinished many times, making it feel like you’re getting a new floor again and again.

Available in different species, shades and finishes, you can tailor your flooring to your needs or purchase the boards untreated and add your own personal touch.

Though typically more expensive than other flooring options, solid wood makes a worthy investment that will give your space an elegant and traditional feel.

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Need a little help choosing the right floor for your home?

Simply request a callback and one of our friendly flooring experts will be in touch as soon as possible.