Floor fitting advice (solid wood)

osian

I'm interested in buying a solid wood floor. This one:-

http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/Solid_Wood/Florence_Solid_Rustic_Oak_Flooring_125mm_Brushed_%252526_UV_Oiled.html

The floor we are laying on is ground floor and concrete.

Unfortunately, I have already bought some underlay for the ground floor but looking at the instructions for this wood floor, it needs to be nailed/screwed down, glued down, or using the fast fit peel & stick underlay that this company sell (which is an extra £400ish to buy on top).

What is the most cost effective way of fitting the floor? Can we still use the underlay that we have already bought? It is this one:-
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=1630864&Trail=searchtext%3EUNDERLAY

We are getting a carpenter to fit it, but I'd need to buy the materials in before booking him I guess. Sorry for the dim question, but I'm confused!

keystone

osian wrote: »

I'm interested in buying a solid wood floor.............The floor we are laying on is ground floor and concrete.

Don't. Buy an engineered oak floor and lay it as a floating floor. Solid warps.

What is the most cost effective way of fitting the floor?

Get a professional floor layer to do it. It will cost you about £ 12 a sq metre. Bet your chippy is more than that and he'll take longer too.

Can we still use the underlay that we have already bought?

Probably/possibly - ask your floor layer. He might think its pants and suggest you go get your money back or he might be OK with it.

We are getting a carpenter to fit it, but I'd need to buy the materials in before booking him I guess.

Don't - get a flooring man. He may be able to source the flooring cheaper than you can direct from his wholesalers anyway.

Sorry for the dim question

Don't be.

but I'm confused!

Try not to be.

Cheers

osian

Thanks Keystone.

underlay_guru

id agree with keystone...

engineered wood [which is basically a real wood laminate on top of a softwood block/plywood core] is generally easier to fit and is less suseptable to natural damage....engineered wood are floating floors [in other words not physically nailed or adhered to the subfloor], and you can get some whichare clic system forease of installation.

....and in my opinion forget the carpenter and do get a pro floor layer to do fit it for you [unless your carpenter can prove he is experienced at the job i suppose].

Expect to pay around £18-25 per square metre for fitting in a flat area

Sarah2100

Laminate floor is no comparison to proper wooden floor, Choose real wood anyday, may be more expensive but lasts 10 times as long so in effect in the long run cheaper to have the real thing !!!

Sarah

keystone

Sarah2100 wrote: »

Laminate floor is no comparison to proper wooden floor, Choose real wood anyday, may be more expensive but lasts 10 times as long so in effect in the long run cheaper to have the real thing !!!

Sarah

Noone has mentioned plastic laminate that I am aware of. All we have done is spoken about engineered wood floor vs solid wood. Solid wood won't work in his scenario so it has to be engineered.

Anyway a quality laminate will last a long time - its the cheap and nasty stuff that doesn't.

Cheers

osian

Thanks all! I'm not averse to a nice quality laminate and I have been looking for a nice engineered floor, but when sending for samples I haven't been sent out anything that I like and that will suit the house. I'll have to keep on looking I think. Any recommendations?

keystone

Go and look at stuff on the floor in several showrooms. You can't make a proper decision based on a small sample through the post.

Cheers

titanic55

We are also undecided wether to lay solid oak flooring or engineered but most people we have spoken to who has had solid wood flooring laid are recommending this providing we get experienced floor fitters to lay it. We have found easystepflooring.co.uk where prices seem to be very reasonable and they have quoted £17 a sq.mtr. for fitting. I would be interested to know wether anyone has any experience of dealing with this Company.

Osian, just one word of warning there we some unfavourable posts here on flooring supplies .co.uk back in April 2010 which you might like to read.
Cheers

agent_orange_2

I fitted solid oak flooring three years ago. It looks very nice and is wearing well in a busy room.

Fitting it shouldn't be a problem to a competent diy'er. Ours was fitted onto a concrete floor. You'll need to place a damp proof membrane down. There is a purpose made self-adhesive underlay, which is very easy to use, just a little awkward to start off.

One thing I did note when we purchased the flooring, the cheaper solid wood flooring comes in a variety
of lengths, but there is a majority of shorter lengths.

cubicanna

If you are concerned about fitting your floor choose engineered wood flooring. Engineered floors are easy to fit. This way you can save on fitting. In case you would like to have a professional to lay your wood floor check the service prices of several companies. I would recommend choosing a bigger company, since they have more customers and can offer better prices. Finally, keep an eye out for special offers. You can get quality wood flooring almost at half price. You may want to check out realoakfloors.co.uk