Solid oak or engineered flooring - advice please

Birdy54

Hi all,

We are going to be fitting wooden floor in our hallway, leading in to the living room. We are to decide between either solid oak flooring or engineered oak flooring. 

Just looking for thoughts on which you think would be the most durable and hard wearing and what is going to last the test of time in a family home with young children. Price aside as they are a similar price point anyway, it’s more down to what is more suitable. 

Is one likely to be more expensive to fit than the other perhaps or is it both pretty similar?

thank you,

Chelsea

neilmcl

Both are as hard wearing as each other, engineered wood has the advantage of being more stable by design so will resist changes to the wood, such as shrinkage, expansion. Both floors are a natural product and can be damaged, scratched and will age. Engineered flooring tends to come in wider planks and generally is easier to lay than solid wood.

shinytop

We are going through the same decision process.  The other difference is that engineered wood can be fitted as a floating floor, whereas solid wood needs to be nailed or glued.  Engineered can also cope with underfloor heating whereas solid can't.  If you get an engineered floor with a thick enough  wear layer it can be sanded and resealed just like solid.  Why don't you get some free samples and see how they compare?

ComicGeek

Not a fan of either myself. We went with vinyl planks, due to being cheaper, being able to wash properly, and working better with levels at door thresholds - also meant we didn't need to move skirtings and trim doors to suit, but that depends on what you have currently installed.

downshifted

We’re having a kitchen diner extension and need to choose flooring. We have a terrier and she’s already left scratch marks on the parquet in the hallway, I’d be interested in people’s views on durability of all types of flooring 

neilmcl

downshifted said:

We’re having a kitchen diner extension and need to choose flooring. We have a terrier and she’s already left scratch marks on the parquet in the hallway, I’d be interested in people’s views on durability of all types of flooring 

It might've been better to start your own thread rather than hijacking this one but as you mention a kitchen diner you'd probably be better of with LVT flooring.

ChilliBob

I'd go with Engineered, I believe it'll be better from a water perspective, and whilst you're not putting it in a kitchen, if you children are young (as my son is) you'll know that anything can get wet/filthy etc   also good to know that Engineered would be easier to replace a plank too. I know an ex work colleague who's parents had solid flooring and not engineered and say warping and bowing had been an issue. I think fitting may be more expensive too. If it's from the same manufacturer you could just ask them for more detail and samples, and do your own stress testing! 

neilmcl

ChilliBob said:

I'd go with Engineered, I believe it'll be better from a water perspective, and whilst you're not putting it in a kitchen, if you children are young (as my son is) you'll know that anything can get wet/filthy etc   also good to know that Engineered would be easier to replace a plank too. I know an ex work colleague who's parents had solid flooring and not engineered and say warping and bowing had been an issue. I think fitting may be more expensive too. If it's from the same manufacturer you could just ask them for more detail and samples, and do your own stress testing! 

If water is an issue I wouldn't go anywhere near a natural wood product, including engineered.

michaels

neilmcl said:

ChilliBob said:

I'd go with Engineered, I believe it'll be better from a water perspective, and whilst you're not putting it in a kitchen, if you children are young (as my son is) you'll know that anything can get wet/filthy etc   also good to know that Engineered would be easier to replace a plank too. I know an ex work colleague who's parents had solid flooring and not engineered and say warping and bowing had been an issue. I think fitting may be more expensive too. If it's from the same manufacturer you could just ask them for more detail and samples, and do your own stress testing! 

If water is an issue I wouldn't go anywhere near a natural wood product, including engineered.

Better than cheap laminate that is carboard backed though!

neilmcl

michaels said:

neilmcl said:

ChilliBob said:

I'd go with Engineered, I believe it'll be better from a water perspective, and whilst you're not putting it in a kitchen, if you children are young (as my son is) you'll know that anything can get wet/filthy etc   also good to know that Engineered would be easier to replace a plank too. I know an ex work colleague who's parents had solid flooring and not engineered and say warping and bowing had been an issue. I think fitting may be more expensive too. If it's from the same manufacturer you could just ask them for more detail and samples, and do your own stress testing! 

If water is an issue I wouldn't go anywhere near a natural wood product, including engineered.

Better than cheap laminate that is carboard backed though!

Nobody has mentioned anything about fitting cheap laminate.

Doozergirl

ComicGeek said:

Not a fan of either myself. We went with vinyl planks, due to being cheaper, being able to wash properly, and working better with levels at door thresholds - also meant we didn't need to move skirtings and trim doors to suit, but that depends on what you have currently installed.

Solid wood is beautiful but it isn't really practical with a family and pets.  I really deliberated for our new house, but I wanted something that was going to last and so we have gone with LVT as well.  We did in the last house and it was the best floor we've had.  And we've had a lot! 

I'm as fussy as you like when it comes to interiors and I love it.  I've already had people ask if this one is wood.  

These are the better photos I have of it on my phone as we're still a building site - it's allowed us to move in with a decent floor and no real concerns about damage.  If the worst happens, the affected pieces can be heated, peeled off and replaced.  Excuse the temporary worktops and breather membrane backsplash 😂