Choosing the right floor for you

No-one else can really do this for you, but it may help to consider the following:

Taste: The most important thing at the end of the day is that you like your floor, so we would advise you to begin by deciding which floor you best like the look of, and then to consider whether this is suitable for its intended location and your budget – even if it is not, we can usually suggest something with a similar finished look that will work or to adapt to these.

Location: This may eliminate or favour certain products and thus should be considered early on in the selection process. For example: Wider boards (150mm+) should not be used over under-floor heating as the risk of cupping increases substantially; Chestnut is not suitable for rooms which are entered directly from outside but is ideal for upstairs; Only narrow boards (< 110mm) are suitable for gluing; If height is an issue, then solid overlay boards can provide a solution which keeps any increase to a minimum.

Budget: This is an important factor for most people. Although ultimately the old idiom of ‘you get what you pay for’ applies to solid wooden floors like everything else, there are many ways to maximise what you get for your money.

Our key tips to keep the average price down without compromising the look of the finished floor are as follows:

• use more than one grade of timber (more rustic grades    tend to be less expensive);

• ensure boards are tongue & grooved all round in order to   minimise waste; use a less expensive product such as   Chestnut upstairs;

• mix narrow and wider boards (narrower boards tend to   be less expensive);

• choose a DIY friendly product and fit it yourself.