Hardwood Flooring: Types, Installation, and Care

Timber floors remain a staple in UK homes because they combine natural warmth with long service life and versatility across styles. From Victorian terraces to contemporary flats, the right choice depends on understanding how construction, species, finish, and subfloor conditions work together. With thoughtful planning and routine care, a wood floor can age attractively while standing up to everyday use.

What is hardwood flooring?

The term refers to real-wood flooring made either as solid boards or engineered planks. Solid boards are milled from a single piece of timber, offering authentic heft and the potential for multiple sandings over their lifespan. Engineered boards pair a real-wood wear layer with cross-laminated backing for improved dimensional stability, which is helpful in spaces with changing temperatures or when used over underfloor heating (where the product is rated for that application). Floors are available unfinished for on-site finishing or prefinished with protective lacquer or hardwax oil. You’ll also see different grades—from knotty, characterful boards to cleaner, select grades—and patterns such as straight plank, herringbone, or chevron.

How do wood floors differ by species and performance?

Species influence appearance, hardness, and movement. European oak is widely chosen for its balanced hardness, visible grain, and compatibility with stains and finishes. Maple is lighter and typically harder underfoot, with a fine, even grain that suits minimalist interiors. Walnut provides rich brown tones and a softer feel, making it popular in living spaces and bedrooms rather than heavy-traffic halls. Ash brings pale, lively grain for bright, contemporary rooms. Performance also depends on the wear-layer thickness (for engineered products), overall board thickness, and the finish. Film-forming lacquers provide robust scratch and spill resistance, while hardwax oils accentuate texture and allow simpler spot repairs at the cost of more regular upkeep in busy areas.

How does interior design influence floor choice?

Design goals shape colour, width, and pattern. Pale boards can help compact rooms feel larger, while mid-to-dark tones introduce contrast in open-plan spaces. Wide planks lend a calm, contemporary look by reducing joint lines; narrow planks and parquet add rhythm and are sympathetic to period details. Think about continuity between rooms: keeping tone and board direction consistent can improve flow. Coordinate flooring with skirting and door finishes, and consider the influence of daylight—samples should be viewed at different times to understand how tones shift. In flats or upper-storey rooms, use acoustic underlays or installation methods designed to reduce impact sound and check any building requirements for sound transmission in your area.

Maintenance

Daily care focuses on controlling grit and moisture. Place mats at entrances, sweep or vacuum with a soft brush attachment, and damp-mop sparingly with a pH-neutral cleaner suited to the floor’s finish. Avoid steam and aggressive detergents. Fit felt pads to chair and table legs, lift rather than drag heavy items, and keep pet claws trimmed. Stable indoor humidity helps to limit seasonal gaps or cupping; aim for a comfortable, consistent environment rather than extremes. Sunlight can lighten or darken timber depending on species and finish, so consider blinds or rugs in bright areas and use breathable rug underlays. Minor scratches can be blended with repair oils or wax fillers; more extensive wear may call for a light abrasion and recoat (for lacquered floors) or a refresh oil (for oiled floors). Full sanding is possible on solid boards and engineered boards with a suitable wear layer.

Installation

Success starts with a sound, level, and dry subfloor. Timber substrates should be fixed and flat; concrete should meet moisture tolerances specified by the flooring and adhesive manufacturers. Acclimatise products as directed, ideally in the conditioned space where they will be installed. Leave expansion gaps around the perimeter to accommodate movement, typically concealed by skirting or beading. Common fitting methods include secret nailing to plywood or joists, full-surface adhesive bonding to suitable subfloors, and floating installation for many engineered boards using a quality underlay with acoustic or vapour-control properties. Plan the layout to balance cuts at walls, stagger end joints, and align boards with either the longest wall or the main light source depending on the room’s proportions. For underfloor heating, verify product compatibility, follow temperature ramp-up procedures, and respect surface temperature limits recommended by the manufacturer. Patterned layouts such as herringbone benefit from careful setting-out and, in many cases, professional fitting to ensure crisp lines and stable borders.

A considered approach—selecting the right construction and species, aligning design choices with practical needs, and following sound fitting and care routines—will help a timber floor perform well and look good for years in UK homes.