Solid wood flooring is manufactured from a single piece of natural hardwood throughout the full thickness of the board. It offers a genuine timber appearance with natural grain and colour variation and can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifetime.
About Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is crafted from 100% natural hardwood, offering an authentic appearance with natural grain variation, colour depth, and long term durability. Supplied as planks, parquet blocks, or mosaic panels, unfinished solid wood flooring allows for bespoke on site finishing with oil, lacquer, or stain once installed. This makes it a popular choice for traditional interiors and renovation projects where a customised finish is required. Solid wood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times over their lifetime, helping to extend performance and maintain appearance.
Due to the natural movement of solid timber, this flooring type is best suited to dry, stable interior environments and is typically installed using professional fixing methods over properly prepared subfloors. Solid wood flooring is commonly fitted using fully bonded adhesive installation or secret nailing, depending on the product format and subfloor type. The subfloor should be clean, level, and structurally sound, with moisture levels checked prior to installation and the flooring acclimatised on site. Where required, suitable moisture control systems or acoustic layers may be specified in line with project conditions.
For areas where greater dimensional stability is required, such as homes with underfloor heating or wider plank formats, engineered wood flooring is often the more suitable alternative, as its layered construction helps reduce expansion and contraction while retaining the appearance of real wood.
Solid Wood Flooring FAQ's
Solid wood flooring is typically installed using fully bonded adhesive fixing or secret nailing, depending on the board format and subfloor type. The subfloor must be level, dry, and structurally sound, and moisture levels should always be checked before installation. Professional installation is strongly recommended.
Solid wood flooring is not usually installed over underlay in the same way as laminate or floating floors. Instead, correct subfloor preparation, moisture control, and fixing method are critical. In some situations, a moisture barrier or acoustic layer may be required depending on the subfloor and building regulations.
Solid wood flooring is generally less suitable for underfloor heating due to natural expansion and contraction caused by heat and moisture changes. Where underfloor heating is required, engineered wood flooring is often the more suitable option because of its improved dimensional stability.
Solid wood flooring is well suited to living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and hallways in dry interior environments. Kitchens may be suitable with care, while bathrooms and wet rooms are not recommended due to higher moisture levels.