Hardwood Flooring

A hardwood floor consists of solid wood boards or engineered wood layers constructed from hardwood species such as oak, elm or ash.

Hardwood flooring offers a wide range of benefits that make it a popular and enduring choice. Its natural beauty brings timeless elegance and warmth to any space, enhancing both traditional and modern interiors. Known for its long lifespan, high-quality hardwood flooring can last for decades – or even generations – when it is properly maintained. It’s also incredibly durable, withstanding heavy foot traffic and resisting wear better than many alternative materials. 

Maintenance is straightforward; your hardwood flooring only needs regular sweeping or vacuuming and occasional damp mopping to keep it looking its best. Hardwood floors also promote healthier indoor air quality by trapping fewer allergens compared to carpet. One of the unique advantages of hardwood is its renewable surface; it can be sanded and refinished multiple times, not only to restore its appearance but also to change the colour or finish as your style evolves.

Yes. Although it may have a higher upfront cost, it offers unmatched longevity, natural character, and can be sanded and refinished multiple times, making it a long-term investment in your property.

Depending on the level of foot traffic and maintenance practices, the final coating on your hardwood floor could last up to 10 years. However, floors in high-traffic zones or exposed to extensive sunlight might require re-coating every two years. The floor itself will last for many decades and even generations.

Regular sweeping or vacuuming, avoiding excess moisture, and using felt pads on furniture are key to keeping your hardwood floors looking their best for years to come. Depending on wear, solid floors can be sanded and refinished every 10–20 years to restore their original beauty. For cleaning, always use a specialist flooring cleaner, and avoid aggressive generalist detergents as these can strip the top layer of the coating and leave the wood vulnerable to staining.

With proper care, solid hardwood flooring can last 50 years or more. Its ability to be sanded and refinished adds to its longevity.

Oak is the most common type of hardwood floor. Ash, elm and walnut are also popular hardwood species used for flooring.

Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of timber, offering maximum durability and natural movement. Engineered wood consists of a hardwood top layer bonded to a stable base, making it better suited for fluctuating temperatures or moisture.

While it is possible for experienced DIYers, installing solid hardwood flooring is best handled by professionals due to the precision required in fitting, sanding, and sealing.

While we offer advice on how to fit your hardwood floor, we do recommend that you use an experienced fitter to carry out the work. We can recommend a few good local floor fitters.

Being tough and easy to clean, a hardwood floor is ideal for a kitchen. Wood is also nicer to walk on in bare feet than stone because it’s warmer and less hard. However, the surface coating of wooden floor boards will tend to wear more quickly around sinks and other areas that are frequently wet.

Due to the likelihood of excess water on the floor, we do not recommend solid hardwood for bathrooms. If you want a wood floor, we’d recommend you opt for a well-sealed engineered version.

Solid hardwood flooring is not suitable for use over underfloor heating. To avoid problems in the future, only use good-quality 20mm engineered boards constructed using birch ply. Poorer quality engineered flooring is likely to shrink and distort if installed over heating.

For solid hardwood flooring, 20mm is a proven thickness for UK homes. It provides strength, stability and can be sanded and refinished multiple times. Thinner boards may reduce cost, but offer less longevity. All Vastern hardwood floor boards are supplied at 20mm for long-term performance.