Wood flooring

Laminate vs engineered vs solid: A laminate is a piece of plastic with a photographic image of wood grain, mounted on MDF. They cost as little as £5 a square...See more » Laminate vs engineered vs solid: A laminate is a piece of plastic with a photographic image of wood grain, mounted on MDF. They cost as little as £5 a square metre and although scratch-resistant, once damaged are non-repairable. Engineered flooring has a veneer of real wood, usually 3-7mm thick, that can be sanded up to five times. It is particularly suitable for use over concrete floors and in kitchens. Solid wood is one piece of wood from top to bottom. As it needs to be nailed to a permanent floor, a concrete base is a problem. Some newer floors can be floated on underlay. The extras: Foam underlay starts at around £1.50 per square metre rising to £3-4 if you need sound-proofing. A damp course membrane (about £20 per room) may be needed on concrete floors. The big sting is wood trim if you're not prepared to lift the skirting boards and run the floor under. It costs around £10 a metre, or about £120-£150 for the standard living room. Delivery costs are typically up to £50, although if you buy in bulk - much above £350 - delivery should be free. Fitting: Most laminates are sold as do-it-yourself click-together products. Laying engineered or solid wood requires a high level of DIY competence. But fitters are very pricey; the rule of thumb is to take the basic price per square metre and double it once fitting and accessories are included. At £30 per square metre, a wood floor in a 5m x 4m lounge would cost £600. Add fitting and it soars to £1,200. The grades: Most real woods are sold under "grades" describing its look rather than durability. "Rustic" tends to be cheapest as it has the most knots. Select or prime grade has the fewest defects and the highest price. The strips: Engineered real wood is sold as one-strip, two-strip or three-strip, and in differing lengths. The main difference is the width of the wood; three strip is the narrowest. Single strip (or plank) is the most expensive. Longer lengths also go for higher prices. Unfinished or finished? Unfinished floors give you almost unlimited colour stain options. But they must be sanded and finished after installation, which typically puts the room out of service for several days. Pre-finished floors have a factory-applied finish, so the room can be used within hours of installation. Lacquered or oiled? Lacquered floors have an acrylic varnish which gives them a sheen and makes them relatively easy to clean. Oiled floors are becoming more popular, looking more "authentic" but need to be oiled twice a year, depending on the wear they receive. They also cost about £2-£3 more per square metre. Do you need an "expansion" gap? Yes. A 10mm gap around the perimeter of the room must be left to allow the boards to expand and contract. If you don't, it may buckle or leave gaps. Bathroom floors: Most manufacturers caution about laying a real wood floor in a bathroom, particularly beech, which is more sensitive to moisture. If the room tends to get very wet and humid, solid wood is likely to be inappropriate. Laminate or lacquered engineered floors may be more suitable. Don't leave wet bath mats and towels on the floor. Kitchen appliances: You should install flooring under kitchen appliances, but be careful when you slide the appliances over the floor. Toilets: It is not advisable to fix any object through a floating wood floor. Guarantees: Most floors come with a minimum of a 10-year guarantee, although some are up to15 years. Click here for pdf of the prices of wood flooring. Win £1,000 of Kahrs flooring We are offering Guardian Money readers the chance to win £1,000 worth of Kahrs flooring. Kahrs, which first began working with timber in Sweden in 1857, is Europe's most popular producer of engineered wood flooring. This year it has introduced a budget-range of bevelled-edge wood floors , called Linnea one-strip. At just 7mm thick, Kahrs says it is the real wood alternative to laminated products. Winners can choose between woods including cherry, maple, rosewood, oak and walnut. · To be in with a chance of winning the flooring , email money@guardian.co.uk (put Kahrs floor inSee less »